Encloses papers from J. B. Smith, supporter of weights and measures bill. [JH's daughters] Maria and Amelia visited House [of Commons] yesterday, but ladies's gallery was full and they could not observe proceedings. Trial of American president [Andrew Johnson] is political farce.

JH is bound by promise to J. M. Cameron not to sit for portraits by other photographers. Will not sign photograph of JH sent by JS if this is intended for publication. Offers to write article on musical scale for Quarterly Journal of Science.

Why did French chose arc from Dunkirk to Barcelona as basis for metric measurements? Explain meridian lines. Why are linear metric measurements founded on arc, rather than on straight line? Criticizes William Ewart for introducing metric bill.

Returns petition to JH. Read JH's paper. Venomous propositions [in House of Commons].

JH's approval encourages HA to publish account [of hemianopsia]. JH may keep HA's drawings. Notes on attack suffered by JH.

Comments on several aspects of poetry, including EC's; JH has been quite ill; talks about walking on water with a water velocipede.

Informal request for JH to write biography of W. R. Dawes for R.A.S. Recent marriages in CP's family.

Sees what a majority William Ewart's bill had yesterday. Comments on the events leading to this. So glad of the marriage of Amelia Herschel.

JH's views on relation of British Imperial measures to length of Earth's axis were misrepresented in 18 May article. Explains them in detail. Notes scientific basis of British system.

Speaks of the awkwardness of some telescopic instruments, but urges son John to persevere; comments favorably on daughter Amelia's prospective husband, Thomas Wade, and comments disparagingly about the government's introduction of a metrication bill.

More on musical scales [see GA's 1868-4-3]; GA here proposes the use of hyperbolic logarithms to help establish the scales.

Not well enough to attend Visitation Day at the Royal Observatory; fears JH will not likely attend any future meetings and should perhaps withdraw from the Board of Visitors.

Asks JH's approval for naming George Williams to take charge of Sinai survey fund following death of Pierce Butler. Will ask Secretary of State for War [J. S. Pakington] to place H. S. Palmer in charge and assign draftsmen and photographers to assist. Suggests survey goals. F. W. Holland agreed to join survey party. Estimated cost of survey is £1220.

Is sending William Pole's protest against the system of equal temperament in music [abstract of protest given].

Stating that the Board of Visitors could not afford to lose the services of JH.

Just received JH's paper. Will need two weeks to review it.

Thanks JH for his note. Asks that JH's paper on scales [1868 'On Musical Scales'] be made available to him.

Encloses biographical notes on W. R. Dawes.

Sending a copy of his speech on Weights and Measures. Will be spending the recess in Dorset.

Discusses his diagram of planetary distances to the sun and earth. Will soon have autographs of sun showing the 'change-up' of a spot.