Announces 2 June meeting of 'Commissioners for more effectually discovering the Longitude at Sea.' Inquired about 'excise,' but sees no reason to wait for Navy Board to act.
Professor [Thomas] Martyn ill with a cancer in his mouth and on his face but refuses to seek medical advice. Doubts his ill daughter-in-law will derive any benefit from trying the baths at Aix-la-Chapelle, [Germany], and wishes they would return to England so she could try Mahomed's vapour bath and shampooing in Brighton, [Sussex]. Intends to spend July and August in Leamington near Warwick, and Cheltenham, [Gloucestershire]. Invites Smith to visit in June.
No summary available.
Rearranges a meeting of [the R. S. L.'s Glass Committee] to take place at the Pellat and Green's Glass House in Holland St.
The Academy has decided to award JH and JS its astronomy prize for their paper on double stars.
Has returned from London. A preprint of JS's and JH's paper on double stars has been delivered to François Arago. Is finding many errata in their paper. Has received a letter from Josef Fraunhofer and the paper [on double stars] of Wilhelm Struve.
His laborious Monday: collected plants for his lecture, accompanied by Mrs Edward Forster; gave his lecture; attended a fraught Linnean Society audit and Council due to the quarrels with [Joseph] Sabine, but conciliated after [Alexander] Macleay and himself lectured [David] Don [(1799-1841), botanist]. Anniversary meeting and dinner well attended, though Sabine did not attend; conflicts between [James] Bicheno and [John] Lindley [(1799-1865), botanist]. Is to attend, with Forster, the annual meeting of Chimney Sweepers, who want to outlaw use of children in the profession. Next staying at Miss Lloyd's lodgings at Chapel Place. Sitting for [Francis Leggatt] Chantrey [(1781-1841), sculptor] on return from Bristol. His dentist is Mr Cartwright. Professor [Thomas] Martyn has mouth cancer. Edward Taylors moving to London.
Not upset that JH withdrew WR's paper on photometer from R.S.L. Sent similar paper to David Brewster's [Edinburgh Journal of Science] with note on JH's method for finding relative heating power of solar rays. Wants to dedicate WR's book on light and heat to JH.
Is preparing a paper on planetary perturbations, which GP would like to send to the Astronomical Society for publication. Comments on JH's ideas on the subject of perturbations. Would the paper being in French be a problem? Comments on Henry Kater's method for finding the zero point in his meridian circle.
No summary available.
Compliments JH on work as Secretary of the Astronomical Society and for keeping the scientists of Europe informed of discoveries made in England. Finds that GS needs permission from Italian government to be a member of the R.S.L.; expects this will not be difficult.
No summary available.
No summary available.
Contacts with Alexis Bouvard and P. S. Laplace. Criticizes an astronomical paper by [Robert] Woodhouse.
Expressing the thanks of the Académie for JH's gift of Observations...on 380 Double and Triple Stars.
Invites JH to dinner. Expects Mr. and Mrs. [Andrew?] Spottiswoode and Mr. and Mrs. Beckwith.
Regarding the travels of a packet of Wilhelm Struve's observations. Please bring F. W. Bessel's letter with him when he comes to the Committee meeting.
Acknowledges receipt of WS's second volume of observations and the new telescope's results. Mentions Caroline Herschel's catalogue of nebulae.