Encloses newspaper clipping that reports JH is member of commission of inquiry on weights and measures. Protests that the poor are defrauded more by false scales than by nonstandard weights. Proposes remedy.
Encloses newspaper clipping that reports JH is member of commission of inquiry on weights and measures. Protests that the poor are defrauded more by false scales than by nonstandard weights. Proposes remedy.
Circular Magnetic results. Observations of solar spots. Determining Longitude.
Circular Magnetic and meteorological observations.
Discusses glass manufacturing.
Writes to support the candidacy of Francis Tudhope for a position teaching in the Government Schools at the Cape of Good Hope.
In Francis Beaufort's absence, AM is trying to clarify the matter of an astronomical instrument, apparently obtained from George Merz & Son.
About the health of Caroline Herschel, and other news from Hanover.
About the financial arrangements for Caroline Herschel [see JH's 1844-1-2], and news of her health.
Discusses prior meeting of B.A.A.S. to determine if [Cambridge] University would receive it. Says meeting went well. Asks if JH will agree to chair the B.A.A.S. meeting.
Discusses meetings of B.A.A.S. Describes [Robert Chambers's] Vestiges of Creation as a 'singularly shallow work.' Asks various astronomical questions of JH. Says the author misunderstands P. S. Laplace and Auguste Comte. AS is quite harsh in criticism.
Asks various questions about P. S. Laplace's nebular hypothesis and about Auguste Comte's discussion of it. AS comments: 'Your Father and you have given ample materials for observations for a 1000 years to come.'
Disappointed not to have seen Sir Harry Smith or JH's family while AS was in Norwich. Grateful for receipt of JH's Cape Results. Congratulates JH on this 'grand harvest,' a monument to William Herschel's honor. JH is 'now again a free man.'
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.
Is ill and cannot write instructions. Directs JH to instructions written earlier by the Council of the Geological Society.
Needs clarification of the relationship between the sun's rotation and the nebular hypothesis. Do the planets between Mars and Jupiter create problems for the hypothesis?
Tells JH to arrive 16 May. Will send train schedule. Sends regards to family.
Advising JH that the Admiralty will be sending him information which they have received from G. B. Airy, Edward Sabine, and Richard Owen.
Sending copies of Admiralty Memorandum of 7 December, and requesting JH to request papers from Edward Sabine.
Informing JH that J. C. Pritchard [Prichard] has been asked to send him material for chapter on Ethnology for 'Scientific Manual' for naval officers, which JH is preparing.
A note of thanks for being elected to membership in the R.A.S.