Is pleased that JH has been appointed to succeed Elizabeth Baily at Tavistock Place. Regarding a situation for Miss Baily's servant.

JH cannot attend Aberdeen [B.A.A.S.] meeting due to severe illness. Will try to sketch draft of response to application to British and foreign governments for cooperation in magnetic projects.

Names three nephews of Charles Babbage and their financial status relative to Hollier fund, for which JH is trustee.

Returns JH report with one correction, substituting Kazan for North Cape, because [Christopher] Hansteen cannot find Norwegian observers. Will make copies of its final form and take one to B.A.A.S. meeting in Aberdeen. Mr. Bolyani has visited every magnetic observatory in Europe. 1854 was the year of minimum magnetic disturbances in Peking.

Sends procedures for preparation of the report of the Magnetic Committee for the meeting of the B.A.A.S., which JH cannot attend due to illness; asks some questions about achromatic lens theory.

Asks WW to check JH's draft report for the Meteorological and Magnetic Committee. Illness will keep him from attending the B.A.A.S. meeting.

Encloses ES's résumé of magnetic surveys accomplished by U.K., written to encourage similar surveys in China and North America. Perhaps JH may append this to JH's report.

Elizabeth Baily died this morning, quietly and painlessly. Her last few weeks had been saddened by delusions.

Sends Council report to be read next week. Instructed printers Taylor & Francis to accept any changes that JH may request. Sent copies of JH's report to Humphrey Lloyd and G. B. Airy. Gives ES's address in Scotland.

All arrangements have been made for the burial of Elizabeth Baily. When did JH first become acquainted with Francis Baily? Gives his own earliest recollections. Has now placed all his books on their shelves.

About GA's plans to attend the B.A.A.S. meeting in Leeds.

Encloses a paper and gives his comments on it.

Thanks HL for the response to JH's queries [see JH's 1859-9-4].

Has no objection to his letter being communicated to the R.A.S. Comments on his observations. Thanks for his paper on musical pitch. Sees that new copper coinage is to be introduced and hopes that JH will use his influence to introduce the decimal system.

Thanks for fine basket of venison. Hopes that Lady Herschel is stronger after her visit to the North.

JH is reorganizing house while MH is away; other family news; MH is comforting someone very ill.

Relates experiences while on a 10 day visit to Ireland. Now waiting for a train to Aberdeen. Professor [Philip?] Kelland injured in rail accident at Hitchin. Comments on the carelessness of railway workers. Agitation again at the Cape over the recall of Sir George Grey. Jack [TM's son?] has received orders for service, perhaps China.

Hears that JH is to inherit Baily's house. Recalls how he first met W. H. Wollaston and Francis Baily.

Shares JB's experiences with visual abnormalities similar to those described in JH's 'Sensorial Vision' (1858). Encloses copy of related subject that JB found in Section 45 of John Locke's 'On the Conduct of the Understanding.'

About the impending death of someone they both hold dear; the nature of the Scots, and an inheritance from Elizabeth Baily.