Still has not heard from JH. Has put much effort into horary observations of solstices and equinoxes. Sends JH articles by AQ on temperatures of earth. Will send magnetic observations.
Experiencing 'a daily increase of pain and feebleness.'
CD seeks to decline the Secretaryship [of the Geological Society] by citing his obligation to FitzRoy to write his volume of the narrative of their expedition. His youth, inexperience, and ignorance of English geology.
Finished going over his geological specimens at Cambridge, and is now in London.
Describes his plans for writing the journal, and later the geology and zoology of the Beagle voyage.
Would have had great pleasure in accepting CB’s invitation, "whether for beauty or for shells", but has another engagement.
Recommends David Williams’ paper on raised beaches of Devon [David Williams, "Letter … on the raised beaches of Barnstaple", Trans. Geol. Soc. Lond. 2d ser. 5 (1840): 287–8] be shortened and published immediately after Sedgwick’s and Murchison’s paper ["Description of a raised beach in Barnstaple", ibid., pp. 279–86] as chief point of paper is to support their conclusions.
Publication plans for the account of the Beagle expedition – CD to have the third volume for his journal.
News of naturalists and their interest in his specimens. Queries about plant specimens, including one on whether seeds from Keeling Island would endure salt water.
No summary available.
“The Botanists” and “The learned Linguists” give thanks for book and assistance.
Sending papers connected with the recent ruling in the Supreme Court, which affected JF, and may show him in an unfavorable light to JH.
Returns the Edinburgh Review with many thanks. Intends making use of the article on Advocates. Comments on articles in the United Services Journal. Regarding the situation at the Cape between the natives and the settlers.
Earlier sent JH some pencils, etc., and copies of the first two numbers of the 'Terror of the Northern Hemisphere.' Now sends third number.
No summary available.
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Acknowledges receipt of JH's letter of last August. Sends a copy of the American Almanac containing a catalogue of all the solar eclipses made by himself. Had a magnificent display of red aurora on 25 Jan.