Sends meteorological observation charts from Highfield House Observatory.
Sends meteorological observation charts from Highfield House Observatory.
Family news, wedding of a friend's daughter, suffering with jaundice.
Hopes JH will return when fruit is ripe to harvest.
A story about Voltaire; arrangements to visit AD.
Reasons why he is unable to sign the Memorial to the bishops regarding their attitude to Essays and Reviews.
Thanks for the additional subscription to the Rifle Corps. Regrets that he could not attend due to indisposition.
Has just received his note and written to the Royal Institution so that he may get an answer without delay. Sends his best wishes to the family.
Asks about other portraits of William Herschel like one RW owns, which National Portrait Gallery wants to buy. Will send miniature of WH's portrait to JH.
Is grateful for JH's opinion. Can hardly imagine that such a simple contrivance should answer the purpose. Saw the patent agent who has offered to send a list of all the writings on the subject. Also brought the matter before B. C. Brodie (the elder), who now seems totally blind.
Regarding increasing the payment to the Secretaries of the R.S.L. Would like JH's comments.
A letter of great sadness: someone is at death's door; not much hope is held out. [This letter may refer to the imminent death of daughter Margaret Louisa, because of its reference to poor Reginald, which was the name of MLH's husband].
Gratitude for sending [John] Taylor's book. Believes dimensions of Great Pyramid exhibit knowledge of geometry but not of calculus among ancient Egyptians. Suggests way to modify British standard of length to produce 'perfect metrical system' superior to that of French.
Agrees with BB that the honorarium paid to the secretaries should be increased. Further comments on this point.
Sends back manuscript of WH's [Elements of Quaternions] with comments. Says it's excellent but somewhat distracting to a beginner.
Sends W. H. Smyth's history of R.S.L. Club [Sketch of the Rise and Progress of the Royal Society Club, 1860]. Mentions W. H. Smyth's retiring from visiting R.S.L. Club.
Would like to dedicate his 'Elements of musical science' to JH.
Regrets the delay in answering JH's letter but he has been abroad. Will supply any details if not too late for his purpose. The mounting of his large telescope is peculiar and is similar to that used by Smyth.
Has interpreted the word 'honorary' quite correctly.
[Responding to HS's 1859-12-31,] JH presents additional problems in the nebular hypothesis, critiques in detail HS's views of the distribution of cometary orbits, and argues against HS's theory of sunspot formation.
Is grateful for being allowed to dedicate his book to JH; also for his information on harmonics.