Received a newspaper from England, which gave news of a comet. A ship entered Table Bay in the night; she may be from England.
Can JH spare a few minutes on Friday to be present when the errors of the transit instrument are being determined. Outlines the investigations necessary. The comet is a splendid fellow. Is busy measuring the diameter of the ring micrometer.
Sent the barometric readings with Mr. Curnan's paper. Comments on the tidal observations. Send the tide book. William Lamb (2nd Viscount Melbourne) is reinstated.
Has replied to Richard Sheepshanks in the Memoirs of the Astronomical Society. Is surprised how near he got to the general figure described by the Circle Centre. Comments on calculations he intends to carry out. Cannot say decidedly that Zeta Octantes is double; it is doubtful seen through the 8-ft. transit.
Is glad JH has given his opinion to Francis Beaufort on the subject of observations of the first class. Encke's comet is invisible in the 14-ft. within the range of 10 degrees. Last two nights were very favorable. Has seen Encke's comet three times, and it appears just as he saw it in England.
Only brought two portraits away on Sunday. Will lend JH his own portrait. No slates are available, but a shipload is expected daily.
Intended to call on Sunday but wind and other interruptions interfered. Saw the Comet, probably for the last time on Thursday. Sends the working sheet of the R.A.'s of the Brisbane catalogue. Comments on various aspects of this catalogue. Has written to Commercial Advertiser requesting information from anyone who experienced the recent earthquake shock.
The departure of two young missionaries for Africa provide the occasion for JM and WB to comment on the present status of work in preparing for printing the Mappa Selenographica, and they ask JH's opinion on some suggestions for printing. Have heard from F. W. Bessel of JH's sighting of the two inner moons of Saturn.
Writes of geological work on terrain of Sicily.
Describing JH's observations and comparing notes.
Responds to TM's query in his 1835-1-17 about the effect that motion of the center of the mural circle would have on the microscopic readings.
Additional approaches to resolving TM's mural circle problem [see JH's 1835-2-5].
More on the mural circle [see JH's 1835-2-7].
Some comments about constant error in TM's observations.
About the difficulty of measuring high and low tide with the instruments available to TM; offers the design of an instrument that would measure the mid-point between high and low tides.
Excited about JH's observations, and has shown them to several people.
Sends TM some tide observations, and some calculations done on them.
Believes that TM is the first to see the return of Halley's Comet [see TM's 1835-9-1].
Still struggling with the problems inherent in using the mural circle; the comet has apparently been seen by JH's mechanic, John Stone, prior to having been sighted by TM.
Sends information about where to look for Encke's comet.