Autograph letter signed : Leighton Buzzard, to Mary Hillyard, 1832 November 3.

Responding to his niece's letter; discussing family matters; writing that if he were younger and in better health, he would visit her more frequently; adding that if she is able to visit them, "I shall have pleasure in giving you some of my dry Philosophical Essays if they were at all entertaining"; discussing a comet (possibly Biela's Comet): "The Laws of the cometary motions are simple & easily understood. There is no danger of the present comet giving us a shock it is too far off & too small to affect in any sizeable degree our atmosphere. I do not think you will be able to see it, as it requires a good telescope & some care & skill in using it--it is now near the star called Regulus a little below & to the left side--but the moonlight will be almost too much to allow you a sight of it--besides it is only to be seen early in the morning from 1 to 4 when you will probably be fast asleep or not disposed to rise for such an object"; telling her that in the recent issues of the Penny Magazine and Mechanics Magazine there are several papers on the nature of comets; writing that he has sent some bell pulls to his son at his new residence in Wellingboro; passing along greetings to a Mr. Smith and others.