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Royal Observatory Greenwich - GA has been ill with a fever as have, it seems, most people in his neighbourhood. He encloses a copy of the Royal Astronomical Society's yearly report, and wants him to read his speech on delivering a medal to Captain Smyth [William Smyth]: 'You will perceive that it was made under rather delicate circumstances'.

Keswick - GA has just received a letter from Thomas Atkinson of Ainstable 'with a certificate from Hudson, which I transmit to you as being (I believe) Hudson's successor' [concerning TA's entry into Trinity College?].

Flamsteed House, Greenwich - GA is taking a vacation in France: 'my nervous system seems I think more than usually shaken'. Regarding high academical instruction in mathematics: 'I have no doubt of the want of a Code. Yet it will not do to make this exclusive or suppressive of novelties - not because it would not be best if it could be maintained, but because it cannot be maintained for an unlimited time, and the more pestiferously it is kept up for a time, the more sudden and complete and anarchical will be its fall at some period... Therefore my general notion would be, to define subjects which ought to be kept, leaving a fair space for others which may be introduced as new tastes or the influence of individuals may prevail, and not to risk the chance of such a treatise as Babbage proposed "On the principles of d-ism, in opposition to the dot-age of the University"'. As to particular authors, GA recommends Newton, Lagrange and Monge, and reluctantly Laplace's Mechanique Celeste - though 'this is by no means so systematic a work as those above'. Regarding the works of [Leonhard] Euler GA is not very familiar: 'But to some of these which I did read, there is this objection, that Euler gives the whole course of his ideas, dilating upon his crude notions in a way which requires great labour for following him, and then quietly informing you that it is all useless and that he can give you something much better'. GA agrees with WW in emphasising 'the great standard works of all times rather than to the last steps made'.

Flamsteed House, Greenwich - GA has not had much time to remark on WW's "Education" sheets for a few days' [Of a Liberal Education in General, and with Particular Reference to the Leading Studies of the University of Cambridge, 1845]: 'First of all - I am very glad that there will be a book on this subject... I have practically felt the want of an authoritative treatise of this kind for reference and for ground of discussion'. GA gives his 'assent entirely to the general spirit' of it and most of the details he has seen: 'I assent most completely to the tenor of your remarks on the mind-destroying effect of analytical process (excepting with a few persons among whom I class myself who have very severely disciplined themselves in the examination of the evidence of every individual step). - But I do not think that you give sufficient attention to the magnitude of the step made, to the vastness of the powers acquired, by the mere perception that symbols may be used for numbers - both in treating unknown numbers as if they were known - and in treating known numbers by general symbols. It is like the step in intellect from childhood to manhood. Although as regards the discipline of mental habit it is greatly inferior to geometrical progress, yet as regards the evocation of an unperceived power of the mind it is greatly inferior'. GA thinks WW 'should slightly limit the repudiating part in your laudatory mention of differential calculus page 36, because I think that it may be made an admirable exercise in severity of logic - at the same time acknowledging that it never will be made so by ordinary private tutors'.

Flamsteed House, Greenwich -Thanks WW for the dedication in his book on education [Of a Liberal Education in General, and with Particular Reference to the Leading Studies of the University of Cambridge, 1845].

Royal Observatory Greenwich - Richarda Airy has given birth to a boy.

Flamsteed House, Greenwich - An American gentleman, Mr Gould, has been 'working as amateur in the Observatory' and is coming to Cambridge: 'He is a well informed and well mannered young man'. GA has given him a letter of introduction but has told him not to use it to seek WW out in private but only if they meet in public.

Royal Observatory Greenwich - GA has written a paper about his left eye and wants to know whether it is too late for this years meeting of the Cambridge Philosophical Society - 'if it is in time, would you put it in train'.

Flamsteed House, Greenwich - The medical attendant has announced that Hilda Airy is now out of danger. Has WW received the description of Pulkowa [Pulkowa Observatory]? The speeches at the commemoration did not come up to GA's expectation: 'there was no sufficient acknowledgement of or allusion to the effect of university education on the habits of the mind: - which in my opinion makes the great difference between a Cambridge man and another'.

