“May 9th is the date of my Preface to the 1829 Observations:  all was then printed.  Apparently I did not go to the Visitation of the Greenwich Observatory this year.—­I was at this time pressing Tulley, the optician, about an object-glass for the Mural Circle.—­A new edition of my ‘Tracts’ was wanted, and I prepared to add a Tract on the Undulatory Theory of Light in its utmost extent.  The Syndicate of the University Press intimated through Dr Turton that they could not assist me (regarding the book as a second edition).  On July 10th I have some negociation about it with Deighton the bookseller.—­On May 18th I have a note from Whewell about a number of crystals of plagiedral quartz, in which he was to observe the crystalline indication, and I the optical phenomena.—­The Report of the Syndicate for visiting the Observatory is dated June 18th:  it is highly laudatory.—­The Proctor (Barnard of King’s College) requested me to name the Moderator for the next B.A.  Examination:  I named Mr Challis.

“On June 14th my wife and I went, in company with Professor and Mrs Henslow, to London and Oxford; at Oxford we were received in Christchurch College by Dr and Mrs Buckland.  My wife and I then went to Bedford to visit Capt. and Mrs Smyth, and returned to Cambridge on the 23rd.  On July 5th we went on a visit to my mother and uncle at Playford.  While there I took a drive with my uncle into some parts near the valley of the Gipping, in which I thought that the extent of the chalk was inadequately exhibited on Greenough’s map, and communicated my remarks to Buckland.

“I find letters from Dr Robinson and Col.  Colby about determining longitudes of certain observatories by fire signals:  I proposed chronometers as preferable.  Also from Herschel, approving of my second volume of observations:  and from F. Baily, disclaiming the origination of the attack on the old Nautical Almanac (with which I suppose I had reproached him).  On July 30th I received a summons from South to a committee for improving the Nautical Almanac; and subsequently a letter from Baily about Schumacher’s taking offence at a passage of mine in the Cambridge Observations, on the comparative merits of Ephemerides, which I afterwards explained to his satisfaction.

“On Aug. 24th my wife and I started for Edensor, and after a short stay there proceeded by Manchester to Cumberland, where we made many excursions.  We returned by Edensor, and reached Cambridge on Oct. 6th, bringing my wife’s sister Susanna on a visit.  My mother had determined, as soon as my intention of marriage was known to her, to quit the house, although always (even to her death) entertaining the most friendly feelings and fondness for my wife.  It was also judged best by us all that my sister should not reside with us as a settled inhabitant of the house.  They fixed themselves therefore at Playford in the farm-house of the Luck’s Farm, then in the occupation of my uncle Arthur Biddell.  On Oct. 21st I have a letter from my sister saying that they were comfortably settled there.