Received his last letter regarding Alpha Virginis in time to read it at the council. Has sent him all Stratford's Ephemerides. Regarding the sounding of the Brazil Banks. Back goes to Wager River the first week in June.
Received his last letter regarding Alpha Virginis in time to read it at the council. Has sent him all Stratford's Ephemerides. Regarding the sounding of the Brazil Banks. Back goes to Wager River the first week in June.
Is enclosing some accounts of the eclipse of the sun. The St. Helena instruments have arrived. Some observations are going to be made in Upper Canada. G. B. Airy proposes some extensive magnetic observations at Greenwich. Is going to Greenwich to see and plan extension to the observatory.
Basil Hall has just brought in the accompanying work of J. B. Biot. Sends another batch of Met. Obs. Is pleased with the success of JH's lunar discoveries.
Has received Francis Baily's Account of the Rev. John Flamsteed [1835]. Comments that its best part is Baily's restoration of the British Catalogue. JH now thinks less of Flamsteed.
Is sending Captain W. F. Owen's Quarterly Meteorological statement.
Is sending a paper which has barometrical information of interest. Comments on sea and atmospheric pressure. William Whewell and J. W. Lubbock are working on the tides.
Sending the meteorological reports. Hopes JH will let him know when to cease sending them. William Whewell has produced an interesting instrument. The sensation at the B.A.A.S. meeting was the manufacture of diamonds by a Frenchman.
No summary available.
Sending more barometric observations. Interesting articles by S. D. Poisson and D. F. J. Arago. Peculiar crimson light seen in the sky recently. The 'Beagle' will sail in May and will call on JH.
CD wants to request the assistance of Government to support the expense of the numerous engravings necessary for the publication of the results of the extensive collections in various departments of Natural History during the Beagle voyage. To what quarter should he apply?
Is sending him a letter of Basil Hall. William Whewell is preparing another paper on the tides and is hoping for data from JH when he returns. Hears that JH will be home in June. Looks forward to seeing him again.
Has been commanded to supply CD with a copy of the plan of Ascension Island to be engraved for the natural history of the Beagle’s voyage. Suggests that a lithographer be sent to the [Hydrographic] office to take a transfer proof.
Thursday will suit Charles Wood and FB is writing to G. B. Airy to meet JH in (FB's) room.
The Admiralty would like JH's opinion regarding the observatory at Mauritius and any suggestions for its improvement.
Responds to request for advice on operation of the observatory established at Mauritius by John A. Lloyd. Urges it can profitably make meteorological observations and positional determinations for southern stars. Stresses the need for prompt reduction of observations.
Fulfills request for advice on the operation of the Cape Observatory. Urges, among other points, that Thomas Maclear be given a second assistant and an improved telescope and that the observatory be assigned to undertake tidal, meteorological, and magnetic observations.
Many thanks for his report on the Cape Observatory, which he will lay before the Lords of the Admiralty. Also thanks for the promised opinion on the Mauritius Observatory.
Admiralty wants to adapt observatory at Mauritius for rating ship chronometers in southern hemisphere. Rigorous attention to time determination would benefit meteorological, hydrographic, and astronomical observations, making Mauritius 'a National Center of Reference' for global research.
Forwarding a letter from C. P. Smyth and a batch of observations from J. A. Lloyd, who intends to visit England next Spring.
Forwarded JH's letter to Lord Minto [Gilbert Elliot]. John Russell sent Antarctic resolution of B.A.A.S. to Minto at Admiralty six weeks ago. Glad that JH finds Lord Melbourne [William Lamb] favorable to this enterprise.