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diff --git a/old/52923-0.txt b/old/52923-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index fd0fa8e..0000000 --- a/old/52923-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,13360 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, Memoir and Correspondence of Caroline -Herschel, by Mrs. John Herschel - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - - -Title: Memoir and Correspondence of Caroline Herschel - - -Author: Mrs. John Herschel - - - -Release Date: August 29, 2016 [eBook #52923] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMOIR AND CORRESPONDENCE OF -CAROLINE HERSCHEL*** - - -E-text prepared by Sonya Schermann and the Online Distributed Proofreading -Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by -the Internet Archive (https://archive.org) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustrations. - See 52923-h.htm or 52923-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/52923/52923-h/52923-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/52923/52923-h.zip) - - -Note: Images of the original pages are available through - the Google Books Library Project. See - https://archive.org/details/correspondence00hersuoft - - -Transcriber’s note: - - When italics were used in the original book, the - corresponding text has been surrounded by _underscores_ - except in the case of single letter variables used in - the Notes section, where the italics were not represented. - - Mixed fractions have been displayed with a hyphen between - whole number and fraction for clarity. - - Superscripted characters are preceded by ^ and when more - than one character is superscripted, they are surrounded - by {}. - - Some corrections have been made to the printed text. These - are listed in a second transcriber’s note at the end of - the text. - - - - - -CAROLINE HERSCHEL. - - -[Illustration: - - _Joseph Brown sc_ - _Caroline Herschel._ - _ÆTAT 92._] - - -MEMOIR AND CORRESPONDENCE OF CAROLINE HERSCHEL. - -by - -MRS. JOHN HERSCHEL. - -With Portraits. - -SECOND EDITION. - - - - - - - -London: -John Murray, Albemarle Street. -1879. - - - - - INTRODUCTION. - - -FAMILIAR to all as is the name this volume bears, it is not without -hesitation that the following pages are given to the world. To subject -the memorials of a deeply earnest life to the eyes of a generation -overcrowded with books, raises a certain amount of diffidence. - -Of Caroline Herschel herself most people will plead ignorance without -feeling ashamed, and yet may we not assert that Caroline Herschel is -well worth knowing. - -Great men and great causes have always some helper of whom the outside -world knows but little. There always is, and always has been, some human -being in whose life their roots have been nourished. Sometimes these -helpers have been men, sometimes they have been women, who have given -themselves to help and to strengthen those called upon to be leaders and -workers, inspiring them with courage, keeping faith in their own idea -alive, in days of darkness, - - When all the world seems adverse to desert. - -These helpers and sustainers, men or women, have all the same quality in -common—absolute devotion and unwavering faith in the individual or in -the cause. Seeking nothing for themselves, thinking nothing of -themselves, they have all an intense power of sympathy, a noble love of -giving themselves for the service of others, which enables them to -transfuse the force of their own personality into the object to which -they dedicate their powers. - -Of this noble company of unknown helpers Caroline Herschel was one. - -She stood beside her brother, William Herschel, sharing his labours, -helping his life. In the days when he gave up a lucrative career that he -might devote himself to astronomy, it was owing to her thrift and care -that he was not harassed by the rankling vexations of money matters. She -had been his helper and assistant in the days when he was a leading -musician; she became his helper and assistant when he gave himself up to -astronomy. By sheer force of will and devoted affection, she learned -enough of mathematics and of methods of calculation, which to those -unlearned seem mysteries, to be able to commit to writing the results of -his researches. She became his assistant in the workshop; she helped him -to grind and polish his mirrors; she stood beside his telescope in the -nights of midwinter, to write down his observations, when the very ink -was frozen in the bottle. She kept him alive by her care; thinking -nothing of herself, she lived for him. She loved him, and believed in -him, and helped him, with all her heart and with all her strength. She -might have become a distinguished woman on her own account, for with the -“seven-foot Newtonian sweeper” given to her by her brother, she -discovered eight comets first and last. But the pleasure of seeking and -finding for herself was scarcely tasted. She “minded the heavens” for -her brother; she worked for him, not for herself, and the unconscious -self-denial with which she gave up her own pleasure in the use of her -“sweeper,” is not the least beautiful feature in her life. She must have -been witty and amusing, to judge from