No summary available.
Gives Latin motto. Is sending his chemical book.
Informing CB of the death of Mrs. Beckwith [wife of Thomas?]. W. E. Parry has returned successfully.
William Herschel's health. Lady Watson and Miss Joy are well. Sad that JH will not visit Bath.
Offering any assistance during the funeral period of Mrs. Beckwith [wife of Thomas?].
Received Smith's letter from Holkham, [Norfolk, home of Sir Thomas William Coke]. Supposes Smith occupied "by the business which has so long disgraced the house of Lords, but more so everyone of those who have brought such foul matters before them" [probably "trial" of Queen Caroline], his opinion same as Lord Harewood's speech in today's paper and regardless of whatever party is more in the wrong the business in hand is "insanity & is more likely to shake the government than the attempts of the Radicals". Prince Leopold seems to have had "some tiff" with the King [George III (1738-1820)] lately.
His son and daughter-in-law have been placing single trees and shrubs on the lawn "so zealously that the Lady carries various articles, & even digs". His son has renounced foxhunting. His own health generally good but debility and rheumatism leave him helpless at hedges and when shooting has to be pulled through.
His garden thriving: had asparagus on the 3rd and peas today, the former raised in a "pigeon holed frame" invented by McPhail which prevents manure vapours affecting the bed so the produce is sweeter. Disapproves of [Thomas] A[ndrew] Knight's "filthy practice of drenching [his] fig, & his pines, with a mixture of piegons' dung & water the colour of Porter" to guarantee multiple crops from his fig tree, received a letter reporting nine crops in fifteen months. Too few woodcocks this season to prove his theory that only males come over in first flight; encloses exterior quill feathers [not extant] of the male as example, females have a white line running most of the way from the quill to the extremity, small ink sketch illustrating this.
Copying and "tearing out likenesses in paper"; there is much chance in tracing them, encloses example of "old Mrs Warburton, well known in the society at York 30 or 40 years ago", requests its return. Just requested specimen of 'Menziesia caerulea' from Scotland and will attempt to procure 'Menziesia polifolia' through his sister, Lady Roche, in Dublin.
Offers JH the consolations of religion to deal with his unhappiness.
Thanking him for offer of assistance. Will call on him and give him papers for the Astronomical Society.
HW expected news of Mrs. Beckwith's death, following receipt of letter from Mary Baldwin describing poor health of her sister.
Discusses study of Oolite beds. Mother recently died. Will bring paper to publisher. Discusses last Cambridge Philosophical Society meeting, [James] Wood, and [E. D.] Clarke. Cannot locate the crystal JH requested.
No summary available.
No doubt of Sir Humphry Davy's election as President of the Royal Society. Account of first Linnean Society meeting of the season, attended in "great force", though once the reading of [William Elford] Leach's entomological paper is complete there will be a lack of papers; hopes Smith will be able to supply the gap. Proposes that the Linnean Society lease Sir Joseph Banks' house on expiry of lease of their Gerrard Street rooms; [Robert] Brown is amenable. [Alexander] Macleay detained in Scotland by illness of his daughter, who has scarlet fever. Proposes that Brown's salary is raised and attached solely to his office as Librarian, with "some inferior person" replacing his duties as Clerk.
The Linnean Club met recently but they have lost William Smith's membership, and seceders to the new club have also reduced their numbers.
About the expenses and arrangements regarding the publication of JH's A Collection of Examples of the Application of the Calculus of Finite Differences.
Returns the polarizing apparatus by the Windsor coach, and is grateful for the loan of it. Hopes to supply Dr. Jackson with a suitable instrument. Sending a paper on parallel plates.
Will see JH on Friday; hoping for clear weather.
No summary available.
No summary available.