J. D. Thompson plans to write JH about problem of positioning tide gage in dockyard. Admiral [Patrick Campbell] may move it to end of jetty. RW suggests omitting night observations in winter; jetty dangerous in bad weather. Will soon be ordered home. Amused by JH's report on Ascension [Island] sulfur. Sorry to hear Mary Herschel is ill. RW's son William is well again, but weak.

Awful night of thunder, wind, and rain; floods around the Observatory. Gives rainfall since 22 June. Has written to [J. D.?] Thompson to observe tides at Simon's Bay. Has no one at Table Bay. Measured Alpha Centauri on the meridian. Found JH's planetary nebulae with the mural circle.

Thanks for JH's interest in the 'little fellow'; he has now passed all danger. Is glad JH has unravelled the mysteries of h Centauri. Wrote to Thomas Brisbane pointing out imperfections in the catalogue. Has started to publish an abstract of the Met[eorological] J[our]n[a]l in the Government Gazette. Will not attend the glittering assembly at Government House tonight.

The departure of missionaries [again; see JM's and WB's 1835-8-6] allows JM and WB to send along further material on the Mappa Selenographica.

Introduces Frederic Smith and asks the Herschels to be kind to him when he arrives at the Cape. Is anxious to see JH again.

Is pleased to have a look at JH's labors, but is not at home with the observations. Sorry to hear of JH's bodily sufferings. Has another sheet printed off, but no copies at the moment. Transit clock has increased its daily rate. South end of the mural circle has heaved up. Land to west of the Observatory is being discussed with view to purchase.