Asks for copies of photographs of her husband, Sir Thomas Francis Wade.
Collingwood - Thanks WW for his annotations to JH's translation of Homer's 'Iliad', and shows WW where he thinks he has misread him. Book five is nearly finished but JH does not like it. Maria Herschel hopes to be well enough to accept WW's invitation - along with Amelia Herschel - to Trinity Lodge. JH attaches a short verse of translation.
Collingwood - JH sends WW his translation of book six of the 'Iliad', and thanks him for his 'just and welcome' notes on his translation of book five. JH has compared his translation to others, and prefers his own since it does not 'gallop so oppressively...which always makes me seasick and puts me in mind of making game'. Maria, Amelia and William Herschel have returned from their stay at the Whewells. Margaret Herschel is now off the sick list but JH has had terrible bronchitis.
Collingwood - JH has sent WW his translation of book twenty-four of Homer's 'Iliad', and does not want WW 'to be sparing in criticism'. JH does not think he will find a publisher for it. JH is expecting Maria [JH's daughter] and her husband next Monday. Amelia Herschel will be escorted to WW's by Alexander Herschel who will then go straight to Norwich to give some lectures.
Collingwood - JH is having problems finding a publisher for his translation of Homer's 'Iliad'. JH has used WW's name in order to send Matthew Arnold - whom he does not know personally - books one and two, but fears they have different notions of English hexameters. Bella [Isabella] and Amelia enjoyed their stay at WW's. JH is feeling very old. He is pleased WW thinks Jevons [William Stanley Jevons] has taken too gloomy a view of the coal question, although JH cannot help thinking that 'there is course for very serious thoughts of our national future'. When coal supplies run out 'our civilisation will then have to fall'.
Letter to William Henry Smyth dated 16 Feb. 1834 asks for barometrical observations on behalf of Professor [Miller?] of Cambridge, is looking for the mean height of the barometer in different latitudes; Mr and Mrs Airy have fever and [Adam] Sedgwick has dislocated his arm; is building lecture rooms with a ventilator which would enable Mrs Smyth and her friends to listen to lectures. This letter accompanied by two notes in an unidentified hand.
A letter to R. C. Trench is dated 2 Mar. 1852 and asks questions arising upon reading his Study of Words.
There are two letters to William Hodge Mill, dated 1842 and 1844. In the earlier letter he asks Mill to serve as examiner for the Tyrwhitt Hebrew Scholarship, and asks his opinion of the effect of the Corn law on the value of tithe rent charges. The later letter sends a passage he has read in the Life of Hegel which he thinks will amuse him.
The letter to Benjamin Webb is dated 18 Dec. 1857 and refers to Webb's offer of a collection of MSS related to William Hodge Mill, and states that the seniority has approved the sum of £50 for the MSS.
The letter to Lady Lubbock is dated 8 Mar. 1864 and accepts an invitation to visit High Elms; is expecting a visit from Amelia and Maria Herschel with their brother Willie.
Accompanied by a modern transcript of a letter from Whewell to B. H. Smart dated 8 May 1969 [1849?] thanking him for a copy of his Manual of Logic.
WW's advice concerning the colours to be used to decorate JCH's restored church. WW was at John Herschel's a fortnight ago for the christening of their child (WW was made godfather).