Reports on the insect specimens [collected by CD] from Australia, New Zealand, and Tierra del Fuego. Has not completed descriptions.

J. D. Thompson plans to write JH about problem of positioning tide gage in dockyard. Admiral [Patrick Campbell] may move it to end of jetty. RW suggests omitting night observations in winter; jetty dangerous in bad weather. Will soon be ordered home. Amused by JH's report on Ascension [Island] sulfur. Sorry to hear Mary Herschel is ill. RW's son William is well again, but weak.

Continues to be concerned that the support for John Fairbairn not be seen as a political act, nor as one intended to impugn the decision of the South African Court of Justice. [Letter completed with a lengthy postscript on 1837-7-10.]

Prefers that JH's name not appear on HR's list of subscribers in support of John Fairbairn. Gives reasons. Suggests appropriate wording for HR's public statement of support for Fairbairn.

About some observations, the weather, and the difficulty of establishing tide observations, given the slowness of the Admiralty.

Awful night of thunder, wind, and rain; floods around the Observatory. Gives rainfall since 22 June. Has written to [J. D.?] Thompson to observe tides at Simon's Bay. Has no one at Table Bay. Measured Alpha Centauri on the meridian. Found JH's planetary nebulae with the mural circle.

Has finished the Journal; is readying it for the press.

Adds family news including Caroline’s forthcoming marriage to Josiah Wedgwood III.

Measurement of h Centauri.

Referee’s report on "Elevation on the coast of Chili" [(1838), Collected papers 1: 41–3] and paper by Alexander Caldcleugh on same subject. Recommends printing CD’s in Transactions and shortening Caldcleugh’s. [W. Lonsdale’s note shows CD’s paper withdrawn 15 Nov 1837, Caldcleugh’s ordered not printed 15 Nov 1837.]

Has been "cramming up learning to ornament my journal with".

Sends a list of questions on his botanical specimens. Needs answers for Journal of researches, which he expects to go to press in August.

Comments on stellar observations made by TM and reports JH's observations on sunspots. Notes error in [J. E.] Bode's celestial map.

Gives altered directions for making meteorological observations to be sent to the South African Literary and Philosophical Institution.

Found the 'real' h Centauri; unsure what star is the 'false' h Centauri. Saw the largest sunspot that JH has ever seen. Saddened to learn that TM's son [George] is seriously ill.

No summary available.

Thanks for JH's interest in the 'little fellow'; he has now passed all danger. Is glad JH has unravelled the mysteries of h Centauri. Wrote to Thomas Brisbane pointing out imperfections in the catalogue. Has started to publish an abstract of the Met[eorological] J[our]n[a]l in the Government Gazette. Will not attend the glittering assembly at Government House tonight.

Reports on JH's efforts to secure tidal observations for WW, the Duke of Northumberland's offer to finance the printing of JH's Cape astronomical observations, and JH's sighting of Saturn's sixth satellite. Encourages WW's efforts to write a philosophy of the inductive sciences.

Questions about woods in cold, northern climates; about JR’s reference to frozen sandstone; about how far out from the shore the sea may become frozen.

His petition for assistance from the government is in statu quo; he is working at his Journal [of researches].

The departure of missionaries [again; see JM's and WB's 1835-8-6] allows JM and WB to send along further material on the Mappa Selenographica.

No summary available.

Introduces Frederic Smith and asks the Herschels to be kind to him when he arrives at the Cape. Is anxious to see JH again.