1 :  June 1 :  8 P.M. :  35 degrees :  20 degrees :  north-east :  east
    by south :  2 or 3 degrees below Spice. :  To Anthers.

Column 1:  Size of Meteor. 
Column 2:  Length of Tail. 
Column 3:  Colour of Meteor. 
Column 4:  Duration of Meteor. 
Column 5:  Duration of Tail. 
Column 6:  Remarks. 
Column 7:  Observer.

May 2 :  5 degrees :  Yellow :  1 second :  3 seconds :  Small, but
    very bright. :  west.

The time should be very carefully noted.  If there is anything in the form that he does not understand he must ask me about it when he writes.  The altitude and azimuths will only be approximate, but the main thing is to see how the shooting stars are situated with reference to the fixed stars.  It is of great importance to note these meteors, even the small ones, as very little is yet known of them; and every observation, if carefully made, will some day help to show what they are.  The object in noting the stars they pass by is this:  that if two or more observers see the same meteor from places several miles from one another, the comparison of their observations will generally give a means of ascertaining the distance of the meteor from the earth.  But it is getting late, and I will write to Charley more about it by next mail; only tell him to make himself well acquainted with the stars.  Give my love to him and Hannah, your aunt M., and old Anne; and tell me in your next how the latter is getting on:  and do not forget to let me know all about Charley and how he spends his time.  I am afraid that you little girls take him out walking too much, and make him read pretty stories instead of the books he ought to be studying.

Your affectionate brother,

William J. Wills.

. . .

Magnetic Observatory, Melbourne, July 14th, 1859.

My dear mother,

The news by the last mail has put us all in a state of excitement about our defenses, in the event of England being involved in the continental war.  Melbourne is badly situated in case of an invasion.  There is at present not the least protection; and unless the home government sends us out two or three good war steamers, we shall most certainly get a good thrashing some day.  The French have possession of the island of New Caledonia, which is not very far from here, and is a convenient place of rendezvous for them.  I see by your letter to my father that you are rather afraid the French may invade England.  For my part I believe they have more sense.  It is the most hopeless thing they can attempt.  I send you two or three photographs; they are very poor, and not stereoscopic as I intended.  The artist made a failure of the matter and gave me these.  He is going to try it again some day with a better camera; but as that would be too late for the mail I must send you these now, and you may expect better next time.  I find that the mail is to close this