Sends notes on a paper which are to be submitted to James South. Also included [?] are copies of the paper for JH. Attached is a note by JH about the papers of JH's father, William.
His campaign to be elected FLS: first attempt failed after certificate was signed by two FLS and an ALS, Dr Andrew Duneau; postponed trying again until gaining his medical degree, which having done so he was proposed by [Archibald] Menzies. Thanks for Smith's letters; he is soon to sail for Bombay.
Mrs. Babbage, still recuperating, wishes to visit Slough. Recent publication of Charles Babbage's book should excite insurance directors. Paper by Mary Somerville was read at R.S.L. last week. Invitation for MH to visit Somervilles at Chelsea. JH admitted to Geological Society yesterday, presided over by William Buckland. Encloses JH's diploma from Royal Academy of Copenhagen. News of MH's London acquaintances.
On JG's concern for JH's well-being.
Requests answer to JP's earlier letter. Observations of photospheres around planets and satellites.
Has just received his letter and Struve's observations. Comments on these and those of F. W. Bessel.
Has sent money for Robert Molyneux clock care of Friess, the bankers. Is grateful for JH's trouble over the clock. Do not print certain observations he sent as they form the subject of an argument with F. X. von Zach.
Addresses Smith as Chair of the Committee of the Bristol Institution. Aware of Smith's offer to lecture through his letter to Revd M Maurice but forced to decline it as their programme for spring is already full and they would not be able to guarantee proper support for an additional course of lectures. Will communicate with Smith about lecturing in the autumn or next spring.
Concerning calculations for the parallax of Mars.
Description of theory of a telescope, though not practical yet.
Urges that JS not get so emotionally involved in issues concerning astronomers. 'For my own part I mean to make Science my amusement, not my business....' Comments on JS's relations with John Pond.
Thanks for turkey. Sir Abraham Hume has arrived in London from Brighton, following the King [George III (1738-1820)]. Much talk of [Robert] Sweet, [(1783-1835) botanist, was accused of receiving batch of plants stolen from Kew], trial is on the 18th [he was acquitted], [James] Colvill [(1777-1832) nurseryman who employed Sweet] very distressed. Mr Webb is considering taking [Mariano] Lagasca [y Segura] as an assistant. Pleased with progress of Smith's "Flora". Linnean Society membership growing fast. Last sheet of "Description of the genus Pinus" almost ready. [Charles Henry Bellenden] Ker [(c 1785-1871)] working in the Linnean Society library every day.
Is sending a letter from Dr. John Brinkley, and the corrected elements of the comet.
Comments on some ideas of J. B. Lamarck, and about large fossil remains apparently found.
[Aylmer Bourke] Lambert in "raptures" over [Augustin Pyramus] de Candolle's new work "Prodromus syst[ematis] nat[uralis]" though Cullum disappointed Candolle is unlikely to continue his "Systema Vegetabile".
Observations on changes of chemical names of medicines in the "London Pharmacopoeia" and other: 'Elettaria' has changed to 'Matonia', as recommended by Smith'; in the "Dispensatory" "cantharides" has reverted from "lyttae"; the three species of 'Arichona', the 'cordifolia', 'lancifolia', and 'oblongifolia' continued; and camphor still said to be produce of 'Laurus camphora' though [Philip] Miller told him that the best camphor comes from very large trees timber trees at Sumatra, wonders if the Dutch controllers of the trade make it from the 'Laurus' or undersized trees.
Lord [John Rous, 1st Earl of] Stradbroke [(1750-1827)] sent him specimens of the insects killing his Scotch firs for identification; thinks them 'Sirex juveneus' and reminded that some years ago several oaks were cut down in Mr Port's garden plantation at Ham, Derbyshire, because of boring 'Sirex gigas' hornets. Does not think 'Sirex' are labelled a pest of 'Pinus sylvestris' in Lambert's "[A description of the genus] Pinus". Offers to send bark specimens of Stradbroke's trees to Linnean Society.
Cannot find observation of comet of 1759 in [James] Bradley's papers. Discusses eighteenth-century astronomical observations. Can send JH particulars if he wants them.
Had hoped to send Cullum his "[English] Flora" for his patronage but held up by 'Rosa' and 'Rubus', has doubled the number of species of latter. Has now completed more than half his work on "Flora Graeca". Yet to receive [Augustin Pyramus] de Candolle's new work ["Prodromus systematis naturalis..."] but observed many errors in characters and references his "[Regni vegetabilis] Systema [naturale]" and his adoption of names according to date means he cannot be an authority.
Cullum correct about the two species of 'Sirex'. Received seeds and roots from [John] Denson [(fl 1820s-1870s, curator of Bury botanic garden], and intends to send Cullum willow cuttings from Mrs Crowe's. Dr [Martin] Davy of Caius [College, Cambridge], [William] Roscoe, the Duke of Sussex [Prince Augustus Frederick (1773-1843)], and [John Dunn] Hunter [(c 1798-1827)], an American brought up "among the wild Indians", whose narrative he recommends ["Memoirs of a captivity among the Indians of North America..." (1823)], all at Holkham, [Norfolk, home of Thomas William Coke] during his last visit.