Hopes JH will stay for Sunday dinner at TY's before JH visits Dr. Litten. If so, please invite T. M. Brisbane and Francis Baily to join them. Writes formula TY discovered for discontinuous spectra. TY can now communicate with H. W. M. Olbers and T. J. Seebeck via H. C. Schumacher.
Board of Longitude would approve providing Lieutenant Forbes with apparatus JH suggested. Inappropriate for any member to address Admiralty separately. Payment of expenses to committee members.
Abandons TY's argument on Mr. Roberts's object glass. Asks JH's help in understanding A. J. Fresnel's calculations of diffraction and Josef Fraunhofer's discontinuous functions.
T. M. Brisbane is in town. Can JH meet him? JH's computations of definite integrals are simpler, more direct than P. S. Laplace's and more conclusive than Leonhard Euler's. Comments on W. H. F. Talbot's letters demonstrating Josef Fraunhofer's theorem.
Sudden demolition of Board of Longitude. TY is left as superintendent [of Nautical Almanac]. Notes quality of J. F. Encke's almanac for 1830. Should English compete with German astronomers, or discontinue almanac supplements? TY's paper on 'Astronomical Chronology' in W. T. Brande's [Quarterly Journal of Science and Art] illustrates JH's equatorial time.
Encourages TY to publish 1829 supplement to Nautical Almanac. JH originally proposed supplement to introduce improvements that would bring N. A. to be like Encke's Ephemeris. That is all ended now. English are dropping behind French and Germans in science. JH refuses to accept money from government 'which treats its agents so cavalierly.' Reduction of Parramatta [Australia] observations. Did not see TY's paper in W. T. Brande's [Quarterly Journal of Science and Art], but objects to substitution of true for mean equinox.
Will not hold JH responsible for accuracy of William Richardson's computations. No instructions yet from Admiralty about Nautical Almanac, which goes to press soon. TY will insert JH's equinoctial time. Notes two works by A. F. C. Kollman on harmony and [Beck] on 'thorough-bass.'
Feels responsible for JH refusing to accept Navy's £25 reimbursement. Used JH's [equinoctial] time [in Nautical Almanac supplement], but with different notation. Disagrees that England's scientific reputation depends upon its government. William Richardson is justified in continuing work of late Board of Longitude. Reports meeting in Paris with Jacques Babinet and François Arago.
No summary available.
Problems calculating sun's mean longitude due to movement of perigee. Questions S. D. Poisson's value for sidereal year.
No summary available.
No summary available.
JH's determination of length of equinoctial year will remain for long time. Mrs. Young is delighted to hear of JH's new discovery.
Invites JH to join TY to meet Thomas Henderson at [Davies] Gilbert's party Saturday. T. F. Colby accepted payment from Board of Longitude up to Christmas; Henry Kater would not accept payment beyond dissolution of Board. TY believes JH should accept payment at least from March to June.
Measurement of moon's diameter and distance. Expects JH will soon have 'official authority over me' and [Nautical Almanac]. Astronomers probably regulate sidereal clock by variable equinox because they cannot find a fixed one. Errors in JH's equinoctial time.