Many thanks for the beautiful specimen of Satyrium, which he has named in honor of Lady Herschel. Discusses various plants and the effect of climate. Is sorry to hear the Herschels are contemplating leaving the Cape.
Showing 81–100 of 109 items
Many thanks for the beautiful specimen of Satyrium, which he has named in honor of Lady Herschel. Discusses various plants and the effect of climate. Is sorry to hear the Herschels are contemplating leaving the Cape.
Sends hourly meteorological observations for March, June and September. Comments on these and the climate of New England. Further details of the fall of meteors. Francis Baily has sent his article on the eclipse of 1836. Delivered JH's message to Nathaniel Bowditch. Other scientific news.
Found ten species of orchids on Table Mountain yesterday. Gives details of some and discusses their distribution.
Observing 2000 stars in a check of Giuseppe Piazzi's catalogue.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Thanks for the perusal of [W. H.?] Smyth's letter; also had one, which he will send later when he has considered certain points. The zenith sector is on board the Wellesley, expected daily. Benjamin D'Urban has granted all TM's wishes regarding the survey. Re-surveyed the ground this morning.
Availed himself of the calm weather to finish the parade measurement. Gives an account of the work.