Passionately protests bill before Parliament for compulsory adoption of French metric system, 'a piece of French national vanity.'
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Passionately protests bill before Parliament for compulsory adoption of French metric system, 'a piece of French national vanity.'
Thanks WS for his Iliad translation. JH has just finished Book 3 of his own translation of the Iliad.
Fragment of a letter discussing diffraction, JH's son's journey to observe eclipse and strong polarization of sun's corona, evidence of vast solar atmosphere.
Discusses at length the means of calculating the mean daily rainfall in India, and comments on son John's work in geodesy.
Has received the notice of the meeting, but regrets his ill health will prevent his attendance at the meeting.
Works out the derivation for a mathematical problem, and JH suggests that son John should use this derivation in his paper; it is christening day for William, son of John's sister Caroline. [Also included is a one page letter of family news from sister Julia.]
At JR's request [see JR's 1865-1-7], attests to merits of late George Boole as mathematician, in support of petition for government pension for Boole's widow.
Reports on H. G. Hennessey's paper [R.S.L. Proceedings, 13, 312-] on synchronous distribution of temperature over earth's surface. Feels bewildered by paper, and believes it could be condensed.
Encloses published letter of 20 Dec. 1864 from JH to editors of Philosophical Magazine and Journal concerning Charles Babbage, who 'revived this miserable subject' of 1826 dispute between W. H. Wollaston and Humphry Davy regarding Babbage's candidacy for R.S.L. secretaryship.
Lists works received. Has been suffering severely from bronchitic attacks. Is translating Iliad into hexameter verse.
Sending a lump of a substance quarried near Edenderry; has found some very similar in a quarry of his own. Can send some more specimens. Congratulations on his Baronetcy. Has been prostrated with bronchitis.
Sends Book XIV of JH's Iliad translation. Fears he may not live to finish it and may not find a publisher. Glorious winter in England. Son William and wife have arrived in Calcutta.
Returns the certificates duly signed and also Angelo Secchi's letter, which he was pleased to see. Elaborates on the possible causes of James Nasmyth's 'willow leaves.'
Comments on the revolution of the apsides of the earth's orbit and its effect on glacier theory; further comments on the earth pyramids of Botzen [see CL's 1865-1-31], and associated phenomena.
PS's results on light and magnitude of stars agree with JH's results at the Cape. Comments on PS's research on light of planets.
In response to comments in a paper by JC, JH writes to establish his priority with respect to the significance of the revolution of the apsides of the earth's orbit and the eccentricity of the earth's orbit in affecting temperatures on the earth. JH had spelled this out in an 1830 paper for the Transactions of the Geological Society, and repeated it in his Outlines Astr.
Writes to CL about JH's response to James Croll's paper. Includes an extract from JH's letter to James Croll [see JH's 1865-2-6].
Asks WW to check the R.S.L. council book for 23 Nov. 1826 to inform JH as to who was present.
On the significance of the full moon and its influence on the weather.
Attempts further clarification of the matter discussed in JH's 1864-12-20 to the P.M. Reiterates JH's recollection of a conversation between W. H. Wollaston and Humphry Davy, which JH had described in a letter [see JH's 1826-11-25 to Francis Baily] and which JH refers to in his letter of resignation to Davies Gilbert [see JH's 1827-6-27], which latter letter JH quotes.