Edward Sabine has asked him to forward J. C. Ross's notes. If JH has finished with Thomas Maclear's letter would he return it.
Edward Sabine has asked him to forward J. C. Ross's notes. If JH has finished with Thomas Maclear's letter would he return it.
Was pleased to receive the letter and old papers. Remembers his time at the Cape with pleasure. Has been interested, but not convinced, by J. C. Ross's soundings.
Unable to give any specifics concerning Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre's new photographic process. Discovered that old paper specimens produced a much better representation of the spectrum in its natural colors than those obtained at the date of JH's paper; these results are 'light on a dark ground,' which makes JH more hopeful that colored photography will someday be perfected. Has experimented with vegetable substances.
Sends JH a quantity of silver ore from Mexico.
Writes to announce the birth of daughter Amelia, and to assure RA that both JH's wife, Margaret, and new daughter are doing well.
Has deposited the new conveyance with Messrs. Drummonds and returns the key.
Will do all in his power to ensure that MM receives copies of the publications relating to the Fixed Observatories. Does not think MM could have seen a copy of JH's paper on photographic action when he wrote the notice in Annales de chimie. Comments on this paper and more recent experiments in this field.
Notes interest expressed by Macedonio Melloni in meteorological observations. Urges that R.S.L. Council give its attention to the mass of meteorological observations that have accumulated.
Angry that many call William Herschel's 40-ft. reflecting telescope 'useless.'
On discrepancy of data from G. B. Airy and Humphrey Lloyd. Captain Boileau and John Caldecott exchange instruments to normalize data. Will send letters from Airy, [A. T.] Kupffer, Lloyd, ES, and JH to John Lubbock and the R.S.L. Council concerning the discrepancies.
Admiralty wished to present him with another part of the Cape Observations, and will hold it until someone is deputed to call at the office.
Received WB's packet. Will send sheets tomorrow. Needs all 'Curves and data' before end of March for final report to B.A.A.S. JH's nerves 'shattered with night work.'
Is grateful for JH's obliging offer. Regrets his own unfortunate article regarding JH's experiments; comments on this. Is pleased JH is to continue with his on light.
Sends JH some actinometer observations and a letter from G. B. Airy to forward to Humphrey Lloyd. Also some observations of shooting stars made by [James] Farquharson.
Congratulates JH on his latest child. Notes that data from James Ross show great disturbances at the Kerguelen station simultaneously with Toronto and Greenwich. Has sent various data to C. F. Gauss. Wilhelm Weber reports a new magnetic station at Havana recording by the British system. Notes Ross's dip data supports Gauss's theoretical expectations.
Requests autographed copy of WH's sister's poems, wanting to send them to an acquaintance who translated some of JH's work. Expresses a theory about cause and effect. Mentions minutes of Royal Irish Academy, a reform of the constellations, and WH's three axes of the universe.
Magnetic observatory is still not operational one year after FW's arrival. Thomas Maclear is now in 'Zwartsland' [Zwartkops?]. FW shares quarters with C. P. Smyth and William Mann. Hopes to begin observations next week at Cape Town and Simon's Bay; G. G. Lewis will make observations at Grahamstown. Problems with meteorological instruments. Proposes magnetic survey of entire colony. [JH annotation: Enquire what FW meant about measurement conversions, malfunctioning needle, and broken tube in 19 Feb. 1841 letter to Humphrey Lloyd.]
Reports the birth of Amelia Herschel, JH's eighth child. Forwarding to CH an article describing the telescope of William Parsons.
Thinks enclosed letter should be appended to [James] Farquharson's report on aurora. Wants to bring magnetometer to Alford. Hopes JH has [Humphrey] Lloyd's article regarding instruments.
Came back from Zwartland for a day, but returns tomorrow. Relates news of the measuring of the base line. Visited magnetic observatory; work in Zwartland not yet complete. Magnetic Observatory satisfactory despite slow construction. No news of the obelisk yet.