her books of “Recollections.” When -past eighty, she wrote what she called “a little history of my life from -1772-1778” for her nephew, Sir John Herschel, the son of her brother -William, that he might know something of his excellent grandparents, as -well as of the immense difficulties which his father had to surmount in -his life and labours. It was not to tell about herself, but of others, -that she wrote them. There is not any good biography of Sir William -Herschel, and the incidental revelations of him in these Recollections -are valuable. They show how well he deserved the love and devotion she -rendered to him. Great as were his achievements in science, and his -genius, they were borne up and ennobled by the beauty and worth of his -own inner life. - -These memorials of his father and his aunt were much valued by Sir John -Herschel, and they are carefully preserved by the family along with her -letters. The perusal of them is like reading of another world. The -glimpses of the life of a soldier’s family in Hanover at the time the -Seven Years’ War was going on are very touching. Both father and mother -must have been remarkable persons, and the sterling quality of character -developed in William and Caroline Herschel was evidently derived from -them. All the family seem to have been endowed with something like -touches of genius, but William and Caroline were the only two who had -the strong back-bone of perseverance and high principle which made -genius in them fulfil its perfect work. - -Her own recollections go back to the Great Earthquake at Lisbon; she -lived through the American War, the old French Revolution, the rise and -fall of Napoleon, and all manner of lesser events and wars. She saw all -the improvements and inventions, from the lumbering post waggon in which -she made her first journey from Hanover, to the railroads and electric -telegraphs which have intersected all Europe, for she lived well down -into the reign of Victoria. But her work of “minding the heavens” with -her brother engrossed all her thoughts, and she scarcely mentions any -public event. - -Her own astronomical labours were remarkable, and in her later life she -met with honour and recognition from learned men and learned societies; -but her dominant idea was always the same—“I am nothing, I have done -nothing; all I am, all I know, I owe to my brother. I am only the tool -which he shaped to his use—a well-trained puppy-dog would have done as -much.” Every word said in her own praise seemed to be so much taken away -from the honour due to her brother. She had lived so many years in -companionship with a truly great man, and in the presence of the -unfathomable depths of the starry heavens, that praise of herself seemed -childish exaggeration. - -The Letters and Recollections contained in this volume will show what -she really was. She would have been very angry if she could have -foreseen their publication, yet, in consideration of the great interest -they possess, we hope to be justified for making known to the world such -an example of self-sacrifice and perseverance under difficulties. - -The spelling has been modernised,—an old lady who had discovered eight -comets might be allowed to spell in her own way; but it is pleasanter to -read what is written in an accustomed manner. A word has been altered -occasionally where the sense required it, otherwise no change has been -made, and as little has been added as was possible, and only with the -view of giving a slight connecting thread of narrative. - -If these Recollections convey as much pleasure to the readers of them as -they have given to the Editor, they will feel that they have gained -another friend in Caroline Lucretia Herschel. - -_December, 1875._ - - - NOTE. - -WHEN past ninety a second memoir was undertaken, and in order to -encourage her to continue it her niece, Lady Herschel, wrote to her as -follows:—.... “Now, my dearest aunt, you must let me make an earnest -petition to you, and that is, that you will _go on_ with your memoir -until you leave England and take up your residence in Hanover. How can I -tell you how much my heart is set upon the accomplishment of this -work?... You know you cannot be _idle_ while you live. But indeed, if I -could tell you the influence which a short account by a stranger of -_your_ labours with your dear Brother had upon me when a child, and of -my choosing _you_ (then so unknown to me) as my guiding star and -example, you would understand how the possession of such a record by -your own hand would make me almost believe in auguries and -presentiments, and perhaps inspire some future generations more -worthily, as the record would be more genuine.” - - August 9, 1841. - -May we not echo this hope, and feel indeed that “SHE BEING DEAD YET -SPEAKETH.” - - M. C. H. - - - - - CONTENTS. - - - CHAPTER I. - - PAGE - -EARLY LIFE IN HANOVER—MUSICAL TALENTS OF HER BROTHER WILLIAM—MARRIAGE OF - HER SISTER—THE REGIMENT ORDERED TO ENGLAND—HER FATHER’S - INDUSTRY—TYPHUS FEVER—CONFIRMATION—DEATH OF FATHER—ACCOMPANIES WILLIAM - TO ENGLAND - - 1 - - - CHAPTER II. - -LIFE IN BATH—HEIMWEH—THE MIGHTY TELESCOPE—LAST PERFORMANCE IN - PUBLIC—CASTING THE GREAT MIRROR—WILLIAM HERSCHEL GOES TO LONDON—MADE - ROYAL ASTRONOMER—REMOVAL TO DATCHET—ACCIDENTS—GRANT OF £2,000—LIFE AT - SLOUGH—LETTERS FROM HANOVER—DISCOVERY OF A COMET - - 29 - - - CHAPTER III. - -WILLIAM HERSCHEL’S MARRIAGE—DISCOVERY OF THE EIGHTH COMET—EXTRACTS FROM - DAY-BOOK AND DIARY—VISIT TO BATH—RETURN TO SLOUGH—RESIDES AT - UPTON—ILLNESS—FEAR OF BLINDNESS - - 78 - - - CHAPTER IV. - -EXTRACTS FROM DIARY—WILLIAM HERSCHEL KNIGHTED—FAILING HEALTH—HER - BROTHER’S PORTRAIT—DEATH OF ALEXANDER—DEATH OF SIR WILLIAM—HER RETURN - TO HANOVER—RECOLLECTIONS WRITTEN AT HANOVER - - 118 - - - CHAPTER V. - -RETROSPECTION—LIFE IN HANOVER—HER HUMILITY—HER WORKS—MADE HON. MEMBER OF - THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY—HER SWEEPINGS—BLANK IN HER LIFE AT - HANOVER—LETTERS TO LADY HERSCHEL—LETTERS BETWEEN HER AND HER - NEPHEW—VISIT FROM HER NEPHEW—FINISHES HER CATALOGUE OF THE NEBULÆ - - 141 - - - CHAPTER VI. - -LIFE IN HANOVER CONTINUED—LETTERS BETWEEN HER AND HER NEPHEW—HER - WILL—FIRST CHAPTER OF HER HISTORY—RECEIVES THE GOLD MEDAL OF THE ROYAL - ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY—FEARFUL STORM—HER PORTRAIT—HER NEPHEW’S - MARRIAGE—PREPARATION FOR HER DEATH—PAGANINI—HER NEPHEW KNIGHTED—LADY - HERSCHEL’S DEATH—RETROSPECTION - - 196 - - - CHAPTER VII. - -LETTERS FROM THE CAPE—HON. MEMBER OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL - SOCIETY—CATALOGUE OF OMITTED STARS—LETTERS—SATURN AND HIS SIXTH - SATELLITE—HER NEPHEW’S VISIT—HON. MEMBER OF THE ROYAL IRISH - ACADEMY—EXTRACTS FROM DAY-BOOK—ANECDOTE OF THE OLD TELESCOPE—CHRISTMAS - IN HANOVER—GOLD MEDAL FROM THE KING OF PRUSSIA—DECLINING - STRENGTH—DEATH—FUNERAL - - 262 - - - TO BINDER. - -Portrait of Caroline Herschel. _Frontispiece._ - -Portrait of Sir William Herschel, after the original by Abbott, in the - National Portrait Gallery, to face p. 118. - -Herschel’s Forty-foot Telescope, to face p. 29. - - - - - CAROLINE HERSCHEL. - - - - - CHAPTER I. - - RECOLLECTIONS OF EARLY LIFE IN HANOVER. - - -CAROLINE LUCRETIA HERSCHEL was born at Hanover on the 16th of March, -1750. She was the eighth child and fourth daughter of Isaac Herschel, by -Anna Ilse Moritzen, to whom he was married in August, 1732. The family -consisted of ten children, four of whom died in early childhood. - -A memorandum in the handwriting of Isaac Herschel, transcribed by his -daughter in the original German at the beginning of her Recollections, -traces the family back to the early part of the seventeenth century, -about which time, it appears that three brothers _Herschel_ left Moravia -on account of their religion (which was Protestant), and became -possessors of land in Saxony. One of these brothers, Hans, was a brewer -at Pirna, a little town two miles from Dresden, and the father of two -sons, one of whom, Abraham by name, was born in 1651, was the father of -the above-mentioned Isaac, and the grandfather of Caroline Lucretia -Herschel. Abraham Herschel was employed in the royal gardens at Dresden, -he received commissions from various quarters on account of his taste -and skill as a landscape gardener. Of his four children, Eusebius, the -eldest, appears to have kept up little or no intercourse with his family -after the father’s death in 1718. The second child, Apollonia, married a -landed proprietor, Herr von Thümer. Benjamin, the second son, died in -his third year; and Isaac, the youngest, was born 14th of January, 1707, -and was thus an orphan at the early age of eleven years. His parents -wished him to be a gardener like his father, but a passionate love of -music led him to take every opportunity of practising on the violin, -besides studying music under a hautboy-player in the royal band. When he -was about one and twenty he resolved to seek his fortune, and went to -Berlin, where the style of hautboy playing was so little to his taste -that he soon left it, and went to Potsdam, where he studied for a year -under the celebrated Cappell Meister Pabrïch, the means for so doing -being supplied by his mother and sister; his brother, as he quaintly -remarks, contenting himself with writing him letters in praise of the -virtue of economy! In July, 1731, he went to Brunswick, and in August to -Hanover, where he at once obtained an engagement as hautboy-player in -the band of the Guards, and in the August following he married as above -stated. - -[Sidenote: 1675-1731. _Early Recollections._] - -The family group to which Miss Herschel’s autobiography introduces us -consisted of— - - -1. Sophia Elizabeth, born in 1733. [Afterwards Mrs. Griesbach.] - -2. Henry Anton Jacob, born 20th November, 1734. - -(4) 3. Frederic William, born 15th November, 1738. - -(6) 4. John Alexander, born 13th November, 1745. - -(8) 5. Carolina Lucretia, born 16th March, 1750; and - -(10) 6. The little Dietrich, born 13th September, 1755. - - -With the exception of frequent absences from home which attendance on a -regiment made inevitable, the family life went on smoothly enough for -some years, the father taking every opportunity, when at home, to -cultivate the musical talents of his sons, who depended for the ordinary -routine of education on the garrison school, to which all the children -went from the age of two to fourteen. Here the splendid talents of -_William_ early