Shall send a catalogue of double stars observed by [W. S.] Jacob. Gives some information about several measurements to establish standards.
Received news today of JS's arrival in Bombay. Describes conflict as 'Armageddon.' Family news. John Stewart returned from China and leaves soon to meet Matilda [Grahame] in Paris. [Richard] Jones's concern for JS is genuine. Eneas Mackintosh obtained cadetship for JH's son John at Addiscombe.
The entire family will set out for Malvern for six to eight weeks’ trial of J. M. Gully’s water-cure.
Family news.
Has just received JH's letter giving details of an interesting auroral phenomenon. Has been experimenting with wire insulates. Henry Lawson has observed streams of red light resembling aurora.
Regarding the 'chilled' casting of a telescope.
No summary available.
On return of a paper, and approval of AD's method of resolving fractions.
Sends sample of photographic lenses ground by JJ. Asks JH for formula of curvature to admit more light.
Tells GA about the internal counterpoise system in use in some German telescope mountings, and includes a diagram; JH knows nothing about chilling speculum metal [see GA's 1849-3-7].
About an astronomer for the Madras observatory. Suggests ways to reduce glare and so improve measurements [see RS's 1849-3-4].
JDH met Mrs [Archibald] Campbell and her children on their way from Monghyr on the Ganges to Darjeeling. He describes the way the family was travelling in Palkee's carried by bearers with their female attendants conveyed in suspended cages or chairs and the men running on foot. Along the road they rest at Bungalows erected for travellers by the government and at settlements it is customary for strangers to stay in the residents' homes and receive hospitality. Food in India is cheap, as are servants, but they are prone to breaking things. JDH enumerates all the servants [Brian Houghton] Hodgson has: over 20 for various purposes in his household and garden as well as a village full of people who cultivate the land badly but still get a wage. JDH discusses the health, appearance and affectionate nature of Mrs C's children. They gave JDH a palm wood walking stick which he will send to the [RBG Kew] museum. JDH has many letters & an account of his travels for the Asiatic Society to write.
No summary available.
No summary available.
Happy to support LAR’s application to the Royal Society.
No summary available.
JDH describes the history & religion of the Lepcha people to his uncle Palgrave: Sikkim aborigines with Mongolian origins. Compared to plains tribes of India, driven into the Himalaya, Vindhya and Ghat mountain ranges, they remain undisturbed. Lamaism is the Sikkim court religion. Buddhism was introduced from Tibet in 1400AD. Before that Lepchas worshiped spirits Kunchain & Junga after whom the mountain [Kanchenjunga] is named. Early Lepcha recorded history was destroyed in the Ghurkha [Ghurkha] war but monks say that Buddhist priests converted the Lepchas & extended the Sikkim territory from Teesta & Rungeet rivers to the Cosi [Kosi] & into Nepal to Tambar, driving out the Maghars. The vagrant Lepchas are under the control of the industrious immigrant Bhoteas from Tibet but still allowed to practice their own religion. The Buddhist clergy are influential, there are 20 temples in Sikkim with 800 priests & a few nuns. JDH describes the temples & other religious edifices & the figures of Buddha, Sakya, Rajahs, Lamas & other idols they contain. The oldest temples are Tapiding, Changachelling & Pemiongchi; uninfluenced by modern Hindu worship. JDH describes Chaityas, personal memorials, & Mendengs, inscribed walls, & illustrates the former. He describes the ways in which people worship & similarities & differences to the Roman Catholic Church. [Brian Houghton] Hodgson doubts anything is borrowed from Nestroian's Christians in Little Bucharia or later Jesuit missionaries. BHHH's Buddhist Researches appears in a pamphlet which Richardson of Cornhill has & there are also works by Lassen, Burnouf & Cousin. JDH has some inscribed slabs from the monks but they are just invocations, Lepcha histories are written on Nepal paper & JDH has one black sheet with gold writing, there may be more in the grand library at Lhasa or Dijaretie[?]. JDH mentions that the Lepchas have a deluge myth & the Himal has been under water since the tertiary epoch.
It is now time that they speak to John Russell (1st Earl Russell) concerning [Francis?] Ronald[s]. Would next Friday suit him?
Regarding the early history of the calendar. Comments on the various versions.
Writes a detailed account of his treatment at J. M. Gully’s hydropathy establishment at Malvern.
Arrangements about JH coming to London to go with SC to see John Russell (1st Earl Russell) [see SC's 1849-3-17].