Asks for address of the artist who drew the sections exhibited by WBC at BAAS meeting in September. CD needs drawings of minute corallines, Articulata, and Mollusca.
Recommends Ernst Dieffenbach for expedition to Guatemala.
Has just heard of RF’s return [from New Zealand]. Hopes to see him.
CD and family are well, but he is a different man in strength and energy from when he was "Flycatcher" in the Beagle.
Has just finished his book [South America].
A long statement against a very nasty article in the Mechanics Magazine on the priority controversy surrounding the discovery of Neptune.
[The discovery of Neptune having been just announced], JH calls attention to JH's recent suggestion to the B.A.A.S. that such a discovery was imminent; states that in 1842 JH had discussed the idea of a trans-Uranian planet with F. W. Bessel, and that [J. C.] Adams of Cambridge had carried out an investigation comparable to that of U. J. J. Leverrier.
Announces, to WL, the discovery of a new planet beyond Uranus, gives co-ordinates, and urges WL to look for satellites 'with all possible expedition.'
Will place J. F. Encke's request before the Council, but sees no difficulty in copying the letters at Somerset House. Is waiting for the return of George Peacock (Dean of Ely) before summoning council.
Describes results of experiments on cobwebs, "neither spider or anything else had caused a line to disappear". Apologises for having to draw this conclusion as she had cheered him so in his work on species.
Hopes to start looking over his species notes in about a year.
Very much enjoyed Southampton [meeting of BAAS, 9–12 Sept].
Has been on the Continent, which accounts for the delay replying to JH's letter of June. Regrets he cannot give an answer to JH's queries regarding the constitution of the ether. Fears his hypothesis on the density of the ether is not clear as it has misled JH. Has read Michael Faraday's papers with eagerness.
No summary available.
The potato seeds were collected in 1835 from tubers in a remote area of the Cordilleras of Chile and were certainly wild. Refers him to Journal [of researches, p. 347].
Discusses A. C. Ramsay’s article ["On the denudation of South Wales", Mem. Geol. Surv. G. B. 1 (1846)]. Mentions his own paper ["Volcanic phenomena in South America", Collected papers 1: 53–86]. Emphasises that sedimentary deposits are not ordinarily preserved.
No summary available.
No summary available.
Description of Pulkowa observatory sent fourteen days before. Included a listing of the library. Otto Struve works on micrometer measurements of double stars. Complains about [J. H. von] Mädler's unprofessional attitude at Dorpat. Announces 'Neptune' as new planet's name.
Sends paper on naming of Neptune. Denounces elimination of [J. C. ] Adams's part versus U. J. J. Le Verrier's role regarding Neptune. Will forward Otto Struve's paper on the expedition between Altona and Greenwich and his own Positiones mediae stellarum fixarum.
No summary available.
The third and last part of the Geology [South America] will be published in a few days. Apologises for not sending JSH the other volumes.
Has attended Southampton [BAAS] meeting.
No summary available.