Correspondence and observations on transatlantic longitudes, a history of finding longitudes and methods to find longitude. The majority of the book is dedicated to eclipses, particularly the 1858 eclipse, with sketches and a photographic strip; the 1861 eclipse, with various French circulars, including methods of photographing the phenomena and a drawing of its various stages; the 1867 annular eclipse, with the Greenwich observations, an article in the 'Daily Telegraph' and Dr Weiss' report on the eclipse; and the 1869 total eclipse, with articles in the 'Kentucky Yeoman', 'Friends Review', two editions of the 'Journal of the Franklin Society', and the 'Philadelphia Photographer', including three photographs. There is also a large quantity of correspondence with H. Morton, W. De La Rue and H.D. Vail, with four photographs and a drawing of solar flares. Other brief items include an article on solar flares and some work on ancient eclipses.