Asks JH to put in writing proposals JH had made at a Standards Commission meeting, especially those relating to nomenclature [see GA's 1841-2-8].
Asks JH to put in writing proposals JH had made at a Standards Commission meeting, especially those relating to nomenclature [see GA's 1841-2-8].
A note to accompany proposals for the Standards Commission to consider [see GA's 1841-2-17]; twenty pages of proposals are appended.
Thanks and appreciation for past and present friendship.
Francis Beaufort will send JH sheets from James Ross covering trip from the Cape to Van Diemen's Land. Laments Charles Riddell's leave of absence but acknowledges replacement Lieutenant Younghusband's skill. States that C. F. Gauss has informed him by letter of the location of the south magnetic pole. Informs of [Edward] Belcher's letter concerning various magnetic stations in the South Pacific.
Edward Sabine has asked him to forward J. C. Ross's notes. If JH has finished with Thomas Maclear's letter would he return it.
Was pleased to receive the letter and old papers. Remembers his time at the Cape with pleasure. Has been interested, but not convinced, by J. C. Ross's soundings.
Unable to give any specifics concerning Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre's new photographic process. Discovered that old paper specimens produced a much better representation of the spectrum in its natural colors than those obtained at the date of JH's paper; these results are 'light on a dark ground,' which makes JH more hopeful that colored photography will someday be perfected. Has experimented with vegetable substances.
Answers a number of queries from Lyell concerning geography and geology of Chiloé Island and its relationship to the Cordilleras.
Asks about "perched rocks" on Jura and notes their relevance to Louis Agassiz’s theory. Discusses Agassiz’s view on Jura.
Mentions seeing Robert Brown.
Notes R. I. Murchison’s discovery of shells in central England.
Weakness of negative evidence.
Sends JH a quantity of silver ore from Mexico.
Writes to announce the birth of daughter Amelia, and to assure RA that both JH's wife, Margaret, and new daughter are doing well.
Has deposited the new conveyance with Messrs. Drummonds and returns the key.
Will do all in his power to ensure that MM receives copies of the publications relating to the Fixed Observatories. Does not think MM could have seen a copy of JH's paper on photographic action when he wrote the notice in Annales de chimie. Comments on this paper and more recent experiments in this field.
Notes interest expressed by Macedonio Melloni in meteorological observations. Urges that R.S.L. Council give its attention to the mass of meteorological observations that have accumulated.
Angry that many call William Herschel's 40-ft. reflecting telescope 'useless.'
On discrepancy of data from G. B. Airy and Humphrey Lloyd. Captain Boileau and John Caldecott exchange instruments to normalize data. Will send letters from Airy, [A. T.] Kupffer, Lloyd, ES, and JH to John Lubbock and the R.S.L. Council concerning the discrepancies.
Admiralty wished to present him with another part of the Cape Observations, and will hold it until someone is deputed to call at the office.
Looks forward to the paper on CD’s edible fungus specimen from Tierra del Fuego [read 16 Mar 1841; Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 19 (1845): 37–43].
Sends a correction: Fagus betuloides, not F. antarctica, is the common tree of Tierra del Fuego.
Discusses the role of ice in determining the geological features of the Jura. Mentions view of Agassiz. Objects to idea of "a [sea of ice] carrying rocks". Notes Agassiz’s earlier view of "ice expanded in the line of the Great Swiss Valley". Comments on Pentlands.
Has enjoyed reading LA’s book [Études sur les glaciers (1840)].
Hopes LA will pardon manner in which CD has alluded to his work on glaciers in his Journal of researches, of which he sends a copy.
Received WB's packet. Will send sheets tomorrow. Needs all 'Curves and data' before end of March for final report to B.A.A.S. JH's nerves 'shattered with night work.'