Lord Auckland [George Eden] has asked JH to edit Admiralty Manual and proposed that WH write section on botany. Would WH do this and when could WH complete it?
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Lord Auckland [George Eden] has asked JH to edit Admiralty Manual and proposed that WH write section on botany. Would WH do this and when could WH complete it?
Lord Auckland [George Eden] asked JH to edit [Admiralty Manual] for officers on surveying and exploring expeditions. Charles Wheatstone will prepare instructions for meteorological observations. Asks WB to write instructions on detecting 'atmospheric waves and barometric fluctuations.'
Is editing a manual for surveying and exploring expeditions. Asks WW to do section on tides.
JDH has been delighted with his trip hitherto. Describes visiting Cairo & wishes his cousin could see the pyramids as he did. Discusses belt of productive soil along the Nile & its small rate of soil deposition. Discusses location of the pyramids & the island on which the Nilometer is situated, & its influence on the corn market. Crossed the Nile on a boat similar to that figured in Bruce’s TRAVELS. Describes two sketches made during the crossing.. On both banks saw Egyptians, Ethiopians, Nubians, Abyssinians, Turks & a few Copts. Reached Ghizeh [Giza] & struck inland, carried by Arabs when it became very muddy. Arabs were scattering vegetable seeds. Reached the pyramids, thinks the Sphinx 'stupendous'. Bases of pyramids covered deeply with rubbish. Only had time to go over the Pyramid of Cheops properly. Describes the magnificent view from the summit. Made a few sketches of the grandest but certainly least attractive scene he has ever viewed. Collected lichens from pyramid summit. Went into pyramid interior & recalled every passage & chamber from childhood interest. Finds one grievous disappointment with the pyramids; their futility as simply mausolea. As a child he regarded them as being constructed for three purposes: as astronomical buildings; as places of worship; & as edifices to the genius of the Nile. He was glad to see Matilda Rigby so soon after she had dined with Lady Palgrave.
JDH describes his journey toward Ceylon [Sri Lanka] via Egypt, Suez, Red Sea & Aden. Writes of his time Cairo & the agriculture, vegetation & landscape of the region, the only trees are date palms, Acacia lebbek & Sycamore figs. Enumerates species seen on visit to Rhoda Gardens with Mr Traill, discusses problems of having this garden on an island in the Nile & recommends WJH read Traill's account in GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. Also writes observations of: visit to Fojal Forest with officers of the Sidon; the Pyramids; Cairo Pass tombs visited with the Governor General; fossil forest in the limestone desert; vegetation outside Cairo, mainly Capparideae, Zygophyylleae, Rutaceae & Hyoscyamus; dining with the with Consul General, a brother of Capt. Murray RN. Describes transit from Aleaxandria to Suez at the Pasha agents' expense. Ld & Lady D travelled by Barouche, vans transported Dr Bell, Jane, Courtenay, Capt. Henderson & various servants on roads the Arabs are bribed to maintain, Colocynth [Citrullus colocynthis] the only plant. Describes views of Red Sea & Sinai & the sterile landscape around Suez. At Suez met Col Heaney & son, Matilda Rigby & husband. Sailed down Red Sea in the 'Moozuffer' under Captain Ethersley. Sargassum prevalent at about latitude 20, describes islands passed. Boatswain killed. Saw conferovid plant described by Montagne in the ANNALES TRICHOSEMINA RYTHREENA. Passed Mocha & Strait of Babel Mandeb before arriving at Aden. Discusses wind phenomena & saltiness of Red Sea. Describes Aden volcano as resembling St Helena but even more barren than Green Mt in Ascension. Shore wooded with Acacias, Dates, and Mangroves. G.G. wants reports on tea districts of India. Assam did not enter into JDH's calculations. Also includes a printed black and white illustration entitled: ADEN "THE GIBRALTAR OF THE RED SEA".
Thanks JH for letter of 7 December, inviting him to Collingwood for Christmas. Apologizes for not coming. Received bad domestic news and was robbed. Will testify at Old Bailey.
Caroline Herschel, JH's aunt, is very ill, and not expected to live much longer. AK expresses some concern about some financial matters.
Preparing instruments and instructions for various expeditions. Discusses ES's wife's translation of [Alexander von] Humboldt's Cosmos and the [R.S.L.] Council.
Informs JH that RS will present a case for more than one medal to be awarded.
Is willing to assist JH, but feels that the Admiralty must instruct GA to do so [see JH's 1847-12-23].
Has sent out a number of circulars to JH as a member of the Royal Observatory's Board of Visitors.
Gratitude for receipt of JH's Cape Results by university library.
Will look into the affair of the overpayment of the telescope. Regarding geographical and hydrographical desiderata for the Admiralty Manual.
Has been requested by George Eden (1st Earl of Auckland) to contribute the botanical section to the manual to which JH alludes. Comments on this and the requirements for a manual of this type.
Is honored at George Eden's (2nd Baron Auckland) request for meteorological directions for atmospheric waves and barometric fluctuations. Will there be any engravings in the Admiralty Manual? The three annual barometric movements have occurred this year.
[George Eden] Lord Auckland seeks meteorological 'reports.' CW will contribute instructions on atmospheric electricity, photometry, and optical meteorology. W. R. Birt will report on meteorological instruments and wind observations.
Has just seen his letter [apparently requesting an article on mineralogy for the Admiralty Manual] on returning to his office. Is very busy at the moment with a survey of coal for George Eden (Earl of Auckland), but could probably help, given time.
Gratitude for receipt of JH's Cape Results by observatory of Central High School of Philadelphia.
All scientists named by GE, except [Adam] Sedgwick, will contribute to Admiralty Manual, but only one has a paper already prepared.
Asks: for name of instrument maker JH recommends for construction of actinometers; which hydrogrameters should be taken to Mackenzie's River; and whether JH has any experiments he would like done in America.