WCP1364

[1]^{1, 2}

Newton,

Melcombe — Bingham,

Dorchester.

28th Dec[ember]

My dear Sir.

It would give me much pleasure to see you & have a little talk — as you kindly say in your letter for which I thank you. We have only been here [2] for a short time. Rather more than a year. I have seen little of the County as yet. My home is in Scotland but I have also a house in London. I thought this would be a good place for Astronomy — independently [3] of its happening to be called "Newton"! — as it so very open — no trees near the house — but alas! I fear it is one of the very wettest spots in England.

At least I find that a night in which I can do star spectroscope work [4] is very rare. tho’ [sic] the place gets lots of Sun through the day there is always a vapour in the lower sky at night. The land is not drained at all & the water stands in lakes in the fields. As soon as the weather gets better I shall hope to try to come & see you — but we are a [5] 2 long way from both Blandford and Dorchester — our nearest stations — about halfway between them — We haven’t seen the Sun for weeks here [1 word illeg.] just now! I had a peep on Saturday and was surprised to find no spots or even ^any distinct faculae. We shall have them round again in a week or so most likely, as the large groups survive 2 or 3 solar [6]

rotations — Have you ever come across a book called, I think, "The Unseen Universe"³ by Balfour Stewart & P.S. Tait? It is curious. Coming form such men. Tait was my old professor when I was at Edinburgh University before I went to Oxford, & he was thought to be unlucky in being contemporary with W[illia[^m.] Thomson — who overshadowed him. The book of course is old as regards the Astronomy, but it is a curious piece of work for such men. It went through several editions. I think I could find [1]⁴it & send it to you — if you haven’t read it.

I am | y[ou]rs very truly | Alex Foote [signature]