No summary available.
No summary available.
Regarding refraction in crystals of apophyllite and quartz.
Thanks for the kind reception afforded him at Slough. Sends a copy of [J. H.?] Schröder's paper on the discoveries of William Herschel. Also sends some observations of the late solar eclipse made in Holland.
Collecting English observations of eclipse of 7 Sept. 1820 for H. J. Walbeck. Construction of object glasses.
Praises Lady Smith for developing new method for copying paper portraits, discusses further. Remembers Corrêa [de Serra] well and often listened to him at Sir Joseph Banks'. A York bookseller will get him Smith's "Grammar of Botany" and ["A selection of the correspondence of Linnaeus..."] when published.
Mild winter: does not remember a milder one, thermometer has not been lower than 31°F and fears vegetation will "suffer from being too far forward"; peach buds are swelling and cucumbers are in rough leaf. Snow at Gordon Castle in last few days, received two plants of 'Menziesia caerulea' procured from Inverness, one placed in bog earth with 'Rhodendra' and other potted and both look well so far. Duke of Gordon also sent quill feathers of the supposed female woodcock, enclosed [not extant]; has written to Ireland for further opinion.
Had rent day yesterday and remitted 10 per cent on land, "such are the bad times for farmers that I rather think I did too little, however they were well pleased". Requests recommendation for more recent "Genera plantarum" than Linnaei 1767. Encloses his pamphlet [extant] titled "On the Winchester Bushel", which "has nearly given the finishing stroke to our Country bushel".
Sir Edward Codrington will take charge of chronometer for Captain Copeland if delivered to Codrington at Portsmouth.
Thanks for turkey. Pleased Smith's health improved but recommends continuing daily dose of laundanum for a year. Surprised by failure of plan for monument to Sir Joseph [Banks]; he "certainly judged ill in not leaving a legacy to the Royal Society". Naming of Scottish judges.
Compliments Smith's "Grammar of Botany"; believes Smith, Corrêa, and [Robert] Brown only botanists skilled enough to tackle the subject and and Smith the only one to successfully tackle it. [Francisco Antonio] Zea and General Cortes attended the most recent Linnean dinner, "both rather mean looking men". Attended Sir Humphry Davy's conversazione, Captain [William] Parry [(1790-1855), Arctic explorer] also attended, he is writing his book in the country ["Journal of a Voyage to Discover the Northwest Passage" (1821)]. Attended Royal Society dinner and beginning of Antiquarian Society meeting; there was "a ponderous dull paper upon weights and measures" by Captain Kater. Davy a clearer orator than the Antiquarians' president, Lord Aberdeen [George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen (1784-1860)], whose election Goodenough thinks was an error of judgement.
Hopes to call on Thursday to discuss queries. Regarding recent astronomical experiments. Alterations to his twenty-foot telescope.
It was too cloudy for any worthwhile observations to be made during the recent eclipse. Looking forward to the publication of JH's work. Outlines his own recent and projected work. Thomas Brisbane observed the eclipse at Cork.
Invites JH to the London Institution to meet Humphry Davy.
Meeting at Dr. George Pearson's on Friday next.