No other 'letter of agents' here. MH is right about son William's camera. JH longs for Collingwood.
Showing 1–20 of 28 items
No other 'letter of agents' here. MH is right about son William's camera. JH longs for Collingwood.
Distressing train trip back to London. JH protested at Tunbridge Wells and had third class passengers removed from second class carriage. MH's medicine works well for JH. Will go to Charley Street this evening.
JH and daughters attended German minister C. C. J. Bunsen's dinner, met distinguished guests. Describes delicate Etruscan vases at Bunsen's. Has MH received money from [Thomas] Ayern for timber? James [C. Stewart] was in London yesterday. Mr. M [Murchison?] says that 'G. is in very bad hands,' but JH's daughters report that she was well yesterday. Encloses note from G. B. Airy, who was not impressed by [?]'s test results. Bills for [son William's] tuition at Haileybury.
Home remedies for JH's insomnia. Mr. Gibsone returned from Berlin and visited JH last night, causing JH to miss seeing comet again. It is not J. R. Hind's missing comet.
Describes 'First Dinner' at Billingsgate. Adjourned to [Richard] Jones's rooms on Suffolk Street for tea and herrings. Charles Trevelyan is out of town.
Tell Miss [Rufeneals?] that JH will take care of money owned by Miss Brandon. JH and son William will come to Collingwood for weekend. Will write to Colonial Office on behalf of [William?] Mann. Thomas Maclear will rejoice to have daughter return to Cape.
Mostly family matters, especially the education of several of their sons.
About their son Alexander, and the striking of 60,000 medals.
Mostly about JH's health and instructions about the madeira and claret JH is sending home.
As the Mint is closing for a week, JH is trying to arrange a long weekend at Collingwood.
Will be home a few days later than expected as JH is involved in a court case to be heard immediately after the one he is sitting through, and which he describes.
Received formal notice that MH will be voted to membership in Royal Institution on 3 Mar. John Barlow will reserve seats for daughters Caroline and Isabella. JH has tickets to Institution lectures. Son William's exams with W. T. Hooper [at Haileybury College] yesterday. Family finances.
Describes son William's entrance exam to Haileybury College yesterday and procedure of announcing results. Assured by [H.E.I.C. director] W. H. C. Plowden that William's assignment can be changed from Madras to Bombay. W. H. Fitton delivered 'Umbrella and [Panel?]' last night. Daily News criticized JH for inaction. Promoting decimal coinage. Mint is in crisis.
About the family, and the need for wine from the cellar at Collingwood.
Unhappy with matters at the Mint; JH talks about the activities of the children, and about his involvement with the Great Exhibition. [Most of the letter written on 1851-4-7.]
Describes JH's day at Mint and at home. Reading H. V. Regnault's 'Chemistry.' Met with Richard Grenville about 'miserably knotty affair' with Benedetto Pistrucci. Inspected [W. A.] Miller's improved assay process at R.S.L. Arranged with Sir [Charles] Fremantle to employ twenty Custom House clerks at Mint temporarily. Arranged lease of refinery to Rothschild. Too busy to join daughters and Miss Stewart for dinner and opera. Dined at Duke of Somerset's with Charles Babbage, [Holland?], and David Brewster.
Of JH's activities with some of the children; about an invitation to the Mansion House ball, and of the health and activities of several friends.
About the expected death of [Richard] Jones; JH is about to leave to visit him and Mrs. Jones.
Is awaiting notice that he needs to go to see [Richard] Jones, who is very ill with a carbuncle on his neck. JH also comments on arrangements to be made related to Jones's illness.
It appears JH is just back from Paris, and so brings MH up to date on the health of various individuals and on JH's activities. Describes the procedure for making fused muriate of lime, and the costs of insurance and income taxes.