he said he had a taste for.  I wish he would find out for me whether there is a translation into English of Colonel Savage’s Practical Astronomy.  It is a Russian work, and the place to inquire is of some of the booksellers in London who confine themselves to foreign publications.  I like my present employment more and more every day.  My only trouble is the want of time.  I hope you all find your time pass as easily as I do; if the girls do not, they may as well kill some of it by writing letters.  I have so much to do that I must conclude, with love to all.

Ever, my dear mother,

Your affectionate son,

William J. Wills.

. . .

Magnetic Observatory, June 17th, 1859.

My dear mother,

It was my intention to have sent you a stereoscopic photograph of your dear son by this mail; but owing to pressure of business I have been unable to get it done in time.  I must therefore leave it until next month.  I received a letter from Ballaarat a day or two ago, containing one from you to my father; you say something in it about not hearing from me.  I do not understand how that is, as I have been wonderfully regular lately, and have sent a letter every month to one of you.  I am sorry to hear that the winter has been so mild, for I fear that may cause much damage from frost in the spring.  We have had a considerable quantity of rain here already, which is a great benefit to the country generally, but makes it rather unpleasant in Melbourne.  Wonderful improvements have been made in our public library lately.  It is now really a splendid one; in fact there are very few better anywhere.  I enclose a News Letter, which is a great convenience to lazy fellows, or to those who have too much work.  Give my love to all, and

Believe me, my dear mother,

Your affectionate son,

William J. Wills.

. . .

Magnetic Observatory, Melbourne, June 17th, 1859.

My dear Bessy,

I must write a few lines to you, more especially as I wrote to Hannah by the last mail; but mind, I must have a long answer by return of post.  I want to know whether Charles got the maps of the stars that I told him to get some time ago.  If so, he should begin at once to keep a register of meteors.  In the first place, let him get a book—­a good copybook would do—­and rule it according to the following form, to which I have attached an example:—­

Column 1:  Number (Name) of Meteor. 
Column 2:  Day of Month. 
Column 3:  Hour of Day. 
Column 4:  Altitude.  At commencement. 
Column 5:  Altitude.  At end. 
Column 6:  Azimuth.  At commencement. 
Column 7:  Azimuth.  At end. 
Column 8:  Description of its situation with respect to certain Stars. 
   At commencement. 
Column 9:  Description of its situation with respect to certain Stars. 
   At end.