Item 39 - Letter from John Herschel

Slough - JH thanks WW on his wife's behalf for his Hexameters. The two halves of the magnetic project devised by JH, WW and Peacock have now been granted - albeit with different measures of 'graciousness and possibly also of ultimate fulfillment'. Nevertheless the naval expedition 'is certainly resolved on'. Although the land stations have been given the go ahead 'nothing is ordered - nothing is referred to the Council of RS nor to the Commn. B. Assoc for discussion, or management - and we know not with what department of the public service we shall be put in communication. This is in a high degree embarrassing'. Since Peacock is a personal friend of Spring Rice he should explain to him 'the extreme awkwardness and inconvenience of the present state of things'. The BAAS grant of '£400 will not meet the cost of the mere magnetic instruments for the fixed stations'.