CORRESPONDENCE ON ASTRONOMICAL ANNOUNCEMENTS. 71 



gives — with a few slight modifications — the system of condensed mes- 

 sages which has been in practical use for seven years. 



We also inclose a draft of a modified plan proposed to us for the 

 same object, and beg that you will carefully examine both documents 

 and advise us, as soon as may be convenient, in regard to the propriety 

 or expediency of exchanging the one for the other. 



Very respectfully, &c., 



Spencer F. Baird. 



Letter from the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, London, December 22, 1880 

 to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Lnstitution. 



Dear Sir : I have waited a few days before answering your letter 

 of November 30 for better consideration of the proposed plan for tele- 

 graphic announcements of observations. 



It appears to me, and I am entirely supported in this opinion by Mr. 

 Christie, that it will be a great improvement of the former plan, and we 

 heartily recommend it for adoption. 



Yours, faithfuUy, 



G. B. Airy. 



Letter from the Smithsonian Institution, November 29, 1880, to the Earl 

 of Crawford and Balcarres, Bun Echt, Scotland. 



Sir : Inclosed please find a circular we have just prepared in regard 

 to the telegraphic announcement of astronomical discoveries which 

 gives — with a few slight modifications — t*he system of condensed mes- 

 sages which has been in use for seven years. 



We also inclose a draft of another plan proposed for the same object, 

 and beg that you will carefully examine the same, and give us your 

 views, as early as may be convenient, regarding the advisability of it» 

 substitution for the former plan. 



"Very truly yours, &c., 



Spencer F. Baird. 



Letter from the Observatory Bun Echt, Aberdeen, January 7, 1S81, to the 

 Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 



Sir : Eeferring to your letter of November 29, 1880, 1 may say that our 

 experience at Dun Echt shows that telegraphic announcements of astro- 

 nomical discoveries should represent the actual known facts of the case 

 in a way to which the majority of the senders and receivers of the mes- 

 sages are accustomed. Thus the message should take the form of an 

 observation as usually published, the name, date, and place being given. 

 Any reduction of the time to a meridian other than that of the observa- 

 tion or any prediction of a future place of the object are equally to be 

 deprecated as likely to introduce errors.* 



* The possibility of making a blunder in the simple operation of referring the time 

 to another meridian or of failing to recognize the somewhat improbable nature of a 



