Describes a tour of ships and dockyards at Southampton, including a view of James Nasmyth's steam hammer; got the last train for London, where JH is spending a few days with E. MacKintosh before returning home.

Protests erroneous impression in today's report of JH's conduct at closing meeting of B.A.A.S. Does not know what gave rise to T. D. Morris-Stirling's remarks regarding electric telegraph. Witnesses confirm that JH did not malign British science. [JH annotation: Printed 21 Sept. 1846.]

Received copy of TM's letter to the Times and sends copy of JH's letter to the Times. Recounts words that JH and TM used; wishes 'foam' had been used instead of 'scum,' to prevent misunderstanding [at B.A.A.S. meeting].

Returns two papers, which had been missent, thus preventing JH from communicating them at a meeting.

Talks about considerations to be taken into account when building telescope specula, especially large ones.

A long statement against a very nasty article in the Mechanics Magazine on the priority controversy surrounding the discovery of Neptune.

[The discovery of Neptune having been just announced], JH calls attention to JH's recent suggestion to the B.A.A.S. that such a discovery was imminent; states that in 1842 JH had discussed the idea of a trans-Uranian planet with F. W. Bessel, and that [J. C.] Adams of Cambridge had carried out an investigation comparable to that of U. J. J. Leverrier.

Announces, to WL, the discovery of a new planet beyond Uranus, gives co-ordinates, and urges WL to look for satellites 'with all possible expedition.'

Do not let catalogues make WS uneasy. Government money is available to pay printer. Will try to bring out N. L. Lacaille's work before 25 Sept. if JH can obtain [Thomas] Henderson's papers and WS's notes for the preface. Will not interfere with [T.R.] Robinson's committee.

Questions related to JH's 1846-9-26 having been asked by RR, JH writes to answer these questions.

There is a need for a meeting of the Committee of Physics [R.S.L.] to discuss the current method of making temperature corrections for magnetic observations.

A committee meeting is being called [see JH's 1846-10-22].

Has obtained puzzling results when reducing JH's observations of the sixth satellite of Saturn.

Gives WW permission to print JH's translation of 'The Walk' by Friedrich Schiller. Comments further on the acceptance of pentametric and hexametric verse by the English, and includes a few verses of JH's own. JH well along in having his Cape Results in print.

Has secured the permission JE requested to allow [Karl I.] Gerhardt to get transcripts of letters held by R.S.L. from G. W. Leibniz to Henry Oldenburg. [Continued 1846-11-6] Mentions controversy over discovery of Neptune. Thanks JE for publications sent.

Gives corrections to the proof copy of JH's translation of Friedrich Schiller's 'The Walk.' Comments on the failure in England to discover the new planet [Neptune] and on his own and James Challis's role in the controversy that erupted.

Being unable to attend committee meeting to consider recommendations for Royal Medal, elaborates reasons for thinking Edward Sabine's memoirs on terrestrial magnetism worthy of award.

Proposes a plan for the distribution of printed copies of the star catalogues [see GA's 1845-7-25].

Has made some minor adjustments in JH's satellite of Saturn results [see JH's 1846-11-2], but the major discrepancy still exists.

WH's theorems on ellipsoids are new to JH, but JH is unfamiliar with the field, so they may not actually be new. Wishes to master mathematics. Still working on Cape observations. Believes Neptune was almost an English discovery, and would have been well-named Minerva.