Letter, from Sir John Herschel to Richard Sheepshanks, dated at Collingwood Autograph letter signed by sender. Does not want the Royal Astronomical Society to make any assertions with respect to priority regarding the discovery of Neptune: '...though Neptune ought to have been born an Englishman and a Cambridge man every inch of him,' you will never make 'an English Discovery of it do what you will.' States that [J. C.] Adams is owed much. If The Royal Astronomical Society throws down the gauntlet, this will do much 'mischief' and demoralize Adams. 17 December 1846