Is looking forward to receiving a copy of JH's Outlines Astr.; describes an aurora AP had seen at Alnwick Castle.
Is looking forward to receiving a copy of JH's Outlines Astr.; describes an aurora AP had seen at Alnwick Castle.
Gratitude for AK's services as executor for affairs of Caroline L. Herschel. Did not receive AK's Sept. 1848 letter. Give remaining money to [Caroline's servant] Betty, whose pending marriage surprised JH. Thank AK's mother for her letter of 3 Sept. to JH. Happy that AK's brother Georg returned safely from war in Holstein with honors. Hopes peace comes to Europe soon.
Efforts by Duncan Stewart to provide new career for brother Peter Stewart, whose mischief created economic ruin, left Duncan Stewart in difficult financial situation. JH is willing to relinquish EM's appointment to Haileybury College for JH's son John and to seek position for John at [Royal Military Academy,] Woolwich, if EM would transfer recommendation to Haileybury from JH's son John to Duncan Stewart's second son.
Learned of John Gorrie's mechanical ice-making method. Asks CM to send letter to JH recounting conversation of 11 Feb. 1848 in which JH told CM about JH's theory for making ice by compressing air. JH does not want to interfere with Gorrie's claim, but will submit CM's letter to Athenaeum and put on record, for sake of 'scientific history,' that JH was 'certain' that such a principle would work. Condolences for death of CM's partner.
Recommends Edward Sabine's work on terrestrial magnetism for Royal Physical Medal, and joint award of Copley Medal to WP and William Lassell for improvements in reflecting telescopes.
Received news today of JS's arrival in Bombay. Describes conflict as 'Armageddon.' Family news. John Stewart returned from China and leaves soon to meet Matilda [Grahame] in Paris. [Richard] Jones's concern for JS is genuine. Eneas Mackintosh obtained cadetship for JH's son John at Addiscombe.
Describes HJ's formal petition against Stuart Watley's bill for reform of marriage laws.
Thanks for JH's corrections to HJ's formal petition [against marriage reform bill].
Asks for JH's comments on YV's specific double star observations. YV presents the mathematical method he uses to calculate double star orbits, which he had presented to the Paris Académie in 1847, but it was not published.
Has passed YV's memoirs on the calculation of orbits on to G. B. Airy for publication; copies will be sent [see YV's 1849-4-1]. Notes that YV's methods are similar to those of U. J. J. Leverrier.
Is sending a communication to JH for insertion in the R.A.S.M.N. Seems to be some problem with understanding YV's calculations of the orbits of double stars, so YV explains his method.
Thanks JH for his interest in YV's work on double stars. YV sends a copy of a note on double stars published in the Académie des Sciences for consideration by the R.A.S. Raises a problem of agreement between Newtonian theory and observational data. YV feels astronomical studies in France are slowing down.
Thanks JH for a copy of a scientific manual (Admiralty Manual?).
Asks JH's opinion about GA's plan not to print a separate volume of magnetic and meteorological observations for 1848.
WB's latest observations of Gamma Virginis.
Some concerns about GA's intent of attaching magnetic and meteorological observations to the R.A.S.'s Astronomical Observations [see GA's 1849-3-28].
Will reconsider the proposal about printing observations [see JH's 1849-3-29], and get back to JH.
Sends sample of photographic lenses ground by JJ. Asks JH for formula of curvature to admit more light.
Sends note with needed facts [related to JH's early discovery of principle for ice-making machine], plus paragraph that JH may wish to insert [in notice to Athenaeum].
Encloses sequel to AS's volume on electro-biology, which AS dedicated to JH. Both are being translated into French.