From:
Hudson Gurney
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
6 Mar 1834
Source of text:
MSG 2 / 263, Dep. c. 370, Bod, MS
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Brigitte Stenhouse
No summary available.
They learn from a garbled report in the Times that CD’s specimens have arrived in Cambridge.
William Clift, at Royal College of Surgeons, delighted by CD’s letter about the bones that were sent to Plymouth.
Strange coincidence that Royal College of Surgeons has the front portion and CD has sent home the remainder of a skull, of which a drawing can now be completed.
Other news of family and friends.
No summary available.
The chronometer can remain at the Grove for the time being; it seems to preserve a more uniform rate than the transit clock.
No summary available.
JSH makes arrangements for subscription to Baxter’s British Phaenogamous Botany and makes offer of duplicates.
Invites Herschels and Dr. Duncan Stewart to dine with TM. Would like to compare their barometers. Would like also to show JH his own investigation on the mural circle. Has procured a chameleon.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
No summary available.
A letter full of news of Cambridge and friends: the BAAS meeting at Cambridge; charges of corruption in the University; the Cambridge petition on behalf of Dissenters.
Reviews his voyage to Africa in case CH did not receive JH's 1834-1-21 letter. Repairing the house that they bought outside of Cape Town, called 'Feldhausen' by the Dutch and 'The Grove' by the English; they are staying at another home close by. Happy that Table Mountain near the house shelters Feldhausen from southeast gales.
CD asks the time of shipment and vessel in which the [Megatherium] bones were conveyed.
Patagonia swarms with guanaco, but few other creatures.
Hopes to be able to draw up a tolerable sketch of the geology of the east side of S. America.
Saw Jemmy Button, who is married and will stay in Tierra del Fuego. Mentions Falkland uprising.
After a very candid analysis of his own strengths and limitations in learning, JH surveys mathematics and empirical science, noting the works of highest quality and greatest accessibility. JH then provides an analysis of historical inquiry and the allied area of political philosophy, stressing the importance of statistically based studies. Concludes by a discussion of philosophy, especially logic and methodologies of inquiry.
Saw a 'small round perfectly defined body' last night that looks like a planet.
No summary available.
Found a 'very fine' planetary nebula. Unable to learn anything conclusive from TM's microscope readings. JH's observation tower is erected and is currently being plastered.
Should have written earlier to thank him for the useful catalogue of stars. Weather has been fine, but he is still waiting for his eye tube from William Simms. Remarks on Orion's nebulae.