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Correspondence of the Chief Assistants with the Astronomer Royal during the latter's official absences.
(1) Letters from F.W. Dyson to the Astronomer Royal, 1894-1895, covering the following subjects:
1. Forwarding of mail from the Admiralty on the subject of chronometers.
2. Forwarding personal mail.
3. Repairs to the Royal Observatory letterbox and a request for instructions.
4. Administrative matters.
5. Information on the use and the repair of Royal Observatory instruments.
6. Information on staff changes.
7. Reports on the daily work of the Royal Observatory during the absence of the Astronomer Royal.
There are also two photographs affixed to greetings cards, sent to Christie by 'W Hamilton Merritt Esq', with no indication of date. The photographs were taken 'among the Thousand Islands, St Lawrence River', Canada. The first shows a man sitting in a rocking chair on the veranda overlooking the river. The second shows a man, a woman and a young child standing on a bridge over the river, looking at a man in a boat immediately below.
(2) Letters from F.W. Dyson and P.H. Cowell to the Astronomer Royal during his visit to Japan, 1896. The correspondence includes brief reports of observations being carried out at the Royal Observatory in his absence, and covers the forwarding of mail to Japan and two other unspecified locations.
(3) Letters from F.W. Dyson to the Astronomer Royal during the latter's absence in India and Switzerland. The correspondence covers the following subjects:
1. Problem concerning the electric light contract of the Royal Observatory.
2. Late delivery of the mercury trough for the altazimuth.
3. Reports of observations made during the absence of the Astronomer Royal.
4. Letter from H.H. Turner arranging codes in order to exchange information on observations of eclipses.
5. Letters giving brief reports to the Astronomer Royal on the daily work of the Royal Observatory.
6. A fault in the altazimuth.
7. Request by the Royal Institution that the Astronomer Royal give a talk on the successful results of the recent 'Eclipse Expedition'.
8. Diagram showing the original design of the gallery for the 28" telescope, the design modified by Mr Crisp and the final design by Mr Crisp.
9. Alteration to the number of copies of the astrographic catalogue required.
10. Various queries from members of the public on electric railways.
11. A warning that the rats are eating Christie's peaches and 'some action should be taken to save the fruit'.
12. Invitation for the Astronomer Royal to attend a meeting of the Solar Physics Committee.
13. Copies of two telegrams dated 1905.
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