Explains wages of Mint workers doing piece work. Discourages plan to pay equal wages in all departments. Policy for promotions. Problem of gold ingots of non-standard weight and alloy being imported by Bank of England.
Next meeting of Cambridge [University] Commission will be on 13 Aug.
Plans date and time for first ascent of balloon experiment. WS's daughter has fallen in love with JH's son William.
Encloses the last gazette of the Princess. Seem to be prospering. Brother-in-law is off to Australia in the Great Britain.
Approves JH's action in transferring £2000 of half crowns to Bank [of England]. Will restrain Commissariat demand for silver coins until present pressure from Bank for coinage is over. Instructions for colonial coinage are obsolete; only new coins should be sent overseas. Plan to produce reserve stock of coins for Commissariat. [JH annotation: calculates minimum reserve stock.]
JH must deal with difficulty concerning Mr. Forbes, who will be foolish not to retire instead of letting case go to the Treasury. Work of current month is excellent.
Has found another planet [Fortuna]; gives readings. Finds that the famous eclipse of Thales took place in 585 B.C., not 610 B.C., as stated by Francis Baily and Mr. Altmann.
All Cambridge University Commissioners, including JH, have approved report. Adam Sedgwick will finalize it with Bishop of Chester [John Graham] tomorrow. Board will meet on 24 Aug. to review report.
Permission granted for issue of £50,000. Please return CT's note to JH instructing that only new coins be sent to Colonies.
Has been examining and sorting all Francis Baily's correspondence with a view to its preservation. Suggests Greenwich as a suitable repository for most of it. Will be returning JH's letters for his selection of important letters to be preserved.
Thanks him for the testimonial for his son who has recently died, leaving two children unprovided for. Can he assist with a place at Christ's Hospital for one?
Sends final edition of report by Cambridge University Commissioners, who will meet on 30 Aug. to sign it.
The job [of sorting Francis Baily's correspondence] may be done at leisure. All his family are at Herne Bay. Regarding chronology. Annibal De Gasparis will be equal with J. R. Hind when he locates another planet. Is astonished how well books last.
Dispute over seniority between R. F. Suft and Mr. Cumberland. Neither of these junior clerks qualifies for vacancy of senior clerk, who should be competent to stand in during comptroller's absence. Ask W. H. Barton for recommendations.