He encloses an unidentified paper received from R. I. Murchison the previous day.

Is unable to provide information about Dr Du Gard.

Appreciates the maps of Glen Roy sent by WB. Would welcome the opinions of WB and Louis Agassiz concerning the parallel roads but cannot give up the idea of their marine origin.

Sends his paper on earthquakes [(1840), Collected papers 1: 53–86]. Now sets less value on theoretical reasoning in geology than when he wrote it.

About the urgent need to prepare a report on the magnetic observations, and that HL is the most logical person to give direction to it.

Thanks for letting JH know about honor accorded at 'the Anniversary' [Meeting]. Offers condolences on JL's 'late severe loss.'

No summary available.

Further observations on David Brewster's experiments. On heliometers. Observations on suggestions for Standards.

Would like further experimentation to confirm report about germination of wheat from Egyptian tombs. Sir G. Wilkinson may have been deceived by the Arabs.

No summary available.

Wishes JH would lay hands on the memorandum concerning the Zenith observatory on Etna. Explains why JH's theories regarding a point in gunnery do not work in actual practice. Queries the measurement given by JH for the height of Etna.

JDH thanks his father, William Jackson Hooker, for the constructive criticism of his collections, the first he has made in a new country. The collections JDH is leaving for [Ronald Campbell] Gunn to send home are better. Since arriving in Hobart Town [Tasmania, Australia] JDH has only worked on botany, collecting the spring plants in locales advised by Gunn & shunning society with the exception of attending Government house when necessary & a ball given for the ships' officers. Explains why it is impossible for him to collect in the Western tier during the current season. Notes that flora in the centre of the island is less advanced; Acacia mollissima only just in bud in the interior. Describes a collecting excursion to Lake Echo, en route JDH stayed in a stock keeper's hut in Marlborough. Describes the interior of Van Diemen's Land [Tasmania] as a table land of marshes covered in dead Eucalyptus timber - all the trees were killed in the 1837 frost along with the undergrowth of Leptosperma, Bedfordia & Fagus cunninghamii. All nature suffered that year, hundreds of kangaroos died. The forest only survives on the highest hills, where JDH gathered the 'Cyder tree' Eucalyptus, but it was the wrong season to tap for its fluid. On return trip JDH travelled via Hamilton & the estate of the clergyman Mr Naylor at Cheny[?] on the River Derwent. By the river are: Phebalium retusum, Pleurandras, Eurybius & many flowering shrubs. The cataracts [gorge] is densely wooded & full of bush kangaroo & plants new to JDH: a beautiful Gleichenia, Sprengelia, some Eucalypti & Acacia. Briefly discusses novel species he has found amongst the gum trees & the Crucifera & Cryptandra of Van Diemen's Land. Mentions a feature of the labella of Pterostlides [Pterostyllis] orchids. Is still working on his sketches of Kerguelen's Land plants.

JH and family are beginning to feel at home at Collingwood.

Consults JH before responding to Wilhelm Weber's proposal for publication of observations. ES proposes to publish German data with data from Toronto, St. Helena, the Cape, and Van Diemen's Land. The Physical Committee of the R.S.L. suggests strengthening Adolphe Quetelet's application to the Belgian government for magnetic observations. The Hammerfest [Norway] magnetic curve does not harmonize with European ones.

Took the chair at a meeting of the Committee for Physics at the R.S.L. Is to bring the matter before Council, who in turn will request the Master of Ordnance to publish the observations. Material from each observatory will require about half of a quarto volume.

