Hears that JH is contemplating a rotatory roof for his telescope at the Cape. Sends details of a method he has devised for his own observatory. Will send a drawing of it next week. Will be pleased to show it to JH if he is that way.
Wife has been ill, which accounts for his belated reply. Comments on the pros and cons of taking furniture to the Cape. May leave the infant at home. Has received the plan of the observatory from Francis Beaufort.
Hears that Thomas Henderson is in town and thinks of bringing him down to Slough. Intends to take some iron bedsteads to the Cape; can JH advise him where they may be obtained?
Has been residing with [Robert?] Lee at Hartwell for a few days. Hears that JH and Benjamin D'Urban will be travelling to the Cape on the Elphinstone; is this true?
Visited the Elphinstone and estimated the amount of room required for his family. Offered £300 but offer was refused.
Has given up the attempt to travel on the same ship with JH as it proved too expensive. Will now travel on the Andromache next Saturday; has only a few days to obtain the necessary stores.
Have embarked on the Tam O'Shanter but had to put back because of the violent gales. All have been seasick except TM. Outlines domestic necessities for a long voyage. Will JH bring a collimator from [Thomas] Jones of Charing Cross. Hopes JH will interest D'Urban in celestial matters. Many cockroaches on board.
Have had a dreadful time since Wednesday. Gives list of instructions for a voyage; plenty of candles. Finds the poop cabins very pleasant.
Encourages WS to spend time observing nebulae and double stars, especially the latter, 'since [James] South has given up observing, and [W. R.] Dawes is in habitual ill health.'
Has received the glasses from Dr. John Dalton with very minute answers. Dalton gave a paper on this subject in 1794 to the Manchester Society. Will bring them to London tomorrow. Dr. Simms is in a critical condition.
Sends some specimens of aloes and calocynth with some remarks on them. Also sends some sugar made by evaporating the cane juice under diminished pressure. Inquired from J. Lister regarding the elasticity of hardened steel wire.
Hopes this letter will reach him before his departure for the Cape. Wishes someone in the proper climate would make a study of the best kind of Aloe for medicinal purposes. Encloses letter and plates on this subject and would be pleased if JH would show them to Thomas Maclear. Has not been able to obtain any further information from dichromic persons.
Further regarding the projected portrait of JH by H. W. Pickersgill.
Further comments on the painting of H. W. Pickersgill. Hopes that JH will sit for Pickersgill. Also hopes that JH will attend the Geological Society Anniversary on the fifteenth.
Hopes that JH will accept a copy of JN's work [on the history of astronomy]. Wishes JH all success in his forthcoming mission [to the Cape].
Is unable to get a firm answer from James South as to the availability of a large telescope object glass that James South owns.
JH is to pursue the matter of acquiring an object glass further [see JH's 1833-7-8], without indicating that it may go to Cambridge Observatory.
JH has written to James South again [see JH's 1833-7-8] but has received no answer; is suggesting that it may well be that [R. A.] Cauchoix, the French optician, can supply object glasses as good as those James South has.
Agrees with JH to go direct to the French optician [see JH's 1833-8-9] for a large object glass; HP will provide a telescope with such a lens if G. B. Airy agrees such a large telescope is appropriate to Cambridge Observatory.
Wants JH to negotiate with [R. A.] Cauchoix [see HP's 1833-8-12], keeping HP's name out of the transactions.