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.

As JH likes music invites him to dinner on the 15th, when he should find something to enjoy. Regrets he was out when JH called.

Birth of [Maria Sophia Herschel]. Awaiting JS's news about Bombay. John [Stewart] and Matilda [Grahame] sailed for France yesterday.

Reports meetings of ES and Humphrey Lloyd with scientists in Berlin and Göttingen. Alexander von Humboldt requests information from JH about southern hemisphere. Humboldt and Gauss are pleased by British respect for their work. ES will visit JH in Slough next week. Wants to see magnetic observations made by Navy lieutenant who accompanied Sir John Franklin to Van Diemen's Land.

Did Académie des Sciences agree to R.S.L. request for magnetic observatory in Algiers? Stresses importance of multinational cooperation. Details of planned global survey of earth's magnetic field. Encloses list of observations needed from Paris.

Reports the birth of JH's seventh child, Maria Sophia. Met Adolphus Frederick, the Duke of Cambridge, who asked about CH.

Sends meteorite and analysis to British Museum. Refers to work on Alpha Centauri; predicts occultation in fifteen years. Will move to Collingwood in spring. Announces birth of JH's daughter [Maria Sophia].

Congratulates JH on the birth of a daughter [Maria Sophia].

George Everest-Thomas Jervis affair.

George Everest-Thomas Jervis affair. Observations on the production of color by chemical rays.

Concerning JH's experiments with photogenic light. Encloses paper of the comparisons between JH's and the Observatory's barometers. R.A.S. and R.S.L. want a subject for medals in astronomy, R.S.L. for a Copley medal in anything.

Birth of JH's daughter [Maria Sophia].

Has been appointed by the East India company to supervise the instruments at the Bengal Observatory and finds there is no actinometer. Would like details of a good one and JH's views on his suggested modifications.

Not sure where JH is now residing. Sending the 13 sets of Meteorological Observations he has made. Will shortly be residing at Brighton for a few months and hopes to meet JH then. The Munich circle is a beautiful instrument.

Announces the birth of JH's daughter Maria Sophia, and that all are doing well.

Sends English version of D. F. J. Arago's eulogy of JW's father, James Watt. Calls attention to friendship of JW's father and William Herschel. Missed seeing JH in Paris.

Intends that his second son shall enter business and would like him to study in Hanover. Can JH recommend any person with which he can place him. Went to Boulogne with some members of the Geological Society to meet French geologists. Quite a successful meeting, though the French Geologists are split into two opposing factions.

JDH informs his Father, William Jackson Hooker, of their safe arrival at Funchal, Madeira. Briefly recounts the voyage past the Lizard & Torbay & losing sight of HMS 'Terror' in a gale. They made good time despite sounding every day to take the temperature of the deep sea water. JDH has not been sea sick but he & the crew find that the positioning of the cabins 'athwartships' exaggerates the rolling sensation disagreeably. JDH has found no 'animalculae', meaning protozoa, in the water & does not expect to until they reach the tropics. JDH keeps a regular journal recording anything of note as well as his natural history diary for the Admiralty. He will send any specimens he makes for his personal collections to his Father. Captain [James Clark] Ross will deal with specimens for the Admiralty incl. both plant collections made by JDH & animals ones made by McCormick. JDH is keen to avoid any confusion over who owns which specimens. JDH is only allowed to go onshore to collect if one other medical officers remains with the ships. Whilst at Madeira JDH intends to visit Mr Muir & Mr [Richard Thomas] Lowe. Describes his impressions of the island of Madeira as seen from the sea, mentioning the volcanic rock, the vineyards, pine capped hills & village of Santa Cruz. He is disappointed to find the island less wooded than he expected but describes it as beautiful at night with a perfect climate & clear blue seas. Adds a note dated 22 Oct [1839] stating he has met with Muir, Lowe, Mr Reilly, Dr Renton & Dr Lippold & will go on an excursion with the latter to the hills.

Captain Crozier of the HMS 'Terror' has just informed JDH that they must sail as the weather is making it dangerous to remain anchored [in the Funchal Roads, Madeira] so JDH has little time to spend on this letter to his Father, William Jackson Hooker. Recounts his time spent in Madeira; botanised for a few days but was then bedridden by rheumatism. After recovering enough, spent some time with Mr Muir & Dr Lippard who brought him fruit. In his limited collecting time JDH only gathered plants he thought were uncommon, it was not the best season to get specimens. The expedition may go to Port Praya [Praia] in the Cape Verde Islands, they will certainly go to St Helena & St Paul's Rock on their way to the equator. JDH & Mr McCormick [surgeon on the HMS 'Erebus'] get on well. JDH has sent flowers from the convent for his Mother & sisters, including myrtle wreaths, they are sent home by Mr Muir via Mr Pamplin. Mentions that he met Mr Johnstone & a lady who were friends of his Grandfather & Mr Baker from Norwich. Notes that the date on his previous letter may be wrong. Mr Hally[?] is in Madeira & is dying. Dr Renton[?] & Mrs Montgomery Hamilton née Wallace have been attentive to JDH. Letter also contains a note from Mr Muir dated 16 Nov 1839, presumably added when he was given the letter to forward. Muir writes that the 'Erebus' & 'Terror' sailed on the 31 Oct [1839], before which he & his family enjoyed JDH's company. Mr Smith of Jordan Hill has since arrived in Madeira with his invalid daughter.