Letters from various British and international observatories on filling vacancies, new equipment and the new observatory at Williamstown, Victoria. The correspondents include C. Todd, R.C. Carrington, J. Challis, C.P. Smyth, R. Grant, W. Lassell, N.R. Pogson, J.M. Gillis, W.S. Jacobs and R.L.J. Ellery. There is also a report on the Glasgow Observatory by R. Grant; a report on the Liverpool Observatory by J. Hartrup; a Spanish account by R.R. de Sousa Pinto on the Madrid, Paris, Brussels and Greenwich Observatories; newspaper accounts in 'The Glasgow Daily Herald' and 'The Illustrated Melbourne Post' on a new telescope, with an engraving; extracts of the proceedings of the Madras government; a register of publications from Pulkova Observatory; and two photographs of Leyden Observatory.