Royal Observatory, Greenwich, London, S.E.
1872 March 30

My dear Sir

I am afraid that I did not make my meaning quite clear about the path of the eclipse of 661 B. C. But with the following explanation, I think you will detect the substance of my meaning in the former letter.

The direction of the path is quite certain, and will not be affected by small corrections in the elements of the Lunar Tables which may alter the place of the path. According to those petty corrections, the path may be [four lines drawn to illustrate the choices]

Now if the tables (as used by the French writers) are used without any correction, the path of the eclipse will be nearly [line indicating Jaffa and the West coast of Persian Gulf]

But if they admit of a certain small correction, the path may be nearly [line indicating Nineveh and Susa]

These two courses are not coexistent but alternative.

I am, dear Sir, Yours faithfully
G B Airy

H. F. Talbot E^re

[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot E^{re Chippenham}