Thanking him for his poems. Will print some; is returning the remainder.
Thanking him for his poems. Will print some; is returning the remainder.
Leaving town for a week. Will read [Francis Beaufort's] book after return. Delighted by 'two instances of good fortune' in one week at Union Place [HK's home].
Received letter and packet from J. J. von Littrow, with request that TC order clock from Robert Molyneux for Littrow. Encloses Littrow's Vienna observations.
Informs JH of arrangement for carriage conveyance to Deptford Yard.
Regarding the tables. Would like to see J. J. Littrow's observations. Regarding the printing of various papers in the memoirs.
Comments on library facilities available to JG, followed by family news.
Thanks CS of Gray's Inn for being willing to introduce JH to Mr. Clift.
On behalf of the Astronomical Society, JH thanks JD for a copy of JD's Histoire de l'astronomie moderne. JH tells JD about an interesting Arabic manuscript relating to the history of astronomy at Cambridge University, which JH will have copied for JD. In a postscript dated 15 June, JH apologizes for problems encountered in shipping printed material to JD.
Has received his communication via Gilbert Elliot (2nd Earl of Minto). Comments on the chances of [J. C.?] Schenck succeeding in business in England.
Frederick [Smith's brother] still in town. Account of his time in London: visited Westminster Abbey; dined with [William Fitt] Drake at [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert's; tiring Audit and Council meetings [at Linnean Society]; Linnean Society anniversary meeting; a wish expressed for a bust of Smith to be made by [Francis Leggatt] Chantrey [(1781-1841), sculptor], as companion to the one of Sir Joseph Banks; only 49 present at the dinner, compared to 70 last year, held in the Free Masons' tavern; Bishop [of Carlisle, Samuel Goodenough] and [Edward] Rudge informed him that the agricultural distress "is in a great measure imaginary"; visit to the British gallery with the Drake and Harriet [Drake's wife?]; went to Royal Institution, is not lecturing this year, but finds they are much called for, may lecture next year, London Institution have also asked him to lecture; visited the Miss Blackwells and assumed they were grave on account of [Thomas William] Coke's marriage but was in fact sudden death of Duchess of Grafton; visits to Lord Stanley, Lady Anson, Lady Scott wife of Sir Claude Scott, Duke of Norfolk, Lady Petre, and Lady Hervé and Miss Caton. Meeting with Coke and Lady Anne, his new wife; alterations at Holkham. Visits to R Kindersley [Smith's cousin]; Lord Stafford's pictures; Lady Banks; [James] Sowerby; the Munros; Major and Mrs Sandham. Plans to visit Sir Thomas Cullum in Bury, [Suffolk]. His feverish and pulmonary symptoms all gone. Harriet admitted a fellow of the Linnean Society in form. Saw [Dawson] Turner at anniversary meeting. Mr Crabbe received £3000 from Murray for copyright to his poems.
Thanks for the Nautical Almanac. Still requires R.S.P.T. for 1817. Through Francis Baily he will receive copies of his Yearbook, one for his father and one for the R.S.L.
Thanks him on behalf of the Astronomical Society for his Histoire de l'astronomie moderne. Gives details of a paper on Arabic manuscripts in the Cambridge Philosophical Transactions. Have D. F. J. Arago and J. N. Nicollet received his letter?
Puzzled to understand how Smith has made Harriet [Drake, William Drake's wife] FLS. Her aunt [with whom she is staying] looking well; changes to the garden; saw ruined church at Covehill and another at Southwould in good repair; bought china, description and small sketch; local prices for agricultural produce, the present state is "ruinous", other agricultural distresses; her findings from researching the Sidney family.
His health has been poor and is still not well. Outlines his surveys for the site of the Observatory, difficulties of storing instruments, lack of finance. Gives details of the observations carried out so far. First assistant is leaving and has appointed a R.C. priest. Remember him to his friends.
Cannot leave the instrument with Edward Troughton later than Saturday. Perhaps Troughton had better leave the instrument in the box until GE calls.
The Miss Edgeworths will prolong their visit until Friday in order to visit Slough. George Dollond has sent the radii of the crown lens. Will JH breakfast with the Katers on Friday?
Sends a copy of Volume 1 of the Transactions of the Astronomical Society, and makes arrangements for future volumes.
The Miss Edgeworths have changed their plans again in order to visit Portsmouth, but will arrive at Slough on Sunday morning. Hopes the Herschels can still breakfast with the Katers on Friday.
Renews their acquaintance, first made under "most academic roof" of Sir Joseph Banks. Invites Smith to Chelsea for Garden Committee of the Apothecaries Company, of which he is Warden, also invites Smith to the Apothecaries Hall. Received visit from [Thomas] Purton, author of the "Midland Flora"; forgot to asks him about a 'Byssus septica' that occasionally appears in his cellar and leaves everything covered in "very fine soft red particles". His son-in-law, [John] Bowyer Nichols [(1779-1863), painter and antiquary], requested a review of Purton's "Appendix to the Midland Flora" in next "Gentleman's Magazine"; asks Smith's opinion of the work.
The comet is not visible. All is ready for its observation. How is the Cambridge observatory progressing? Comet still not visible. Wishes he had a good telescope.