On discrepancy of data from G. B. Airy and Humphrey Lloyd. Captain Boileau and John Caldecott exchange instruments to normalize data. Will send letters from Airy, [A. T.] Kupffer, Lloyd, ES, and JH to John Lubbock and the R.S.L. Council concerning the discrepancies.
Admiralty wished to present him with another part of the Cape Observations, and will hold it until someone is deputed to call at the office.
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Looks forward to the paper on CD’s edible fungus specimen from Tierra del Fuego [read 16 Mar 1841; Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 19 (1845): 37–43].
Sends a correction: Fagus betuloides, not F. antarctica, is the common tree of Tierra del Fuego.
Discusses the role of ice in determining the geological features of the Jura. Mentions view of Agassiz. Objects to idea of "a [sea of ice] carrying rocks". Notes Agassiz’s earlier view of "ice expanded in the line of the Great Swiss Valley". Comments on Pentlands.
Has enjoyed reading LA’s book [Études sur les glaciers (1840)].
Hopes LA will pardon manner in which CD has alluded to his work on glaciers in his Journal of researches, of which he sends a copy.
Apologises that JSH has not been able to see fossil spike in London, potentially a large Lycopodium, because it cannot be transported due to fragility. Provides a description and drawing of it.
Discusses fossil trees found in his local area and specimens sent to the Geological Society and Robert Brown, together with a paper Bowman has written on them. States that he has found proof of the solid and subsequently hollowed state of the trees from corresponding bands of soft shale. Provides JSH with a brief description and says full details will be given when whole paper is published. States that they give decisive proof of growth where they were found, that they have overturned the scepticism of geologists including John Phillips and Louis Agassiz, and that a miniature model is being made of them.
Discusses illustrations of the internal structure of Sigillaria by Alexandre Brongniart and his wish to see them when published. Also discusses previous drawings of Sigillaria with leaves by Brongniart and W. Conway. Passes on message from Conway for Fossil Flora to send someone to do drawings of Bristol fossil collection.
Received WB's packet. Will send sheets tomorrow. Needs all 'Curves and data' before end of March for final report to B.A.A.S. JH's nerves 'shattered with night work.'
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Is grateful for JH's obliging offer. Regrets his own unfortunate article regarding JH's experiments; comments on this. Is pleased JH is to continue with his on light.
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Sends JH some actinometer observations and a letter from G. B. Airy to forward to Humphrey Lloyd. Also some observations of shooting stars made by [James] Farquharson.
Congratulates JH on his latest child. Notes that data from James Ross show great disturbances at the Kerguelen station simultaneously with Toronto and Greenwich. Has sent various data to C. F. Gauss. Wilhelm Weber reports a new magnetic station at Havana recording by the British system. Notes Ross's dip data supports Gauss's theoretical expectations.
Requests autographed copy of WH's sister's poems, wanting to send them to an acquaintance who translated some of JH's work. Expresses a theory about cause and effect. Mentions minutes of Royal Irish Academy, a reform of the constellations, and WH's three axes of the universe.
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Magnetic observatory is still not operational one year after FW's arrival. Thomas Maclear is now in 'Zwartsland' [Zwartkops?]. FW shares quarters with C. P. Smyth and William Mann. Hopes to begin observations next week at Cape Town and Simon's Bay; G. G. Lewis will make observations at Grahamstown. Problems with meteorological instruments. Proposes magnetic survey of entire colony. [JH annotation: Enquire what FW meant about measurement conversions, malfunctioning needle, and broken tube in 19 Feb. 1841 letter to Humphrey Lloyd.]