Observatory Sydney
March 5 1858
58/37
Sir
I regret to hear that one of the thermometers has been broken by an undue application of heat. No head should be applied greater than that of the hand. In future the Observers will be held answerable for instruments broken through want of care, or in judicious treatment. Until further notice omit description of clouds; at the same time your remarks might be a little extended.
No importance is allocated to the electrical observations at the regular hours, but it will be well to watch and record the indications of electroscope previous to and during thunderstorms.
I am sir
Your Obedient Servant
W Scott
W Hollis
Observatory
November 12 1890
James C Leslie Esqre
Corowa
My Dear Sir
I am much obliged to you for sending me the very interesting account of the parhelia observed on October 10th.
It is a rare phenomena in these latitudes and therefore the more important when it is seen. Of course you are aware that the high……… cirrus clouds seen before rain, are really snow clouds and that the halo is caused by the snow. Now one point of great importance in the phenomena observed on October 10th is the marked difference in character from the same thing seen elsewhere. All the accounts say that the Mack Suns appear at the intersections of the halos.
Now in the drawing you sent it appears that there were 2 situates on the great halo; and on a level with the Sun. But no intersecting halos are shown at these points in the drawing. This of course is a very material difference, from the recognized form and I wanted you to tell me if any faint halos were seen intersecting the great one at the points where the mack sun’s where they would of course be much fainter than the great halo and they might have been overlooked; but from the time the phenomenon lasted and the number of persons who saw it: they can hardly have been overlooked by all if they were there at all.
I should be very much obliged if you would make enquiry of those who saw it and more especially of those who took the greatest interest in it. Whether they saw any faint circles of light cutting the great halo at the points where the mack suns were. They would probably be at the same altitude as the great halo and touching it one on each side.
I need hardly say that I shall be very much obliged to you for any additional information and a second copy of the diagram if you can get it for me: I want it to send to the Royal Meteorological Society.
Yours very truly
H.C. Russell
