From W. H. M. Christie to G. H. Darwin 16 March 1877

My dear Darwin,

Thanks muchly for your promised contribution. The new periodical ""The Observatory"" is intended mainly for amateur astronomers, who have a general knowledge of astronomy, especially in its popular aspect, but know as a rule very little of mathematics. You may safely assume that they have a vague acquaintance with precession & that they can follow general reasoning on the subject. I want to make the publication as interesting as may be & I think a great deal of good may be done by substituting the clear ideas of Cambridge for the loose notions which are generally current. This may be done without formulae, but I must confess it is not always easy, so I hope you will do the best you can under the circumstances & I shall be very grateful.

As to length, I don't like limiting you much, but if you can boil down into 2 or 3 pages (size of Phil. Mag.) that would do well. The great thing is to give the results, preceded by sufficient general explanation to make the thing intelligible & interesting. If you could give a brief account of the present state of the whole question it would be just the thing. I don't know whether Glaisher told you the general plan of the ""The Observatory"".

1. Report of R.A.S meeting 8 or 10 pages (perhaps)

2. Articles of a popular character & reviews of books

3. Abstracts of papers, notes & news

4. Correspondence

5. Ephemerides for practical observers (4 or 5 pages)

Altogether some 32 pages is the idea to begin with. If you want more than 2 or 3 pages, don't scruple about extending the article. I am very sorry to hear you are seedy again—hope you will be all right soon. Your speculation about the Nebular Theory struck me as the right way to attack the question & likely to lead to something—it's better than loose talk.

Ever yours | W. H. M. Christie