JH's daughter Maria is getting married. JH has been ill. The Iliad translation is almost finished.
JH's daughter Maria is getting married. JH has been ill. The Iliad translation is almost finished.
A French civil engineer having proposed in the previous issue of the IO the idea of supporting roofs on the principle of the suspension bridge, JH reports that JH came up with this idea in 1836 and provides a sketch of such that JH made in that year.
Is working on a problem in polarized light, and finds his result disagreeing with F. J. D. Arago's third law; leads JH to think light cannot be undulatory in nature.
Suggests a method employing compressed air for cooling the working area in a deep mine.
Asks WW to welcome Mr. Prescott, a minister taking a position in Cambridge. Comments on a new Iliad translation.
JH's son William now lives in Bengal. JH cannot explain why William's membership to Amateur Photographic Association is unpaid. Will notify William in JH's next letter.
Comments on GA's explanations about polarized light, and discusses GA's idea of the nature of light [see GA's 1865-10-18].
Saddened by the poor treatment of W. H. Smyth [see GA's 1865-10-18].
A 'pep talk' from father to son on the occasion of son John's birthday.
Passes along a report that someone took a 4-foot telescope to the top of Snowdon [mountain], from where he could see the eight satellites of Saturn and the rings of Neptune.
Realizes that GA is quite correct [see GA's 1865-10-30]; JH had neglected a basic principle about interference.