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.

. . .