Has received letters and books from England. Leave of absence of William Meadows and nomination of Piazzi Smyth. Is preparing a packet of observations for England; has JH anything to send?
Showing 61–80 of 185 items
Has received letters and books from England. Leave of absence of William Meadows and nomination of Piazzi Smyth. Is preparing a packet of observations for England; has JH anything to send?
Describes a work on ethics with an empirical orientation, which JH plans to write. Discusses the meteorology and geology of the Cape region.
Acknowledges Lady Herschel's two notes and will communicate with her in the morning. Encloses the note of Mrs. Smyth [wife of W. H. Smyth?]. Hears that Dr. [John] Lee has been contesting Aylesbury, without success. Estimates for stable have been cut out.
C. P. Smyth appointment as assistant to Thomas Maclear pleases JH. Suggests method of determining right ascension of double stars with collimating telescope. Sends brochure proposing worldwide meteorological observations.
Discusses barometer behavior during coastal gales and tornadoes. Will send JH a better specimen of oxide in granite fissure [illustration]. RW mistakenly assumed it was basalt. Regrets JH involved in RW's transaction with H. H. Gird.
Returns Mary Herschel's repaired concertina. Sends CW's recent paper on velocity of electricity [R.S.P.T. 124 (1834)]. Electrical experiments CW is planning. Appointed professor of experimental philosophy at King's College.
FB's letter of 4 July 1834 reached JH in March 1835. Discusses the observability of the sixth and seventh Saturnian satellites. Meteorological observations at sea, at Cape, and from Calcutta lead JH to suspect 'annual transfer of atmospheric pressure' between hemispheres and permanent depression at equator. Describes JH's work at the Cape. Praises Thomas Maclear.
Excerpts from JH's letter [n.d.] to Peter Stewart regarding financial investments. Asks for meteorology and tide data in Canton, China.
Introducing a Mr. Fraser, who is interested in the setting up of an observatory at Inverness.
Is much concerned about the conflict between the races.
Gives AC notes for Francis Beaufort and for Giovanni Plana. Praises both. Mentions various books.
Has just come from Scotland on his way to the continent for two or three months. Pleased to hear JH's work is making good progress. Does he know that David Brewster made observations for two days of the year? Has sent him his paper on polarization. Has been occupied by the preparation of his paper on optics. Hopes to reduce his observations made on the continent in 1832. Would like T. C. Robinson, the instrument maker, to see JH's instructions.
Excited about JH's observations, and has shown them to several people.
Last night was a splendid night for observing. Will be pleased to place the barometer at Captain Richard Wolfe's disposal. Eclipse was interesting. Will call if he goes to Simon's Bay.
Discusses reduction of barometric observations. Praises the Cape's climate.
Has received some papers and newspapers. Four parcels are on their way to JH via H.M.S. Rattlesnake. Encloses a letter from William Wallace regarding the Edinburgh Observatory.
JH is very disturbed by the fighting between the South African military and the Kaffirs.
Sends his two mountain barometers; comments on them. Method of interpolating the clock errors graphically answers well.
Tends to agree with most of what JH says [see JH's 1835-6-2].
William Whewell asked JH to compare their June tidal observations with those of the British Admiralty; JH will urge John Deas Thompson to be extra precise in his findings.