Comments on efforts toward getting a royal charter for the Astronomical Society, a paper by Peter Barlow, and activities of the R.S.L. Correspondence with Wilhelm Struve. Difficulties in getting his new telescope constructed.
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Comments on efforts toward getting a royal charter for the Astronomical Society, a paper by Peter Barlow, and activities of the R.S.L. Correspondence with Wilhelm Struve. Difficulties in getting his new telescope constructed.
Is in London living in a garret, almost penniless, and has legal and marital difficulties. He hopes to sell some verse.
Of the health of JH's brother-in-law, John Stewart, and the publication of JH's Prelim. Discourse [letter completed 1831-2-8].
Will leave Cambridge shortly after division; plans to return for next term. With so many friends, Henslow among the foremost, it will be pleasant.
Provides FB, Chairman of the Greenwich Visitation Committee, with detailed recommendations for the preparation of catalogues coming out of the Greenwich observations.
Sends JH a copy of Richard Jones's new book [Essay on the Distribution of Wealth]. Congratulates JH on the publication of his new book [Prelim. Discourse].
No summary available.
Accepted CD’s "generous remittance" rather than go to jail; has pawned his watch. Will stay one fortnight to see whether he can do anything; if he fails he will go home. If he succeeds he will ask his father to pay his debts and nothing else for a two-year period. Is proud of the attachment CD shows.
Is sending Volume 10 of the Memoirs of the Royal Academy of Sciences.
Informs WDF of a shipment of birds ready to be sent by Baker.
Urges WDF to read Herschel’s essay [A preliminary discourse on the study of natural philosophy (1830)] in Lardner’s [Cabinet] Cyclopedia.
Has recently sent him a book and letter and wonders if he has received it. Congratulations on his recent honors. If he has the book perhaps he would look at certain passages.
Regarding the affair of Charles Babbage and William Fitton's pamphlet. Would like JH to dine with him and William Whewell to discuss various matters. JH's book is popular at Cambridge.
Thanks WW for sending Richard Jones's new book and comments on it. Comments on WW's 'Science of the English Universities' and WW's review of Charles Lyell's Principles of Geology. Has heard that WW is reviewing JH's Prelim. Discourse.
Praises and comments on RJ's book on economics [Essay on the Distribution of Wealth]. Laments overly strong language used by William Fitton and Charles Babbage in criticizing R.S.L. Comments on JH having lost the election for R.S.L. presidency.
Sending more ale. Abandoning AR's theory of comets coming from solar volcanoes, although he thinks it is somewhat consistent with observed phenomena of solar spots.
Has been obtaining information for his report on the observatories. Is JH's paper ready to be printed? Will be able to economize on the printing of the Greenwich Observations.
Received HG's memoir of Thomas Young. JH's manuscript must be destroyed and all printer type taken down. Any deeper critique of Young's writings would be improper and would only become stronger, further hurting Mrs. Young's feelings.
Has just found out that the government has approached the R.S.L. as to the usefulness and chances of success of his machine. Hopes that if JH is appointed he will not become involved in the committees of the R.S.L. Has been deciphering a cipher.
Would prefer not to write a popular account of William Herschel and his work which DL has requested; JH has always intended to produce a major volume on the life and work of his father.
More on the observations and publication of results of the Greenwich Observatory [see JH's 1831-2-10].