Relates CH's and Arthur [Gordon?]'s conversation yesterday with Lord Aberdeen [George Hamilton-Gordon] on how to enable JH to resign without public 'mess.' Three weeks ago, Aberdeen would have accepted JH's resignation and appointed William Henry Barton as Master, but now Aberdeen's successor must decide.

Writes to answer a question about the expansion of water on freezing.

Having been asked for copies of standards, it seems to JH that the Royal Mint is not the office to decide on such requests.

The requests should be made to the Exchequer office [see JH's 1855-2-2]; complains about the incompetence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer [W. E. Gladstone].

Discusses proposal to fix up the aerial telescope of Christiaan Huygens so as to compare his drawings of Saturn with observations made by contemporary observers using Huygens's telescope. Expresses skepticism about the project.

Received JH's letter of resignation during ministerial crisis but elected not to present it to Queen Victoria. Send it to GG's successor [H. J. Temple], together with testimony to merits of W. H. Barton as JH's successor. [JH's daughter] Caroline continues well.

Chancellor of Exchequer [W. E. Gladstone] will arrange with Lord Palmerston [H. J. Temple] for JH's retirement as Master of Mint. Thanks for GH's support against 'external influences' during JH's term.

Writes to inform GH that JH has seen the Chancellor of the Exchequer and tendered his resignation as Master of the Mint.

Call on CT when convenient.

Estimates expenses and problems in production of medals for Kaffir war veterans. Asks for authority to determine wages for workmen employed on Kaffir and Crimean medals.

Returns 'table.' Thank grandma for loan of it.

[Copy in JH's hand of memorial to Treasury from F. R. Brande and Henry Finch. JH marked this copy 'Strictly private....'] Recount improvements that FB and HF have made in Mint operations, but complain that they do not receive the consideration, encouragement, or salary that is due them. [After reading this memorial, JH opened his finished letter (also 21 Feb 1855) to Brande and added a P.S. that led Brande and Finch to withdraw this memorial.]

Urgency for delivery of gold coins is reduced. Begin rolling and cutting silver bars.

Forwards to Treasury, without JH's approval, request by F. R. Brande and Henry Finch,junior clerks in Mint office, for higher salary. [JH note: Brande disclaimed knowledge of this request. Brande and Finch retracted it, but wanted to send another. JH refused.]

Regrets to hear of the ill health of JH. Believes that a sea voyage to the Cape would work wonders. The transit circle is in full working order. Comments on some of the work connected with it. Has heard that an accident had occurred to William Parsons' (3rd Earl of Rosse) 6-foot speculum. No news of David Livingstone.

Declines to serve on experimental committee for R.S.L.

TG volunteers to succeed JH as master of Mint if JH resigns. Willing to replace JH in summers when TG's college duties are suspended. [JH annotation to wife Margaret: '...there are greater fools in the world' than JH.]

Thanks for JH's letter to Mr. McCulloch on JA's behalf. Hopes for permanent appointment.

Has no power to determine JH's successor to mastership of Mint. Make application to Lord Palmerston [H. J. Temple].

Agrees to help in other ways than as committee member [see JH's 1855-2-25].