Will not be time to take the zenith sector to Klypfonteyn before JH's departure. Must finish work with the pendulum as it has to be returned to Francis Baily via JH. Will ride over on Sunday morning.
Will not be time to take the zenith sector to Klypfonteyn before JH's departure. Must finish work with the pendulum as it has to be returned to Francis Baily via JH. Will ride over on Sunday morning.
Urges against carrying up Table Mountain the zenith sector sent to TM to check N. L. Lacaille's measurement of a degree of terrestrial longitude. Comments on JH's skill with precision instruments.
Intended calling on JH today but legs and feet were too swollen. Has postponed his journey to Klypfonteyn until the first week in March, to make some alterations to the instrument. Is glad JH will visit the mountains with him. Believes the Thalia is about to sail soon. Formalhoet is now useless at noon.
Inviting the Herschels to dinner on Friday or Saturday.
Sends latest publications. Has received highly surprizing letter on meteors by Mr. Wood. Discusses 'famous apparitions.'
Received meteorite specimen. Michael Faraday will conduct analysis. Admiralty agrees to give TM an assistant. Finds a theodolite telescope for Cape Observatory.
Pleased with the observations and astronomical literature JH received from FS; JH is packing up for the return to England; comments on causes of variations in stellar magnitude and several other astronomical topics.
Presents, in response to a memorandum from JB, JH's views on such matters as the administration, staffing, and funding of the Government Free Schools at the Cape of Good Hope.
Thanks JH for his long and insightful memorandum of 1838-2-17 on the system of Government Free Schools at the Cape of Good Hope. Accepts many of JH's ideas and requests that JH, after returning to England, present JH's ideas to Lord Glenelg.
Due to his impending departure from the Cape he has had little opportunity of seeing DL's son George. Does not think he will be in a position to write a popular article on his work in the Southern Hemisphere yet awhile. Several errors in his Treatise Astr., which he would like to correct.
JH, in preparing to leave Cape, thanks WS for having sent Nautical Almanacs to him there. Discusses motions of a comet appearing to move whimsically, the periodical star alpha Hydrae, other stars, and the re-discovery of Saturn's sixth satellite.