displayed themselves, and the master confessed that the -pupil had soon got beyond his teacher. Although four years younger than -Jacob, when the two brothers had lessons in French, the younger had -mastered the language in half the time needed by the elder, and he in -some measure satisfied his eager desire for knowledge by attending out -of school hours to learn all that his master could teach of Latin and -arithmetic. At fourteen he was an excellent performer both on the oboe -and violin. - -[Sidenote: 1743-1754. _Early Recollections._] - -The first serious calamity recorded was the irreparable injury caused to -the father’s health by the hardships of war. After the battle of -Dettingen (June 16th, 1743) the troops remained all night on the field, -which was soaked by heavy rains. The unfortunate bandmaster lay in a wet -furrow, which caused a complete loss of the use of his limbs for some -time, and left him with an impaired constitution and an asthmatical -affection which afflicted him to the end of his life. During the dark -times of the Seven Years’ War, the little Caroline, then her mother’s -sole companion, often heard this grievous trouble spoken of, and the -shadow of it cast a gloom over her childish recollections, most of which -are of a sombre character. At three years old she was a deeply -interested participator in all the family concerns, and of that period -she writes:— - - -“It must have been in 1753 when my brother [Jacob, aged 19] was chosen -organist to the new organ in the garrison church; for I remember my -mother taking me with her the first Sunday on its opening, and that -before she had time to shut the pew door, I took fright at the beginning -of a preludium with a full accompaniment, so that I flew out of church -and home again. I also remember to have seen my brother William -confirmed in his new oböisten uniform.” - - -The next interesting event was the marriage of the eldest daughter, who -was living with a family at Brunswick, and whom her sister says she had -never seen until she came home to be married. The bridegroom, Mr. -Griesbach, also a musician in the Guard, found no favour in the eyes of -his sister-in-law, and it is evidently some satisfaction to her to have -been told that her father never cordially approved the match, - - -“for ... he knew him at least to be but a very middling musician, and -this alone would have been enough for my father’s disapprobation.” - - -Great preparations were made for - - -“providing and furnishing a habitation (which happened to be in the same -house where my parents lived), which they did in as handsome a manner as -their straitened income would allow, and to which my dear brothers took -delight in contributing to the best of their ability. I remember how -delighted I was when they were showing me the pretty framed pictures -with which my brother William had decorated his sister’s room, and heard -my mother relate afterwards, that the brothers had taken two months’ pay -in advance for the wedding entertainment.... Though for stocking a -family with household linen my mother was prepared at all times, as -perhaps never a more diligent spinner was heard of; but to keep pace -with the wishes of my dear brothers, by whom my sister was, as well as -by her parents, exceedingly beloved—the whole family were kept for a -time in an agreeable bustle to see that nothing that could give either -pleasure or comfort might be wanting in her future establishment.... The -fête (without which it would have been scandalous in those days to get -married) ended with a ball, at which I remember to have been dancing -among the rest without a partner.” - -[Sidenote: 1753-1755. _Early Recollections._] - - -A little later, when war troubles broke up the household, and the bride -returned to her mother, we are told: - - -“my sister was not of a very patient temper, and could not be reconciled -to have children about her, and I was mostly, when not in school, sent -with Alexander to play on the walls or with the neighbour’s children, in -which I seldom could join, and often stood freezing on shore to see my -brother skating on the Stadtgraben (town ditch) till he chose to go -home. In short, there was no one who cared anything about me.” - - -The earthquake which destroyed Lisbon on the 1st November 1755, was -strongly felt at Hanover, and became closely associated in the poor -little girl’s mind with the trials and troubles which shortly afterwards -fell upon the family. She says:— - - -“One morning early I was with my father and mother alone in the room, -the latter putting my clothes on, when all at once I saw both standing -aghast and speechless before me; at the same time my brothers, my -sister, and Griesbach came running in, all being panic-struck by the -earthquake.” - - -For a little while the family enjoyed a peaceful interval, during which -the extraordinary proficiency of his two eldest sons was a growing -source of delight to the father, whose utmost ambition was to see them -become accomplished musicians; while the wider flights of William met -with his most cordial sympathy. The following passage is one of the very -few which reflect the brighter side of the picture:— - - -“My brothers were often introduced as