About geodesic books and JH's encouragement to John to keep asking questions; indeed JH is almost insistent on son John's writing to JH with questions, book needs, and confidences. JH also talks about finding the arithmetical mean of a number of observations. [Also included is the 1st page of a letter to John from one of his sisters.]

Announces son William's engagement to Emma Hardcastle; warns son John against the Anglo-Indian ladies; JH comments at length on a problem in surveying, and concludes with the news that daughter Francisca's health is improving.

Positively responds to son John's idea of geodesic measurements of much larger than usual triangles; suggests that John is not likely to be able to correct the whole world's English; JH reports about sickness in the family including his own seemingly permanent bronchitis.

Is pleased with the new wife of son William; JH is very supportive of son John's developing interest in language [an interest of JH's]; JH has not heard of any proposed Himalayan observatory; is sending a copy of his nebula catalogue.

Refers son John to JH's Meteorology for help with the mechanics of dynamic wave curves; encourages John to do good whenever he has the opportunity.