Responds to WT's 1827-10-29. Sending JH's Light, which uses some of WT's publications.

Offers the correspondent's friend the information that JH has received a letter indicating that John Henslow is a formidable candidate for the professorship of botany.

Awaits JH's instructions on duplicating barometer observations taken at Mt. Etna. Francesco Lunn visits, will verify observations made by MG. MG congratulates JH on the success of his efforts to measure the brightness of light with precision.

A furnace for glass making is under construction at the Royal Institution.

Pleased by the visit of Smith's relation, Frederick Smith. [Thomas] Lister Parker [(1779-1858), antiquary] visited and mentioned the "great pine", believes branches and cones have been sent to [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert. Wishes her husband [Sir James Edward Smith] and himself had been young and well enough to attend first meetings of the season of the Horticultural, Linnean, and Royal Societies. His son and family are to winter at Nice but concerned that from [Thomas] Martyn's report of the weather in Nice in his "Tour through Italy" (1787) it will not help the ill Mrs Cullum. Returns basket with young pheasant.

Arrangements about meeting JH.

Is sending him a proofsheet of the first of his charts of the zodiac. Does he think the work worthwhile, and is it suitable for printing in the Memoirs?

Indicates the best way for the glass subcommittee [of the R.S.L.] to deal with the results of glass experiments at the Royal Institution [see MF's 1827-11-3].

The health of Robert Woodhouse is very precarious and wonders if JH would be interested in the Plumian Professorship. Is sure of support.

Informs MF that JH has been called to serve on a grand jury and so may have to miss some glass subcommittee meetings. [This note enclosed the letter written by JH on 1827-11-6.]

JH says he has too much work to do to consider the Plumian Professorship [see RG's 1827-11-9].

Thanks for Smith's hospitality in England; sending specimens. Encloses sheet of queries, Smith has inserted his answers to these.

Communicates to WS the award of the Royal Gold Medal for his 'magnificent work on the New Catalogue of 3112 Double Stars.' Informs WS that award is for research completed within 5 years of presentation.

Appoints Robert Brown to be a Vice-President in place of the late Bishop of Carlisle [Samuel Goodenough].

Complaint in both his eyes has obliged him to be "quite idle for some days".

Has visited Louvain and also a steam engine factory near Liége. Account of various excursions.

Congratulates CM for completing Jean-Baptiste Delambre's Histoire de l'astronomie du XVIIIe siècle [1827]. Explains how to send copies for distribution to England.

Pleased to learn that they share the same view of the reform of chemical nomenclature. Discusses various professorships at Cambridge and the question of who should head the R.S.L. Praises Richard Jones's ideas in political economy.

His brother[-in-law] Mr Martin has not succeeded. Pleased to hear Roscoe so close to end of his ["Monandrian Plants"], which is "one of the few really original, valuable & learned works in Botany that this age has seen"; wishes he could review it in Taylor's "Philosophical Magazine". "English Flora" nearly printed and about to start work on "Flora Graeca".

Debilitated by a low catarrhous complaint which ended in a serious and painful ophthalmia. Sorry Roscoe could not visit this year; he himself could not go to Holkham, [Norfolk, home of Thomas William Coke]. Glad Roscoe accedes to 'Renealmia', as Reneaulme "deserved a good genus"; has his "very curious" book which the [Bauhins] never quote, which is commented on by Linnaeus, should Roscoe also wish to.

Attended inquest regarding the 'calamitous' fate of [James] Grahame. Is sending JH inquest report, which contains important information.

Further regarding the Lucasian Professorship. Only two candidates left, Charles Babbage and G. B. Airy, and the former is not in a good position. Outlines the duties of the position.