Sending the spherometer. Discusses stars and nebulae observed near the South Pole.

Thanks for paper. Discusses fossils, 'singular' land formation in Cape area. Asks WB to remember JH to 'geological friends' and tell [Charles] Daubeny of JH's specimen of Daubeny's root.

Hard at work mapping the polar stars. Rejoices at Dr. Andrew Smith's success. The results of tonight will be delivered by J. K. Gibbs in the morning.

Sends September 1837 Asiatic Journal. T. E. Cantor leaves for the Cape. JP asks if the Cape Museum would want an elephant or rhinoceros skeleton.

Reports that Dr. Andrew Smith received a grant of £1500 from the British government.

Gives a list of the close Polar stars. Started last night to observe the stars on JH's list but was put off by JH's right ascensions. Will observe each star again this night. John Fairbairn cannot divest himself of the apprehension of danger to Andries Stockenström.

Sends the results of one good night's observations entirely reduced. More transit observations are in process of being reduced.

Polar region was thick this evening so that very minute stars were invisible. Set C. P. Smyth to the transit and himself at the circle to observe JH's list of stars. Received the spherometer safely. Intends to stake out the base line again on Tuesday. [Andrew?] Sm[y]th's expedition will be a serious undertaking in the Eastern direction.

Returns the specimens with the names. Sends a magnificent specimen of Orobanche, which may be a new species. Comments on the scent of plants. Will be glad to hear the results of his experiments on the temperature of bulbs. Comments on changes due to removal. Sleep in plants.

Has delayed writing in order to send the correspondence about the Observatory. Has received a letter from the Colonial Office praising his work and increasing his salary, also taking over financial responsibility for the instruments. Is not satisfied with the life at Mauritius.

Sending his pamphlet on the tea plant. Comments on the geological features of the Chittagong area. Hopes that JH will have time to look at the fossils.

Compares his observations for some stars with the observations of TM.

Examined the base line on Tuesday; gives a resume of the operations. On Monday night observed the Polar stars; comments on the disappearance of certain stars in the Brisbane catalogue. Thinks a chain is preferable to deal rods in measuring base lines.

[Postscript to a letter by Margaret Herschel:] JH notes that he has finished the reduction of the first 9 hours in Right Ascension of his southern nebulae and double stars.

Polishing telescope mirrors.

Thanks for two letters. Updates JH on observatories participating in horary observations. Proposes to reduce observations. Sends second part of Brussel's annals and other works. Discusses a phenomenon on 10 August. Mentions several observations of the Aurorae Borealis.

Asks TM for some trigonometric information regarding a particular set of points.

Sending the mean of all the observations on the polars. Comments on the base line, and gives readings.

Encloses a plan of the triangulation and comments on his method. Thinks of making the baseline on the parade a permanent standard and has written to the Governor to obtain permission, as there is friction between the Board of Ordnance and the Cape Authorities over the ownership of the Parade. Has had no reply from the Governor as yet.

Sends two drawings of C. P. Smyth and a portrait of Isaac Newton sent by Dr. [John?] Lee; also a plan of the triangulation.