Thanks for, and comments on, some photographs of the solar corona.
Thanks for, and comments on, some photographs of the solar corona.
Explaining why the moon's disc is circular.
Comments on the attitude of the French towards the Germans in light of the war.
Comments on sunspot activity.
Is glad he is pleased with the work of Balfour Stewart and himself. Has applied to R.S.L. for a further grant to carry on the observations and computations for another year. Intends to finance the last year himself. Since the death of his brother he has returned to business.
Relating his recent experiments in dioptrics. Encloses a model of his air-lens. Is grateful for the reference.
Turned JH's mineral specimen over to N. S. Maskelyne. Poor health of GW's wife.
Sends prints of solar photographs taken last week at Kew, as requested by Warren de La Rue. Regrets that picture on 11 Feb. was unsatisfactory.
Thanks RP for sending RP's Sun. Suggests a theory that the solar corona, rather than originating in the earth's atmosphere, is produced by reflection from meteoric dust. Informs RP that he has completed a catalogue of all observations of double stars.
Raises objections to JH's theory of the solar corona. Discusses possible existence of extensive meteoric dust in the solar system. Requests permission to dedicate a book on sidereal astronomy to JH. Asks JH whether his father in later years always used a front focus for his large telescopes and whether he saw the supposed four additional Uranian satellites with his 40-foot reflector.
Replies to RP's objections to his theory of the solar corona. Informs RP that William Herschel's larger telescopes were used as front focus. Suggests explanation of his father's disconfirmed discovery of four additional Uranian moons.
Discusses JH's response to his comments on JH's theory of the solar corona. Discusses great difficulty of writing his planned book on sidereal astronomy.
Reports on recent solar eclipse photographs of the solar corona which jeopardize JH's meteoric theory of the corona's origin. Concludes the corona must be 'after all a phenomenon of eruption!!'
Mostly about how to deal with the implications of local attractions in geodetic surveying [see JH's 1870-11-17]; JH has had the mineral son John sent analyzed and sends the results. JH commiserates with daughter-in-law Mary's illness.
B.A.A.S. has announced its intention of giving up Kew Observatory. What does he think of the possibility of the R.S.L. taking it over for Magnetic Observations? Sends a copy of the Kew report, also a copy of a letter from [Balfour] Stewart.
Comments on R.S.L. acquiring Kew Observatory building for creation of magnetic observatory [see JG's 1871-2-13].
Is obliged for his comments on the future of Kew Observatory. They differ from the others received, but they will be read out. Has he ever thought of publishing his reports to the R.S.L.? Thinks it would be a good idea if they could be published.
JDH writes that he is pleased William Thiselton-Dyer is starting work on the Asclepiadoideae [for FLORA CAPENSIS]. The herbarium of Robert Wight will be at Thiselton-Dyer's disposal. William Henry Harvey is a model of how to approach complex systematic work. JDH approves of Thiselton-Dyer's plan to have an educational museum in the [botany] department [of Royal College of Science for Ireland]. Discusses sending Welwitschia specimens for the museum, 2 live specimens have already been sent from RBG Kew to Glasnevin [National Botanic Gardens, Ireland]. JDH will send Thiselton-Dyer Asclepiad flowers as they bloom at RBG Kew & a copy of Benjamin Delessert's ICONES SELECTAE PLANTARUM QUAS IN SYSTEMATE UNIVERSALI with figures by Joseph Decaisne. JDH adds he has not heard from India House about a flora of India, he is concerned about 'the neuralgia' & would like Salix specimens from Dr Moore for Kew's new 'Salicetum'.