Royal Observatory Greenwich - GA invites WW to dine with the Astronomical Club at the Piazza Coffee House at 5.30 on Friday, followed by a meeting at Somerset House where GA will 'expound the continuation of the History of Neptune (more strange than the beginning), and the theory of Hansen's new inequalities a la mode de "Gravitation"?'

Royal Observatory Greenwich - GA has been at home for three weeks reducing accumulated business, and helping to arrange an expedition for the observation of the eclipse: 'Never was any ambitious man more unfortunate. The circumstances were these. It was just doubtful whether the eclipse would or would not be annular at Greenwich. So I selected four stations to the north and three to the south, and determined by observations of these to find precisely where the eclipse was just circular. I had a micrometer 20 miles long to measure 12"... But all in vain. Only at one was the sun seen 5 minutes and at a useless time'. GA was delighted with the Pulkowa Observatory in Russia: 'It certainly is the best in the world, not simply in building and furniture but also in methods of observing. The former, however, are parts of the latter: for every instrument and every part of the building have been planned to the utmost details with reference to a prearranged plan of observation. A single observation at Pulkowa is undoubtedly better than a single observation anywhere else. The observatory is best known for its equatorial instruments, and these in my opinion are its weakest part'.

Royal Observatory Greenwich - GA will give WW notice when he can 'talk over the tide matters'. Regarding 'a theory of the Pacific (or indeed of any sea - especially where the depth is not known) I give it up as desperate. Whether, like the simpler planetary perturbations, it can ever be theorised after the discovery of simple empirical laws, I do not venture to guess'. The magnetic observations are going well: 'there has been terrific disturbance of the magnets (not yet finished) which is well self-registered'.

Trinity College Cambridge - GA agrees with WW that his article on eye pieces should be printed immediately. If WW can arrange this, could he pass on the address of the printers and engraver. He has received the latest number of the Philosophical Journal which contains two letters by James Ivory about GA: 'I wish the man would not torment me by writing letters to me; I am amused by his idea that I have fallen into error from deference to high authorities; I never expected this accusation'.

Royal Observatory Greenwich -GA does 'not fully understand the case of the Australian diurnal tides. I do not see the difficulty of an inequality both in high and in low water'. WW is not to suppose that he is satisfied with the Irish tides beyond the empirical laws: 'The mechanics of a sea are almost desperate. I could not satisfy myself about the facts on the eastern side of the Irish channel, and therefore I inferred from those on the western side as if the evidence on that side applied to the whole'. GA wishes WW would try his 'translatorial hand on Schiller's Graf von Kabsburg'.

Royal Observatory Greenwich - GA encloses a mathematical paper for WW to give to the Cambridge Philosophical Society.

Royal Observatory Greenwich - GA sends WW a melody he wrote in 1826. GA has 'lately been into Ireland to try Lord Rosse's [William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse] telescope; and on my return I came (but did not try) Lassell's [William Lassell]. Lord Rosse's telescope is not finished: "much has been done, but much remains to do". I can conceive that it will be necessary to alter entirely the mounting of the mirror. If you are in London on Friday November 10, you may at the R. Astronomical Society hear an explanation of some of the principal differences between L. Rosse and Lassell, and of some of the principal absolute methods of L. Rosse'. Could WW attend a meeting of the Board of Visitors on December 1 or 2: 'We must decide something about the objects and scale of our Magnetic Establishment, and I wish that you as physician would think of it'.

Royal Observatory Greenwich - Adams [John C. Adams?] has invited GA to the Johnian dinner on Monday. Due to a long standing agreement GA has written to Sedgwick [Adam Sedgwick] to dine with him on the Tuesday, hence he has not put in an application for WW's hospitality.

