Cannot leave the instrument with Edward Troughton later than Saturday. Perhaps Troughton had better leave the instrument in the box until GE calls.
The Miss Edgeworths will prolong their visit until Friday in order to visit Slough. George Dollond has sent the radii of the crown lens. Will JH breakfast with the Katers on Friday?
Sends a copy of Volume 1 of the Transactions of the Astronomical Society, and makes arrangements for future volumes.
The Miss Edgeworths have changed their plans again in order to visit Portsmouth, but will arrive at Slough on Sunday morning. Hopes the Herschels can still breakfast with the Katers on Friday.
Renews their acquaintance, first made under "most academic roof" of Sir Joseph Banks. Invites Smith to Chelsea for Garden Committee of the Apothecaries Company, of which he is Warden, also invites Smith to the Apothecaries Hall. Received visit from [Thomas] Purton, author of the "Midland Flora"; forgot to asks him about a 'Byssus septica' that occasionally appears in his cellar and leaves everything covered in "very fine soft red particles". His son-in-law, [John] Bowyer Nichols [(1779-1863), painter and antiquary], requested a review of Purton's "Appendix to the Midland Flora" in next "Gentleman's Magazine"; asks Smith's opinion of the work.
No summary available.
The comet is not visible. All is ready for its observation. How is the Cambridge observatory progressing? Comet still not visible. Wishes he had a good telescope.
Will not be able to pay a visit as children have whooping cough. Has been demonstrating his calculating machine. Hopes to see him at the Greenwich visitation.
JH has been appointed a Lay-fellow. It entails no duties. The present body regards it as an honor to retain JH's name.
No summary available.
Received MB's notice that JH was appointed fellow of Saint John's College. Will visit Cambridge if William Herschel's health permits.
Outlining the circumstances in which J. N. Vallot was elected an Associate of the Astronomical Society. Has only received one letter from Vallot.
Complains that Lawson's letter had no address or date, but informs him the Linnean Society "will always receive gratefully any communications relative to Nat[ura]l History", and assures Lawson that as long as there is "nothing unpleasantly controversial to Mr [Robert] Brown" all criticism is welcomed. Thanks Lawson for his good opinion of his performances [probably Smith's lectures].
[Unclear if this letter reached its destination]
Mentions meeting [W.] Herschel in 1816. Recalls receiving catalog from Caroline Herschel, which he then gave to the Munich observatory. Looks forward to meeting JH and 'sharing love of truth.' Sends chemistry and physics papers. Discusses code for electromagnetic signals and its origin.
Discusses the pros and cons of GE's proposal that [J. C.?] Schenck, a Swiss maker of optical instruments, set up a business in London. JH is not sure that JH ascended Mt. Rosa, but is certain of JH's barometric reading. Interested in GE's method of estimating air temperature.
Uncertain whether received his letter on red viper or whether the extract he sent Smith has been read at Linnean Society. Recently read of subscription for statue of Sir Joseph Banks by [Francis Leggatt] Chantrey [(1781-1841)] but ignorant whether the statue he subscribed the maximum £10 for in August 1820 has been executed yet, and does not think a second should be undertaken till the first is completed. Expresses disapprobation at Horticultural Society's "gigantic scheme" for a 33 acre experimental garden.
Requests corrections on a paper JS was publishing with JH. Urges JS to use less excessive language.
No summary available.
Thanks for sending your catalogues. Requests duplicates. Has made annotations indicating the 'quantity which Mr. [F. W.] Bessel's Instrument places the stars to the south of my determinations.' Cannot yet explain discrepancy. Unable to determine a parallactic shift for Alpha Lyrae, Alpha Aquila, or Gamma Draconis.
Thanks JH for extract from a letter from [J. J.] Littrow. Discusses in detail positional determinations of various stars he has made, attempting to determine whether errors of either observations or computation have entered into his results. Reports that in general there is substantial agreement between determinations made by JP and those made by John Brinkley at Ireland's Royal Observatory. Mentions solar observations at Greenwich.