R.A.S. voted to give its medal to William Lassell. Recounts the discussion of this among the members. G. B. Airy will be the next president. Applauds JH for the work he has done in this position. An 'olive branch' tendered to [W. S.] Stratford; he was made vice president.

Elizabeth Baily will be pleased to see him on the day mentioned. Also agrees with him to present the bust of her brother to the R.A.S. JH may have casts of the bust.

RS, Vice President of R.A.S., writes to JH, President, about a series of Council and membership matters.

Thanks for his letter regarding M. McCann. Does he know anything of the capabilities of Parkinson Wilson, Mr. Hobson, and Mr. Sandiman? Had intended to communicate his own researches on platina a long time ago, but was hoping to conclude them first. Thomas Graham will send down the form of certificate for him to sign.

JH replies to RS's 1849-1-15.

The Equatorial has arrived safely at the Cape. William Mann has declined the position at Madras and G. R. Smalley offered his services. What does JH think? Encloses letter from Thomas Maclear and one for Lady Herschel.

As JH is compiling a complete catalogue of variable stars, wonders if he has noticed the one listed in the Berlin maps. Has recently made a cometary summary.

Says he will guardedly write in his Outlines Astr. what he has to say about Neptune and the controversy surrounding its discovery. States that he eschews formulae.

Further to reception of results from FA [see JH's 1848-12-23].

Has just heard from Edward Sabine that there is still a vacancy at the Madras Observatory. Would like JH's support if he applies to the East India Company.

May use his cometary summary by all means; believes that J. G. Galle's is the most complete but his method requires improvement. Thinks he has traced the history of Halley's Comet and will be writing a paper on the subject.

Archbishop of Canterbury is to take his seat at the R.S.L. on Thursday next and is to dine with RI beforehand; will JH join them?

Sending an extract from a letter dealing with magnetic and electrical instruments recently sent to Egypt for purposes of exploration.

Thanks for the letter and his interest in the matter. Has written to W. H. Sykes relative to his astronomical qualifications.

JDH discusses Nepal wheat, wheat grown in Darjeeling, & in the mountains & valleys of Nepal. On tree roots JDH has found a parasitical Orobanche growth identical to one Georgie dug from ivy nut roots. Griffith's Phococordylis was growing on the same roots, for which refer to 'Linn. Trans.' [TRANSACTIONS OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY LONDON Aug 1846] or 'Balanoph'. [ON THE INDIAN SPECIES OF BALANOPHORA]. JDH found many Bhotean inscriptions in Sikkim & brought away some of the best, he will teach a servant to take rubbings for his next trip there.

Has altered and added to HES’s list [compiled for Bibliographia zoologiæ et geologiæ, edited by Louis Agassiz and enlarged by HES, (1848–54)].

On zoological nomenclature CD cites a case in which he believes more harm than good would be done by following the rule of priority. Thinks the rule of the first describer’s name being attached in perpetuity to a species has been the greatest curse to natural history. Every genus of cirripedes has a half-dozen names and not one careful description.

Sends a paper he once wrote [missing] on the subject [of zoological nomenclature].

Has never seen the great nebula of Andromeda satisfactorily resolved; comments on this and gives some of his observations. Will be going to Brighton and then take his family to London for Easter.

Thanks to JH for the copy of JH's Cape Results.

Encloses note to be directed to JH, pointing out discrepancies in JH's article on sound in first edition of Encyclopaedia Metropolitana.

JDH has returned to Darjeeling after a trip to the mountains. The Kazi of Lingcham accompanies JDH & likes the Murwa pot. JDH's route passed the Great Rungeet & a spur of Kinchin [Kanchenjunga]. Met Archibald Campbell [AC] in Teesta valley, the former had a hard journey obstructed by Sikkim officials. JDH was welcomed at villages en route & they gave him more than enough food for his party. AC & the Sikkim Rajah camped on opposite sides of the river. The Rajah's Dewan is a rogue. Describes audience with the Rajah, his manners, appearance & gifts exchanged. The camp was in Bhomsong, a valley with tropical forests incl. palms & Sikkim Pandanus. JDH began the march to the Lachen & Lachoon [Lachung]passes, AC came as far as Pemiongchi monastery then left for the Titalya fair. Ascended forest covered Mainomchoo Mt, crowned with Abies webbiana & a wooden temple. Made sketches & meteorological observations. Collected mosses, Rhododendrons incl. R. falconeri & an alpine bamboo. Describes Lama convent at Tassiding, incl. buildings & decoration by Lhassa artists. There was no sign of Hindu religion. On the road were slabs engraved with Tibetan characters. Also visited, Yuksun [Yuksom] on the Ratong River & Doobdee [Dubdi] convents where Cypress trees used to make wreaths. Describes ascent to & view from Jongri yak port above the snow line at 13000 ft. Notes the geology & glacial features of the range & view of Pundim & Kubroo peaks. Vegetation Herbaceous but incl. Tingurisella Pine. Describes marching through snow & danger of snow blindness. Collected strong-scented dwarf Rhodo. which causes headaches, rock lichen, Andrea, a Splachnum, 46 species of fern chiefly Spheropteris. Visited holy lake & Changachelling convents where his likeness was painted onto the wall. The journey was without mishap, the Bhotheas [Bhotias] & Lepcha people were hospitable. At Darjeeling JDH is staying with Muller, whose brother Charles is at Patna, & arranging his collections & museum specimens.