Royal Observatory Greenwich - GA has sent by rail 'the volumes of the Greenwich Astronomical Observations for 1836, Appendixes, Planetary and Lunar Reductions, as directed by the Board of Visitors.

Royal Observatory Greenwich - GA thanks WW for WW's paper on Hegel ['On Hegel's Criticism of Newton', 1849] and on the Curve equation (intrinsic): 'Truly the German organ of "Pure Reason" must have altered its shape since the time of Kant. - As to the latter subject you ought, I think, to bear the title of high-priest of rigmarole. This method of representing a curve is on the face of it almost necessarily unfit for Forces, but it is conceivable that it might come in in Kinetics'. GA is putting together some early details of the Cape Observatory and needs some information concerning Fallows [Fearon Fallows].

Royal Observatory Greenwich - GA needs the reference 'to the first establishment of the simultaneity of magnetic disturbances, and to the book in which the first publication of it is to be found'.

Royal Observatory Greenwich - All that WW says about the diurnal tide at Plymouth is quite accurate. The gale from the North on Friday 28th was 'the wind which commonly raises the tide'.

Royal Observatory Greenwich - GA has been presented with a great correspondence on the observation of tides, involving at least twelve stations selected between Aden and Cape Comorin: 'But how long observations were to be made, at what periods of year, with what meteorological observations these were to be connected, how long and under what regulations the latter were to be made, I cannot make out'. GA thinks 'the indication of the nature of the observations' came from WW - 'if you could rake up any recollection of the proposed plan...I should be glad to have it. It is partly necessary to guide me in answers respecting the choice and expense of instruments'.

Royal Observatory Greenwich - GA encloses the bill for the paper puncher WW ordered (made by Ransome and May). GA's life has been very busy over the last two or three months. His 'great instrument has not yet left the engineers. The pivots have given some trouble'.

Observatory - GA returns a parcel of amethystine crystals of which, due to their rough surfaces, he has been able to make nothing. 'I have lately determined an odd thing in the way of polarization, viz that the light of ladies eyes is polarized - at least when viewed in particular directions. When deprived of this light, the eye has a most unnatural appearance'.

Royal Observatory Greenwich - Ransome and May acknowledge receipt of WW's letter advising payment for the paper punch [see GA to WW, 10 April 1850]. 'I understand that Lord John's announcement of the University Inquiry Commission took all parties by surprise. I do not know any thing more about it; but I conceive that it is a thing about which nobody in Cambridge needs to be alarmed or annoyed. I am convinced that Cambridge generally will come out of it; and specially that Trin: Col: would be a gainer...as far as I can gather, it is principally Oxford against which the commission is directed'.

Inverness - Regarding WW's question concerning fringes, 'I really can say nothing about them without seeing them. The dust-fringes and vapour-fringes have always mystified me a little. The others I have no doubt will come out as easily as becomes matters which usually have some very unmanageable geometry with very easy physics. But to tell the truth I do not know precisely how either set is formed'. Otto Struve is on his way to Lassell [William Lassell] at Liverpool and Lord Rosse at Parsonstown to see telescopes.

Bonar Bridge - Thomas Clarkson, the son of GA's late friend the abolitionist Clarkson, is coming up to Trinity in October: 'This youth I dare say has no brilliant talent... Slightly uncouth in manner. - Now I am anxious that he should be in the society of gentlemanly men (I do not mean expensive men, for his fortune is not large)... Would it suit your views and your convenience that I should give him a simple note of introduction to you?... I really feel as much interest in the fortune of this youth as if he was my own relation'."

Royal Observatory Greenwich - GA has just sent WW the Greenwich Observations for 1848.

Royal Observatory Greenwich - GA is 'in the agony of mounting the great transit circle... I fully expect that it will do well'.

Flamsteed House, Greenwich - George Airy's brother has come across a copy of the Solemn League and covenant signed by most of the people in his parish [Swineshead]: 'I think there are not many of these parochial covenants in existence - so it appeared to me well to ask his licence to offer it to the library'.