Thanks for Smith's letter on his rare 'Fenillia'. Safely received seeds from Van Diemen's Land [Tasmania].
No summary available.
If possible, send a magnetic needle and the prescription for mixing chrome green paint for Mrs. Somerville. Enjoyed visiting JH's mother.
No summary available.
Sends directions for chrome solution and the magnetic apparatus and instructions for its use, as requested [in WS's 1826-8-2]. Discusses experiments with magnets.
Discusses her will.
William Whewell has promised to spend six weeks with him and he hopes that JH will also be able to come for a time.
Observed this morning, for the first time, a comet. Gives readings.
Has just received his letter. Has had no opportunity of examining the iron. Several years ago he made some experiments on the alloys of lead and cast iron, but does not remember the results. Is surprised that no new metal has been found in meteorites.
Has been to the observatory. New comet discovered. Has met P. S. Laplace. Does he know of any tables of logarithms to 10,000?
Is sending on two items directed to JH through WT.
Sending a copy of [Antonio] Bertoloni's "Amoenitates Italicae". Compared the collection of plants he gathered from Corfu and other islands with Bertoloni's herbarium, the best in Italy, but still has doubts which he can only clear up by consulting [John] Sibthorp's original specimens. [David] Don [(1799-1841), botanist] wants him to communicate his Ionian flora observations to Linnean Society but does not think them interesting enough. The Ionian 'Umbelliferae' are "numerous & extraordinary" and seem little known, could not even apply genera to many of them, although a copy of "Flora Graeca" in the Grand Duke's Library in Florence was helpful.
Returns house keys. Smooth passage across Channel. Met James Grahame's brother-in-law, Mr. Robison, who is going to Paris to be married. James South arranged carriage for JH's travels in France. Servant James Child is well and observed four criminals executed in London before departing. News of Beckwiths.
Asks WW to watch over the printing of JH's 'Light' for the Encyclopaedia Metropolitana. Describes that work as not especially original and as free of historical information. Discusses JH's trip to Calais.
Delaying his Ionian flora paper for Linnean Society until next spring as expects to go to Paris soon. Frustrated by botanical travellers who do not mention in their "Floras" what plants chiefly abound in a district; it is not the few rare flowers that characterise a region's vegetation. Lists the plants that are strikingly abundant on Corfu: 'Phlomis fruticosa'; 'Asphodelus ramosus'; 'Ornithogalum exscapum' Tenore, thinks it the 'Ornithogalum nanum' Sibthorp; 'Geranium umbrosum' Tenore; 'Scilla maritima'; 'Lycopsis variegata'; 'Scrophularia peregrina'; 'Phalaris [ariculata]'. On island of Zante: 'Salvia triloba'; 'Hedysarum humile'; 'Hedysarum caput-galli'; 'Chrysanthemum coronarium'; 'Cynara humilis'?; 'Anthericum graecum'; 'Poterium spinosum'; and 'Cistus salicifolius'.
Has discovered two varieties that may be new species: a 'Lithospermum orientale' which on Corfu always has white flowers, and 'Trifolium stellatum', which elsewhere has pink flowers but on Corfu bright yellow. Found specimen of 'Cytinus hypocistis', it resembles a wax model more than a living plant. An 'Umbelliferae' on Zante with a triangular stem, [Antonio] Bertoloni calls it 'Laserpitium triquetrum'. 'Staehelina chamaepeuce' grows on cliffs on Zante. Did not see 'Veronica chamaedrys' on Corfu but a 'Veronica' very like it. Also found two "very singular" 'Euphorbia', one described by [Felix de Avellar] Brotero [(1744-1828)] as 'Euphorbia [pterococca]' and 'Euphorbia sexangularis' by Sprengel, the other would have been new but it was discovered by [Giovanni] Gussone [(1787-1866)] in Sicily last year.