JDH thanks his sister [Maria Hooker?] for writing to him, he mentions her dog Skye & trip to Ireland. Is pleased that their grandfather still lives & Bessy's [Elizabeth Hooker's] health is restored. Writes that he misses music. The HMS 'Erebus' is preparing to leave Hobart Town, Van Diemen's Land [Tasmania]. Lists the food they are buying for provisions, complains at the high price of food due to the stockpiling of local corn which means flour for bread is imported from America. JDH has met with Miss Williamson, governess to Lady Franklin's daughter. Mentions the news that the missionaries from the ship 'Camden' have been murdered. JDH has been collecting shells for his sister & [Ronald Campbell] Gunn will also send her a collection in exchange for minerals. JDH advises his sister to always label her shells carefully & recommends the following books: Wood's INDEX TESTACEOLOGICUS & a manual by Sowerby. JDH has seen Dr Johnstone at Hobart Town, he will soon sail home on the ship 'Emu'. Tells his sister about Mr Gregson, a Tasmanian related to the Selbys of Selby Hall, who is going to London University & whom JDH has given a letter of introduction to their father, Sir William Jackson Hooker. The Gregson family live near where Browne did after leaving Flinder's ship & JDH often botanised there. Under date Nov 9 [1840] JDH writes the 'Erebus' is ready to sail. One of his messmates, Dagman, will stay at Hobart to man the observatory along with Lieutenant Hay & Scott from the HMS 'Terror'. The ship's provisions include 6 pigs. JDH is studying German. Some men have deserted, the remaining crew are all healthy. The duration of their journey southward will depend on the conditions, JDH hopes they will spend a winter in the ice. The expedition goes first to Campbell's Island then to the land the French discovered & after that into the unknown. As the seasons are all reversed for JDH he has trouble remembering whether his family will be at Invereck, Kilmun, Glasgow or London.

No summary available.

Encloses observations on a comet by Carl Bremiker for the next meeting of the R.A.S. Will be unable to attend many of the meetings for this session. F. W. Bessel has lost his only son. C. F. Gauss's researches into the motion of the sun.

Regarding the correct figure for the height of Etna, W. H. Smyth favors the half foot measurement. Regarding falls of stones from Vesuvius. Encloses calculations made by professor at Naval College. Remembers large balls of lava at Teneriffe.

JDH informs his father, William Jackson Hooker, that the expedition is leaving Van Diemen's Land [Tasmania]. Discusses his collections going to Brown. JDH has more specimens from Kerguelen Island & Tasmania, some will go to WJH privately through [Ronald] Gunn, with whom he has shared collections. JDH hopes that Thomas Spring Rice, Baron Monteagle, gets WJH the Directorship of RBG Kew. Thanks WJH for sending news of his friends & discusses Fitch, Gardner, Harvey & Arnott. Mentions mosquitoes. Cummings made better St Helena collections than JDH. Discusses his family's health. Has written to Brown, who once lived at Risdon, where JDH found new Eucalyptus, Cryptandra & Cruciferous plants. Wants WJH to ask Brown about the Xanthorrhoea covered 'grass tree hill'. Describes Thomas Gregson & his son John Gregson. Discusses Sir John & Lady Franklin whom he accompanied to Port Arthur, where he collected specimens incl. Anopterus glandulosus on a Sunday. Captain Ross strictly enforces the Sabbath. JDH shares specimens with Captain Crozier & Miss Cracroft. JDH has also collected fossil woods & made sketches. Discusses his botanical books. Describes Jorgen Jorgensen's state as a drunkard. Discusses Lady Franklin's terms for employing a gardener. The expedition will now go to Campbell's Island, where JDH hopes to collect seaweed, then south to follow the coast of Antarctica. Whilst at sea JDH will draw specimens preserved in spirit. JDH thinks he has got better at collecting, though it has been a bad season for plants in Tasmania. Recounts Captain Biscoe's account of Campbell Island. Describes the difficulty of transporting plants in Wardian Cases incl. the Kerguelen Cabbage which Captain Forman of the 51st Regiment at Hobarton is also growing from seed. Fruits & livestock will be taken to Campbell's Island. Mentions the attribution of Wardia. JDH hopes Thomas Thomson will collect in China or Persia. Discusses his finances & recommends investing money in Tasmania.

Council of the R.A.S. will have to consider claims for the medal award at its next meeting. Has JH anyone in mind so that his claims may be considered.

On the possibility of obtaining a heliometer from Munich.