Intended calling on JH today but legs and feet were too swollen. Has postponed his journey to Klypfonteyn until the first week in March, to make some alterations to the instrument. Is glad JH will visit the mountains with him. Believes the Thalia is about to sail soon. Formalhoet is now useless at noon.

Presents suggestions for improving and extending Land Station observatories. Will study parallax of Alpha1 and Alpha2 Centauri. Government will survey the colony. Quarantine due to measles outbreak. Boers hostile.

JH's letter of 9 Feb. has left him in high spirits. Is also pleased TM's paper was communicated to the R.S.L. Will make arrangements to collect parts of the meteorite and send the 4 lb. part to JH. G. B. Airy consents that Greenwich Mural Circle be sent to Cape Observatory. Will request more engineering personnel for Colonial Survey.

Mr. Zahn and John Truter in search of more meteorite specimens. Truter obtains a specimen near site of impact.

Sends another meteorite specimen. Mr. Zahn sends group to Bokkerveld to seek more specimens. John Truter describes specimens in possession.

Encloses letters concerning [William] Reid's Laws of Storms. Discusses problems obtaining money for Meteorology Society from government. Reports mural circle working well. Receives another meteorite specimen.

J. M. Craig requests TM to send meteorite to British Museum. TM asks JH to transfer the specimen sent earlier to the Museum.

William Mann arrives with compensation bars. Receives six men for transportation of equipment to Land Observatories. Military possession of Natal ends. Foundation laid for college at Government Gardens.

The mica will do beautifully. Sorry to hear of the return of JH's complaint. Will send barometric observations tomorrow.

Sends the results of one good night's observations entirely reduced. More transit observations are in process of being reduced.

Sending the mean of all the observations on the polars. Comments on the base line, and gives readings.

Thanks for information in his letter. Agrees with JH about the variability of Hydra. Argus is returning to its original brightness. The zenith sector is down and in parts and hopes to get it re-erected on Friday. Results at the Observatory are very good.

Has asked Dr. Andrew Smith, Capt. J. E. Alexander, and their friends for Saturday; hopes JH can join them. Has recognized fifteen of the November cometary stars; they are in Harding's map with one exception. The Ephemeris will require a small correction.

Returns the hourly observations of the last equinox. There will be a meeting of the Institute tomorrow. Has removed the silver lines from the mural circle and replaced them by Bermuda cobwebs. Would like to insert these in JH's micrometer. Has been busy calculating a large table of precessions in R.A. Capt. Alexander should desist from newspaper writing.

Acknowledges Lady Herschel's two notes and will communicate with her in the morning. Encloses the note of Mrs. Smyth [wife of W. H. Smyth?]. Hears that Dr. [John] Lee has been contesting Aylesbury, without success. Estimates for stable have been cut out.

Has taken the liberty of sending James Fayrer with his levers for JH's advice.

Weather is most provoking. Thinks it best to delay the action until Friday.

Is pleased to have a look at JH's labors, but is not at home with the observations. Sorry to hear of JH's bodily sufferings. Has another sheet printed off, but no copies at the moment. Transit clock has increased its daily rate. South end of the mural circle has heaved up. Land to west of the Observatory is being discussed with view to purchase.

Returns JH's book of estimated magnitudes and would like it again when preparing his catalogue. Sends letters he received from Francis Beaufort and [Richard?] Jones. Is oppressed with business and an awful cough.

Thanks for JH's interest in the 'little fellow'; he has now passed all danger. Is glad JH has unravelled the mysteries of h Centauri. Wrote to Thomas Brisbane pointing out imperfections in the catalogue. Has started to publish an abstract of the Met[eorological] J[our]n[a]l in the Government Gazette. Will not attend the glittering assembly at Government House tonight.