Lacock Abbey, near Chippenham
Sept^r 1^st 1835

Sir

Having seen in the newspapers a letter of yours concerning Halley’s Comet, ^<1> I beg to communicate to you an observation I made of it on the 27^th ult. with an achromatic of 4 ½ inches aperture, somewhat smaller therefore than the size (6 inches) which you mention as requisite for viewing this object at present.

On August 27 at 14^h the comet was close to a bright star from which its difference was estimated,

in A. R. 0
in Decl. 4′

I have been fortunate enough to find an observation of the star in the Hist. Céleste Française ^<2> (page 315) it being the star which is there set down “passage au fil du milieu 5^h 44′ 15,5″ Having calculated therefore as well as I am able the position of the star at present I find

A. R. 5^h 46′ 50″
D 24º 13′ 27″

Consequently the position of the Comet Aug. 27, 14^h

A. R. 5^h 46′ 50″
D 24º 17′ ½

I should be much obliged if you would observe this star & communicate to me its current position, if the one above mentioned deviates from the truth – I do not find in the newspapers any corresponding observation of the 27^th – that made at Greenwich being of the 28^th. I do not think the above observatⁿ of the comet is likely to be erroneous more than 1′ or 2′, but to make certain I made a sketch of the configuration of the telescopic stars around it, which fix its place very nearly, & which I can observe again at a future time.

I observe it again on the 31^st when it had moved about a degree from its former position, but think it unnecessary to add particulars as it is now observed in Several quarters & no doubt with first rate instruments. – It had not augmented in brightness from the 27^th to the 31^st on the contrary I considered it grown more indistinct; – I saw neither tail nor nucleus, only a hazy nebulous appearance.

I have the honor, to be, Sir, Your obed^t Servant
Henry F. Talbot

Professor Airy
Observatory
Cambridge

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Notes:

1. See Doc. No: 03113, and Doc. No: 03125

2. Joseph Jérôme Le Française de Lalande (1732–1807), Histoire Céleste Française Contenant les Observations Faites par Plusieurs Astronomes Française (Paris: Imprimerie de la république, 1801).