Problems observing Halley's Comet. Sends first batch of TM's reduction of Thomas Brisbane's stars. Does JH approve J. C. Adamson's and J. R. Innes's offer to help calculate and tabulate Expedition data? Francis Baily's proposal to rename constellations. Renegotiating price for repairs on equatorial. Describes dream resulting from reading Baily's life of John Flamsteed.

Observation of Halley's Comet. Sends servant to pick up information on star 'Constants.'

Encloses the list in JH's own handwriting. Has placed two silver wires in the eye piece of the micrometer. Will JH secure him some cobweb for placing in the micrometer.

Sends the original of the barometer observations as he cannot spare the time to copy them. Had hoped to have the Brisbane stars ready on Monday. Comet was invisible last night.

Dr. Andrew Smith called yesterday. Has succeeded in establishing a postal system for the Observatory. The comet was faint last evening. Had a parcel from the Admiralty but no word about the tide gauge. Sends the Simon's Bay observations, also the P. P. Barraud chronometer, which loses time at a great rate.

Returns the hourly observations of the last equinox. There will be a meeting of the Institute tomorrow. Has removed the silver lines from the mural circle and replaced them by Bermuda cobwebs. Would like to insert these in JH's micrometer. Has been busy calculating a large table of precessions in R.A. Capt. Alexander should desist from newspaper writing.

Letters from W. H. Smyth. Notes on Halley's Comet and possible planet sighting.

Believes his acquaintance with the comet is drawing to a close. A 30" transit was placed in the meridian last night. Returns the Pulkova observations. Believes the bad weather may have upset Lady Herschel's journey.

Mural and transit are at JH's command. Will have pleasure in joining him on Saturday. Has a good supply of balls and will procure some goose shot.

Has asked Dr. Andrew Smith, Capt. J. E. Alexander, and their friends for Saturday; hopes JH can join them. Has recognized fifteen of the November cometary stars; they are in Harding's map with one exception. The Ephemeris will require a small correction.

Is proceeding at a respectable speed with the Brisbane list. Has received [Andrew?] Smith's box safely. Saw Dr. Smith last night; he is more reconciled. Many thanks for the trees; the ground is suitable to receive them.

Believes the wires are 0.2" thicker than the old ones. Dust has settled on the parallel wires of the telescope. Advises how adjustment may be made to JH's micrometer for parallelism.

Has returned the drawings to [Andrew?] Smith not having received carte blanche to look at them. Bent one of the thick wires of the micrometer when taking out the plate, so has inserted another. The micrometer will be ready tomorrow. Clean Bermuda webs and two silver wires of 6" diameter.

Was necessary to reduce the whole of the sixth months' observations. More scanty than he desired but much of his time was taken up observing the comet stars. Is now busy with the comet stars. Does not send the precession as JH has them in his list.

Observations of 'Comet stars.' Sends original 'Transit book.' Take care of it.

Mrs. Maclear is much better and has given birth to a son, their first.

Sends the list of comet stars; the constants will be computed at the Observatory and will send a copy. Encloses letters from [W. H.] Smyth and others. Lead is being removed from the roof of the lantern.

Sends annotations to JH's 'sweeping sheet.' Complains of errors in ring micrometer.

Sorry for surprise in church yesterday. Last minute request for JH and wife [to be godparents] was unplanned. Notes on 'Parallax & refraction.' Will soon observe all stars in [F. W.] 'Bessel's zone.'

Intends to dispatch the packet to the Admiralty in a few days and await Francis Beaufort's instructions regarding the printing. TM's son would be grateful for the Herschels' gift could he express thanks himself. Would like the loan of the actinometer. Sends the dome observations.