Wonders if JH has received AQ's letters and works sent to the Cape. Sends more. Has been doing meteorological observations. Will send some if JH wishes. Mural circle and transit instrument finally in place. Problems with equatorial; therefore missed Halley's Comet.

No summary available.

Has just received JH's two letters of 5 and 25 Dec. Will prepare duplicates of his letters and pendulum observations and send them to Francis Beaufort. Has still heard nothing about the Observatory.

Reports the death of family members. Reveals news of new Pulkowa observatory. Has completed his work on micrometer measurements, resulting in 10,500 observations. Includes lists of aspects of his works.

CD’s 27th birthday. News of family and friends. A niece, Mary Susan Parker, born 31 January.

Presents JH with R.A.S. medal for Catalogue of Nebulae.

No summary available.

Replies to WH's letter on 'Scotodynamics.' Cannot follow WH's analysis of velocities of vibrations and disturbances, but finds it symbolically beautiful and powerful. Notes that diploma [?] arrived and was sent to Hanover. Thanks WH on behalf of Caroline Herschel, who sent a letter acknowledging the honor bestowed on her by Royal Irish Academy.

All prefer Hobart Town and its society to Sydney. CD’s view on emigration to colonies. All on board are homesick.

Forwarding meteorological and magnetic observations for Sept. and Dec. 1835. Has had no letter from the Governor, but is given to understand he may spend £100 towards the erection of a tide gauge. Have had two violent floods.

Finds the voyage tedious at present.

Expects that the different scientific societies will be of the greatest use to his work in London when he returns home.

Gives some impressions of Australia.

No summary available.

Comments on the papers of evidence placed before the Aborigines Committee, and expresses himself vehemently about the sin of having penal colonies.

Many thanks for the portrait; it shall soon have a resting place. Will not rest until the comet observations are en route to England. T. G. Taylor does not observe himself. There was a beautiful occultation of three stars last night.

Reports the birth of his fifth child, Alexander Stewart. Has made some excellent observations of Halley's Comet. Asks CH to inform Carl Gauss that JH has not received Gauss's magnetometer nor is JH certain of how to use it.

Reports that JH has been looking at Halley's Comet 'every night.'

Comments on the accusations made about himself before the Aborigines Committee.

Unable to send the Parramatta observations as the vessel is leaving too soon. Has just returned from a meeting to consider [William?] Ritchie's new optical glasses. George Dollond speaks well of them.

Speculates on extinction of species by natural (not miraculous) causes intermediate to Creator. JH's theory of shifting crust over Earth's surface and its subsequent transfer of pressure. Seeks geological primum mobile for volcanoes based on continual deposition and melting of strata. 'All records of former worlds must ultimately perish.'

Thanks CL for the gift of a new edition of CL's Principles of Geology. JH comments on a number of issues, in a very long letter, including the replacement of extinct species by other species, CL's solution of the problem of the variation of climate, and the evolution of language. JH speculates at length on the isothermal activity under the earth's crust that may result in volcanoes or the formation of new land masses, and describes a considerable number of geological examples that JH sees as supporting CL's ideas.