On domestication of pigeons and hybrid geese.
On domestication of pigeons and hybrid geese.
Asks for JH's comments on YV's specific double star observations. YV presents the mathematical method he uses to calculate double star orbits, which he had presented to the Paris Académie in 1847, but it was not published.
Needs to revise Outlines Astr., and will include Ernesto Capocchi's announcement of the discovery of another planet; some further corrections of JH's double star paper.
No summary available.
JDH thanks George Bentham for taking over from [Jules Émile] 'Citoyen' Planchon on Niger Flora. At Darjeeling JDH enjoys assistance from Brian Houghton Hodgson[BHH] & Müller; the latter is a Calcutta [Kolkata] Mint accountant. Pending approval from the Rajah JDH will travel more. JDH describes his daily routine whilst travelling & collecting with his Lepcha assistants, also describes his camp, challenges of difficult terrain, the scenery & his curiosity about the old roads. You cannot stray from the road as in the Alps & Andes. Bhutan & Upper Assam are closed to travellers & the low areas are unhealthy. JDH describes an unknown Sonneratia tree & mentions new Michelia & Cucurbitacea. JDH has published papers for the Asiatic Society. He wants to study the geography & natural history of eastern Himalaya as it has been ignored except by BHH. Botanically it can be divided into tropical, temperate & arctic areas. He describes the vegetation in Sikkim province: the area bounded by Kinchin [Kanchenjunga] & Teesta River, & compares it to that of Bhutan & Nepal. The description discusses: tropical jungle, conifers, Taxus, Pinus longifoli, P.deodara, P.pindrow, P.excelsa, P.smithiana, wild Cupressus, Brunonia, larch, palms, Cycas, Pandanus, Cruciferae, Ranunculus, Saxifraga, Primula, Oak, Magnolia, Lauri, Abies brunoniana, A. webbiana, Rhododendron, dwarf Juniper, tropical genera at unusual heights, pepper, Ficus, Calamus, Licualia, Wallichia, India-rubber fig, lack of open sward & European genera, pine forests, lack of legumes except Parochetus, Erythrina & different elevations at which characteristic vegetation appears. JDH discusses the climate of Sikkim & its influencing factors: the South East Monsoons & the Khasya & Behar Hills. Enmann’s Travels make JDH want to see Siberia & Chinese Tartary [Soongaria]. JDH also mentions: Edgeworth; Falconer going to Moulmein; Thompson, the deputy opium examiner at Patna; Crawford; Winterbotham in Tibet, Wallich & an Irish lady.
Describes HJ's formal petition against Stuart Watley's bill for reform of marriage laws.
JDH writes about his Bhotea mastiffs. He describes their physical appearance & savagery before being tamed, which he calls as bad as Bruno. JDH also has a puppy: a cross between Thibet [Tibet] mastiff & Lepcha hunting dog. He carried the puppy up Kinchin [Kanchenjunga] & named him after the mountain. JDH had to clean Kinchin daily with mustard oil & wood ashes, he likes bones like Skye but not the cook or rice, he is clever & steals cheese & JDH’s dinner. JDH jokes that Kinchin learnt English & that he was teaching the dog to write. Kinchin is now six months old & collects plants for JDH. Illustrated.
No summary available.
Thanks for JH's corrections to HJ's formal petition [against marriage reform bill].
Read part of JH's letter to the Institute and Yvon Villarceau also presented his own method. Will see the letter printed in the Comptes rendus.
Glad to hear that Margaret Louisa [JH's daughter] is coming to visit GA's family; could JH send along the key to the R.A.S. strong box?
Looks forward to the new edition of JH's Treatise Astr. Comments on the atmosphere and gases on the surface of the moon. What does JH think of these comments?
Responds to GA's 1849-4-4, and sends the key.
JDH is at Calcutta [Kolkata] with [Hugh] Falconer. He has failed regarding Nepal so will travel towards Sylhet & Khassya [Khasi]. Uncomfortable terms with Commander in Chief Sir Charles Napier, mean Lord Dalhousie has refused permission for [Thomas] Thomson to spend a year with JDH on duty so he will take it as furlough. JDH discusses Calcutta Society & his friends & acquaintances there, who include: the Colviles; Colonel Thornsby, the British Resident at the Court of Nepal; the Taylers, including Miss T who will do JDH’s portrait better than her father; Jung Bahadur; Gurney’s friend Reverend Street; & the old Bishop of Calcutta. He describes the Nepalese Princes currently in Calcutta, they will visit RBG Kew having paid penance for crossing the water at the temple of Juggernauth. Mr Tayler gave JDH a picture of Kinchin-Junga [Kanchenjunga] as seen from [Brian Houghton] Hodgson’s window JDH will have [Walter Hood] Fitch copy & return the painting & ask Reeves to publish the copy in lithograph with sales profits going to the Linnean Society. JDH is sending sandalwood boxes for his mother & the RBG Kew museum. It is not worth sending unauthentic, overpriced gold jewellery & trinkets. JDH describes his time at Government House with Lord Dalhousie, Metcalfe & Bowie, the latter was prisoner to Shere Singh with the Lawrences during the battles of Chillianwallah, Ramnagar & Goojaret [Gujerat]. He mentions that Courtenay sings at the grand parties & that horses in Calcutta are expensive. JDH will leave for Darjeeling on 9 Apr. He mentions Isabella’s gossip concerning Dr [Archibald] Campbell, Willy, Glasgow College, a Dr C. of Largs & Dr McGilvray.
Some responses to the question of copyright and of revision of articles prepared for the Encyclopaedia Metropolitana.
Does not recommend that JDH publish extracts of his letters from India in the Athenæum.
CD criticises JDH’s observations on glacial deposits in Himalayas as insufficiently clear and detailed.
CD will live to finish barnacles and make a fool of himself over species.
Is making a case for JH's priority claims with regard to the means of determining double star orbits, in conflict with Yvon Villarceau.
Has just published a small work to remove popular superstitions. Presents a copy to JH as a mark of respect.
Has received the proof sheets of his contributions to the Admiralty Manual and would like to make a few alterations. Has heard no news of the Madras appointment.
A note about forwarding papers related to the double star question [see JH's 1849-4-9].