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29 Keppel Street - Thanks WW for his cheque for £100. Colonel Sabine wants some registering apparatus to send to the Toronto observatory by the end of this month. Asks if it is acceptable to give him one of WW's time-pieces and a mirror which he can replace in a month or so. To help CB get remuneration George Airy promises to report to the Government the success of his apparatus. John Herschel, Henry De La Beche and Colonel Sykes think the observatory at Kew ought to be under the auspices of Government and made a depot for meteorological science. If such a plan took place CB would like a permanent situation.

29 Keppel Street - CB learned from Mr Thompson that the building [magnetic observatory] could be up by the end of this month. This would have suited CB. However he has received WW's letter informing him not to proceed at present. CB would not have troubled WW about prompt payment [see CB to WW, 27 June 1848] but his professional practice has been compromised. All the amounts for the instruments will be ready in a fortnight when he will transmit to WW the remainder of the account. The final sum will not exceed the original estimate. CB will write again respecting remuneration from the Government after he has spoken to George Airy.

29 Keppel Street - CB wants his family to enjoy a little sea air while he works on WW's magnetic observatory. Since he has borne the costs for the apparatus so far on behalf of WW, he is finding it 'somewhat burdensome to my limited means'. Since CB's promised renumeration will shortly be before the Government, could WW inform Prince Albert [as Chancellor] of his views respecting the importance of automatic registration in understanding the 'relations of terrestrial magnetism, and requesting him to use his influence in my behalf'.

Keppel Street - The instruments [for the Magnetic Observatory] are likely to be ready by the end of October. CB has made some enquiries for an assistant to Mr. Glaisher, the superintendent of the Magnetic department at Greenwich Observatory. A respectable assistant will not be got for much less than £120 per year. Glaisher 'observed that at that salary, they seldom kept long those who were worth keeping; and if they did remain there, it was only for the sake of retaining the name of 'Assistant at the Royal Observatory' as a stepping stone to something better'. Some final details to consider before the plan of the building is finally settled.

9 Zion Place, Margate - CB has sketched out a plan for a magnetic observatory and gives a description of some of the technical features necessary for the building. Also enclosed is an estimate of the magnetic and meteorological instruments with apparatus for their automatic registration by photography.

9 Zion Place, Margate - CB is keen to establish the feasibility of his Registering Apparatus, and would be very happy to offer WW any assistance he can for 'putting it in action'. CB would like to superintend its construction as he has done for the Royal Observatory.