Sends three chronometers set to Blackman St. time. Confirm them by a transit of Arcturus tomorrow, then return them to JS at Blackman St. Gives times for next rocket firings.
Since his arrival in Liverpool, Lancashire, has been eager to see Smith and hopes to visit him in Norwich, Norfolk, soon.
William Herschel is glad that JH declined offer for WH to become commissioner of longitude. Hopes JH enjoys visit with James South and family.
List of manuscripts and letters to be translated by Gurney.
Sends set of William Herschel's duplicated papers. Curious results 'examining the rings,' but bad weather has hampered experiments. Correction of spherical aberration. JH is using J. d'Alembert's Opuscules. Image of Alpha Lyrae.
Discusses origin and reactions of enclosed borate of lead. Postscripts on parallel strata in glass.
Accidentally found some verses on a scrap of paper, and wondered if it would fit the music of Cherry Ripe; sends verses to MK.
Asks MK's permission to allow a close friend to make use of the words once sent to her by JH as suitable for the music of Cherry Ripe.
Provides detailed travel suggestions for WW's planned trip to the continent. Asks WW to deliver letters to various European scientists.
According to Linnaean sexual system, with headings "Monandria" and "Diandria".
[Probably from Roscoe's working papers for his "Monandrian plants of the order Scitamineae.." (1828)]
Sketch drawings in ink and pencil of reproductive organs of 'Canna', 'Maranta', 'Thalia', 'Myrosma', 'Alpinia', 'Zingiber', 'Amomum', 'Costus', 'Kaempferia', 'Curcuma', 'Colebrookia', and 'Gen. nov. au. Bot.'. Labels for 'Phrynium' and 'Philydrum' but no drawings.
[Probably from Roscoe's working papers for his "Monandrian plants of the order Scitamineae.." (1828)]
Observations: 'Hellenia' of Retzius and Willdenow appears to be 'Alpinia'; 'Renealmia' omitted, 'Renealmia exaltata' resembles 'Globba uviformis' and 'Renealmia' of Andrews Bot Rep are 'Alpinia'; 'Amomum' divided into 'Zingiber' and 'Amomum'; 'Amomum zedoaria' is a 'Curcuma'; 'Hornstedtia' of Willdenow to be considered; 'Alpinia comosa' of Willdenow is a 'Costus'; and 'Globba' to be further examined.
[Probably from Roscoe's working papers for his "Monandrian plants of the order Scitamineae.." (1828)]
Received Smith's letter of 29 December. Unable to give a clear answer to Smith's secret request, seemingly to acquire a position in the United States for Smith's nephew, as the King of Portugal [João VI (1767-1826)] has appointed him to lead a royal establishment of the sciences and arts in Brazil, sailing by the February packet.
Sorry to hear Smith disappointed of the oysters he sent, and does not recall the Charles Smyth who remembers him from Oxford. Has attended only one Linnean dinner on account of his gout, they are very well attended and of a high quality. Sir Humphry Davy acquits himself well in Royal Society chair. Not anticipating Parliament having to decide what to do with the Queen [Caroline (1768-1821), wife of George IV], hopes she will not be permitted to "vent her spleen" further. Thanks for turkey.
Compliments.
Unable to come to Norwich, Norfolk, as planned as he has been ordered to Paris, France. Reassures him that he shall think on a situation for Smith's nephew.
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".