“Of private history:  In January I went to Dover with my wife to see the blasting of a cliff there:  we also visited Sir J. Herschel at Hawkhurst.  In April I was at Playford, on a visit to Arthur Biddell.  On Apr. 9th my daughter Annot was born.  From July 22nd to August 25th I was travelling in the South of Ireland, chiefly to see Valencia and consider the question of determining its longitude:  during this journey I visited Lord Rosse at Birr Castle, and returned to Weymouth, where my family were staying at the time.  In October I visited Cambridge, and in December I was again at Playford.”

The journey to Cambridge (Oct. 24th to 27th) was apparently in order to be present on the occasion of the Queen’s visit there on the 25th:  the following letter relating to it was written to his wife: 

SEDGWICK’S ROOMS,
TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE.
1843, Oct. 26, Thursday.

I have this morning received your letter:  I had no time to write yesterday.  There are more things to tell of than I can possibly remember.  The Dean of Ely yesterday was in a most ludicrous state of misery because his servant had sent his portmanteau (containing his scarlet academicals as well as everything else) to London, and it went to Watford before it was recovered:  but he got it in time to shew himself to-day.  Yesterday morning I came early to breakfast with Sedgwick.  Then I walked about the streets to look at the flags.  Cambridge never had such an appearance before.  In looking along Trinity Street or Trumpington Street there were arches and flags as close as they could stand, and a cord stretched from King’s Entrance to Mr Deck’s or the next house with flags on all its length:  a flag on St Mary’s, and a huge royal standard ready to hoist on Trinity Gateway:  laurels without end.  I applied at the Registrar’s office for a ticket which was to admit me to Trinity Court, the Senate House, &c., and received from Peacock one for King’s Chapel.  Then there was an infinity of standing about, and very much I was fatigued, till I got some luncheon at Blakesley’s rooms at 1 o’clock.  This was necessary because there was to be no dinner in hall on account of the Address presentation.  The Queen was expected at 2, and arrived about 10 minutes after 2.  When she drove up to Trinity Gate, the Vice-Chancellor, masters, and beadles went to meet her, and the beadles laid down their staves, which she desired them to take again.  Then she came towards the Lodge as far as the Sundial, where Whewell as master took the college keys (a bundle of rusty keys tied together by a particularly greasy strap) from the bursar Martin, and handed them to the Queen, who returned them.  Then she drove round by the turret-corner of the court to the Lodge door.  Almost every member of the University was in the court, and there was a great hurraing except when the ceremonies were going forward.  Presently the Queen appeared at a window and bowed, and was loudly cheered.  Then notice was given that the