Describes additional measurement of annual parallax.

Received a 5-ft. Newtonian reflector from JH's aunt Caroline; is offering it to the R.A.S. JH is on the verge of moving to Collingwood.

Should think that the R.A.S. would be pleased to receive the 5-ft. telescope. Regarding the printing of Thomas Maclear's paper. H. C. Schumacher has sent a paper by Wilhelm Olbers on the constellations.

Mostly about damage to furniture during shipment from Slough to Collingwood.

Trying to establish which of the boxes of household effects that have been shipped from Slough have arrived at Collingwood; comments on the weather.

Complains about the loneliness now that the family is gone from Slough, as are most of their goods.

Mostly about boxes packed and shipped to Collingwood, along with questions about items of equipment there.

About the choices to be made in moving furniture from Slough to Collingwood; problems about the election of a minister at Eton.

About a tragic fire nearby, and more about moving goods to Collingwood.

The packing and shipping of goods to Collingwood is complete; JH will now attend to a few final details and then come to Collingwood, having spent the most horrible 'fortnight in my life.'

Honored to be elected as a foreign member of the Academy.

Sending specimens sent to JH by [Robert] Hunt. Praises Hunt. Has WT received JH's paper ['On the Chemical Action of the Rays of the Solar Spectrum...,' R.S.P.T. (1840), 1-59]? JH moving to Collingwood.

Anthony Oliphant has died. The plan to establish a system of meteorological observations at the Cape Colony and in Caffreland has failed.

Sends WW some verses, asks WW's and George Peacock's advice on a request by Edward Sabine for funds, and invites WW to visit Hawkhurst, where the Herschels were then in the process of moving.

Has received [Temple?] Cheval[l]ier's paper and JH's letter informing him of his valuable gift. G. B. Airy is anxious to have Thomas Maclear's paper printed in the Memoirs as soon as possible without waiting for the government.

When the case containing the stand of the telescope was opened it was found to contain a number of books. Were these intended for the R.A.S. or should they be returned to JH?

JDH informs his mother, Lady Maria Hooker, that on his return from Cape Town he received a letter from his father, William Jackson Hooker, addressed to him at Madeira, 5 Oct 1840. Discusses the news that his brother William [Dawson Hooker] has gone to Jamaica for his health leaving his pregnant wife Isabella at home. If necessary JDH says he will raise the child with his sister Maria as their housekeeper. JDH has visited Baron Ludwig, known as Baron Snuffy, who gave him William Henry Harvey's GENERA OF SOUTH AFRICAN PLANTS: CAPE TOWN & a picture of the Ludswigburg Gardens. JDH has an account of the Constantia wines & Vineyard. The Cape botanist [Christian Freidrich] Ecklon has gone mad. The 'Erebus' now sails for Possession Island, one of the Crozets where there is a seal fishery. JDH will send his next collection from Van Diemen's Land [Tasmania], including algae from the southern regions. He also has duplicates to send of his current collection, including minerals & a replacement for the St Helena Commidendrum that had the stem eaten by a cockroach. The damp on the ship has made it hard to preserve the specimens. JDH also has pine cones, sketches & other small things to send home. Mentions expenses for drawing paper & washing. Thinks that Captain Beaufort has not transmitted WJH's letter to JDH reliably. JDH has written to his sisters Maria & Bessie [Elizabeth] at Kensington. Asks that his father remember him to Mr Arnott, Dr Graham, Mr Childra & Mr Murray. JDH will send his father an account of Ludwigsburg Garden soon & will write to Adamson, Mitchell & [Charles] Lyell from Van Diemen's Land. JDH sends his plants home to the Admiralty by 'Lord Lynedoch transport' with a letter from Captain [James Clark] Ross requesting they be forwarded to Glasgow.