Thanks JH for kind letter. Asks JH to write letters of introduction to various people. Thinks [Roderick] Murchison will give good advice.
Thanks JH for kind letter. Asks JH to write letters of introduction to various people. Thinks [Roderick] Murchison will give good advice.
Thanks JH for interest in his gun cotton. Will demonstrate its use next week. Includes list of items he will need to perform experiments.
In London to demonstrate gun cotton. Wants JH to mention his name to influential members of government. Promises JH will be surprised at its 'wonderful effects.'
Wonders how [Christian?] Schönbein, who is in London, could best exhibit explosives. Hopes RM will attend upcoming meeting; [William] Stratford, who is ill, cannot. [Francis] Baily, [Thomas] Henderson, and [R.] Harris have died working on 'fatal' catalogue Stratford is doing.
Thanks for JH's encouragement. Sends three bills for publication expenses [regarding J. J. L. Lalande's Catalogue of Those Stars in the Histoire céleste française. Letter completed 1846-8-16.]
Cannot find F. W. Bessel's letter [see JH's 1846-7-31]; believes GA returned it to JH a long time ago.
Discusses JT's method for Great Circle sailing.
Discusses magnitude determination. Refers to incident in which one of WS's sons will be removed from his position but not given poor references. W. S. Jacob sends double star measurements.
Would like details of the approximate position of the planet [Neptune]. Has heard nothing about his equatorial. Would like it to pass through the Customs unopened to save possible damage.
Not surprised that scientific journals decline simple mechanical explanation of heat based on principle of conservation of vis viva. Admits that it has advocates, but JH has no time to devote to it. [JH's annotation: Not sent. Waterston gave no address but 'London'.]
Acknowledges, in G. B. Airy's absence, receipt of a letter from JH.
Thanks JC for the writing material [?] JC sent. Pleased at the prospect of JH's eldest son [William] serving in the East India Company. Discusses developments in India and some chemical processes.
Lack of response from Bates to insects and letter sent two months earlier; current scarcity of insects near Neath; arrival of Lepidoptera from friend in Georgia, USA, including sketch of Bombyx [a moth]; death of collected Lepidoptera larvae.