Explains how CB responded to JH's request that CB be a trustee for marriage settlement, prior to JH's marriage to Miss Gwatkin. Will meet the Gwatkins at Friday's party. Hopes to find time to speak to JH about this in private. Declines to pursue the course requested by William and Mary Pitt Herschel until JH confides more in CB.
Mem. sur les Crucifères; news.
JH willing to communicate with HS on worthwhile matters. Subscribes Astronomical Society to HS's Astronomische Nachrichten. Explains 'Prize Question.' Requests copy of F. W. Bessel's essay on fourth satellite of Saturn. Society resolved to print 'daily tables of 46 stars.'
Thanks for copy of Smith's "Grammar of Botany"; thinks all the "cultivators of the study of plants in this country [are] under obligations to [Smith] for treating in so clear, candid, and interesting a manner this very interesting view of the subject"; thinks Smith right in maintaining the importance Linnaean artificial system and to adhere to it until classification according to the natural orders is more matured. Also praises Smith's treatment of Linnaeus in supplement to "Encyclopedia Britannica".
Intends to visit Smith in the summer.
Laid up with gout. Thanks JH for proposing SY's eldest son [George] as member of taxonomical society. SY trying to gain captain's commission for son under Lord Melville [R. S. Dundas]. Describes crystal that SY cannot identify.
Delivered R.S.L. resolution on 'Junction of French & English triangles' to François Arago. Arago alone will meet HK and T. F. Colby to finish triangles this summer. J. B. Biot will collaborate next year with HK on pendulum measurements.
Concerned about JH in his travels on Continent. Relieved to receive news from JH. William Herschel is in good health. Thomas Baldwin continues as before.
Extremely formal letter of greeting to JH while traveling in Switzerland. Ends with a long postscript describing a major Swiss monument in Lucerne.
No summary available.
No letters from Slough. Terrible weather. Unable to explore Alps. Purchased carriage for remainder of tour. Describes journey from Paris through Jura Mountains to Geneva. Met J. A. Deleu family, M. A. Pictet, Alexandre Marcet, [Gilbert Elliot] Lord Minto, and Italian expatriates from Neapolitan revolution. Proposes itinerary through Alps, weather permitting.
Thanks Lady Smith's brother for the barrel of 'Stratiotes' which are currently growing at "Naboth's vineyard". Anxious to procure 'Butomus' in the proper season. Improvements to his lower pond, has made room for aquatic and bog plants. Received another cargo of specimens from the New Holland [Australia] surveying ships, offers first choice of plants to Smith. Awaiting [Nathaniel] Wallich's promised bulbs but has received others from Trinidad and American seeds from Carr in Philadelphia. Believes he has grown three rhododendruns unknown to the traders from seeds imported by Fraser. Has shells from New Holland for Lady Smith. Hoping to acquire specimens from Madagascar via his brother-in-law, Colonel Macleod.
No summary available.
No summary available.
Wet weather has given him time for letter writing. Spent a week in Paris. Passed through Dijon, and has spent some time at Geneva, where there is a flourishing Philosophical Society. Comments on the meetings. Weather has been bad. Gives a Neapolitan story.
Describes scenery at Mont Blanc. Trip by mules into mountains. Barometer measurements by Charles Babbage. [Letter continues 16 Aug.:] Plans today include visit to Mar de Glace glacier. [Letter continues 20 Aug.:] Found excellent guide, Coutet, with knowledge of geology. Describes expedition to Mar de Glace glacier and JH's sketches. More barometer observations. [Letter continued 22 Aug. in Geneva:] No mail arrived from Slough. Leave tomorrow for Chambéry and Turin. Planning to leave Italy by 2 Sept.
No summary available.
Comments on JH's European adventures. Death of MH's brother Thomas Baldwin. Mr. Grover of Eaton expects death of Mr. Vince soon. Mr. Langton is stabling JH's horse.
Should have received the Astronomical Yearbook. No news of its receipt or answers to letters of 12 May and 19 June. Observations which JH sent will appear in the 1824 Yearbook. Has not received the Nautical Almanac for 1821/2.
Addressed to her "dear cousin". She, her husband [Henry Lloyd Loring (c 1784-1822), first Archdeacon of Calcutta], and their baby are all "quite well". Received a "botanical wonder" from Nepal by [Nathaniel] Wallich, to be forwarded to Smith; transcribes extract from Wallich's letter to her husband describing specimen, 'Eriocoryna nidularis'; Wallich regrets Smith has already used name 'Eriocalia'. Sends compliments to her cousins Smiths, Westons, Martin, and Lloyd. Expects Nat [probably her brother, Nathaniel Kindersley] to arrive in Madras soon.
Journey of JH and Charles Babbage from Geneva via Mont Cenis to Turin, where effects of revolution are still evident. Describes Milan. Oppressive heat and torrential rain. Plan to return via Monte Rosa or 'Mont' St. Gotthard. Language problems.