From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Charles Edward Trevelyan
Date:
[23 January 1854]
Source of text:
TxU:H/L-0484.4; Reel 1055
Summary:
Distance scales to be used on Ordnance Survey maps.
Contributor:
John Herschel Project
Distance scales to be used on Ordnance Survey maps.
Requests permission to pay Mint expenses from special account until Parliamentary grant becomes 'available.'
JDH thanks Asa Gray for his opinion on an unspecified essay by JDH, letter includes discussion of species & specific centres suggesting the subject of the essay is geographical plant distribution, the definition of a species & whether they are created entities or varieties evolve with environmental influences. JDH refers Gray to his comments in the FLORA ANTARCTICA. He argues against Gray & Agassiz's belief in multiple centres. Discusses the relative importance of genetic resemblance as opposed to habitat, referring to the Dorking Fowl, Manx Cats & Falkland Island rabbits. He favours theories based on observable evidence of geography, physiology etc. Dismisses Agassiz's work, incl on glaciers such as Aletsch, as prejudice not based in fact but on a desire for notoriety. JDH & Lyell like Agassiz personally. JDH looks to Americans for future discoveries in science as he considers them more practical. Bentham has decided to give his herbarium to RBG Kew. Thomas Thomson [TT] wants to be botanist on an expedition to North West Australia, if the East India Company will give him leave. Hurt approves of TT, who was imprisoned with his brother during the Afghanistan campaign. William Jackson Hooker has applied to The Duke of Newcastle on TT's behalf. Writes of progress with FLORA INDICA & distribution of plant sets to Gray, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, St Petersburg, Brown at the British Museum, Lowell & Torrey. Asks Gray about North American Larch, Yew, Junipers & Coniferae incl. Scotch Pine. Uses Yews from Pontrilas as an example of the difficulty of using habitat vs character in determining species. The Deodar Avenue at Kew is another example of how plants may not always have the ideal characteristics of their species. Agrees that species cannot be pronounced the same because they are united by certain forms, gives Mt Lebanon & Himalayan Cedars as example of extreme forms. Argues the difficulty is with local botanists wanting to give local varieties a distinct classification.
Thanks for his articles on the prediction of time; comments on it. Has been translating an article of John Tyndall.
No summary available.
Requests permission from Treasury to draw from Master's account at Bank [of England] to cover expenses that cannot be paid from depleted Exchequer account before 31 Mar., when Parliamentary grant for next fiscal year becomes available.
Rapid changes in science leave JH unable to recommend newest things in organic chemistry. Suggests works by H. V. Regnault or Justus von Liebig, and Lyon Playfair's work on chemistry of foods. Notes error in Liebig's work on body chemistry.
Saw in the Times that JH is working on universal alphabet. Sends Wolfgang Kempelen's book (1791) on mechanism of speech. Speculates on machine that could produce phonetic sounds for universal language.
No summary available.
No summary available.
Unable to attend today's conference on replacing present system of English writing with phonetic system such as 'Missionary Alphabet.' Hopes no final conclusions will be drawn without opportunity for further discussion. Gives JH's opinions and objections. Contrasts systems proposed by [Charles] Trevelyan, [J. B.] Gilchrist, and [Thomas] Young.
Family news and comments.
No summary available.
Requests donation of copy of JH's Cape Results to library of Mechanics Institution.
Declines the honour of writing a biography of Leopold von Buch, on grounds that he would not do it well; nor does he hold Buch so high as the world at large does.
Notes deficit in Coining Room between 23 and 28 Jan.. Following enquiries in December into similar shortages, JH now requires that WB submit written reports of daily accounts.
Sending diagrams of Halley's Comet traced from a work, The Orbs of Heaven.
Very depressed and concerned about the family finances, both short and long term.
Has recovered from his depression [see JH's 1854-2-1]; sees a possibility of a new position as a Civil Service appointment examiner.
JH feels harassed by life and finds solace in MH's letters; thinks electricity could operate the Jacquard loom and the pianoforte. Argues against a recent book [William Whewell's Of the Plurality of Worlds], which claims the earth is the only inhabited body in the universe.