DEAR SIR,—In compliance with your request, I send particulars of my observation on φ Draconis. It was about 12.45 this morning when I directed my 8-1/2 inch to this object, the air was very unsteady, in fact not nearly so good as some nights lately, and I well divided it with a power of 450. I then used a 6-1/2 inch stop, which I found very much increased the steadiness of definition.
DEAR SIR,—I tried the 6-1/4 inch mirror I had from you for the first time last night. The night was not a good one for definition, but I was very much pleased indeed with its performance.
DEAR SIR,—I have been wishing to tell you how pleased I am at the performance of your mirror. Many thanks for your kind offer to change the mirror if needful, but I think it could hardly be better than it is, its performance on different double stars is most excellent. I have examined nearly 100 of these since September with the 6-1/2 inch, most of them very difficult, but the mirror came out well under all tests. I send you a list of some of the objects I have examined.
π _Aquilæ._—Divided, power 80. 14-^m. Webb might have been rated 15-^m. [6-^m., 7-^m. 1″·5.]
A B C A-B A-C δ _Aquilæ._—[3-1/2, 16, 14, 96″, 194″.] Comites easy, 3 other excessively minute ones, not shown by the 11 inch refractor with which P. Smyth measured B.C. Found 6-1/2 in. Sept. 12th, est. ± 17 mag. 100″ to 110″.
ζ _Persei._—My friend “Linea” sees two minute stars with 4·28 in. Wray, not in Webb, and Wray himself sees an excessively difficult companion. I see these 3 stars easily with 6-1/2 in. (Wray says his companion is “very difficult with 7 in. refractor, really only a glimpse star, even with the best atmosphere”), and have added two more stars to the group.
β _Delphini._—Close double discovered by Burnham, est. 0″·7. In contact 6-1/2 in., power 430.
η _Coronæ Borealis._—Very low, long past meridian, in contact 164 power.
_a_ _b_ _c_ _n_ β _Equalei._—[5-1/2, 13, 14, 16: _a-b_ 35″, _a-c_ 50″ _b_-B 3″.] 16-^m. not seen, Webb 9-1/3 in. Just divided 164, easy 430 power. Two other companions (not seen by Smyth or Webb?)
μ _Andromedæ._—The 16-^m. comes, a very difficult test, easy; other comites (not seen by Smyth or Webb?) seen.
Companion to Vega pretty easy, Nov. 12th, 37m. after sunset.