solo performers and assistants in -the orchestra of the court, and I remember that I was frequently -prevented from going to sleep by the lively criticism on music on coming -from a concert, or conversations on philosophical subjects which lasted -frequently till morning, in which my father was a lively partaker and -assistant of my brother William by contriving self-made instruments.... -Often I would keep myself awake that I might listen to their animating -remarks, for it made _me so happy_ to see _them so happy_. But generally -their conversation would branch out on philosophical subjects, when my -brother William and my father often argued with such warmth, that my -mother’s interference became necessary, when the names Leibnitz, Newton, -and Euler sounded rather too loud for the repose of her little ones, who -ought to be in school by seven in the morning. But it seems that on the -brothers retiring to their own room, where they shared the same bed, my -brother William had still a great deal to say; and frequently it -happened that when he stopped for an assent or reply, he found his -hearer was gone to sleep, and I suppose it was not till then that he -bethought himself to do the same. - -“The recollection of these happy scenes confirms me in the belief, that -had my brother William not then been interrupted in his philosophical -pursuits, we should have had much earlier proofs of his inventive -genius. My father was a great admirer of astronomy, and had some -knowledge of that science; for I remember his taking me, on a clear -frosty night, into the street, to make me acquainted with several of the -most beautiful constellations, after we had been gazing at a comet which -was then visible. And I well remember with what delight he used to -assist my brother William in his various contrivances in the pursuit of -his philosophical studies, among which was a neatly turned 4-inch globe, -upon which the equator and ecliptic were engraved by my brother.” - -[Sidenote: 1755-1756. _Early Recollections._] - - -Towards the end of the year 1755 the regiment was under orders for -England, and the little household was at once broken up. A place in the -court orchestra had been promised to Jacob, but the vacancy did not, -unfortunately, occur in time, and he was obliged to smother his -discontent, lower his ambition, and accept a place in the band with his -younger brother. At length the sad hour of parting arrived:— - - -“In our room all was mute but in hurried action; my dear father was thin -and pale, and my brother William almost equally so, for he was of a -delicate constitution and just then growing very fast. Of my brother -Jacob I only remember his starting difficulties at everything that was -done for him, as my father was busy to see that they were equipped with -the necessaries for a march.... The whole town was in motion with drums -beating to march: the troops hallooed and roared in the streets, the -drums beat louder, Griesbach came to join my father and brothers, and in -a moment they all were gone. My sister fled to her own room. Alexander -went with many others to follow their relatives for some miles to take a -last look. I found myself now with my mother alone in a room all in -confusion, in one corner of which my little brother Dietrich lay in his -cradle; my tears flowed like my mother’s, but neither of us could speak. -I snatched a large handkerchief of my father’s from a chair and took a -stool to place it at my mother’s feet, on which I sat down, and put into -her hands one corner of the handkerchief, reserving the opposite one for -myself; this little action actually drew a momentary smile into her -face.... My father left half his pay for our support in the hands of an -agent in Hanover, but Griesbach, instead of following my father’s -example, gave up his lodging and brought his wife with her goods and -chattels to her mother, which arrangement was no small addition to our -uncomfortable situation.” - - -Even at this early age, it is not difficult to trace in these childish -recollections the influence of that intense affection for her brother -William which made him more and more the centre of all her interests; -next to him, her father filled a large place in her heart. Of the long -year of separation, nothing is recorded. At last Jacob arrived (having -“out of aggravation” got permission to resign his place when the -hoped-for vacancy in the orchestra had been otherwise filled) he had -travelled by post, while his father and brother, “who never forsook him -for self-consideration,” were still toiling wearily on the march home. - - -“My mother being very busy preparing dinner, had suffered me to go all -alone to the parade to meet my father, but I could not find him -anywhere, nor anybody whom I knew; so at last, when nearly frozen to -death, I came home and found them all at table. My dear brother William -threw down his knife and fork, and ran to welcome and crouched down to -me, which made me forget all my grievances. The rest were so happy ... -at seeing one another again, that my absence had never been perceived.” - -[Sidenote: 1756-1757. _Early Recollections._] - - -The visit to England appears to have further developed the love of show -and luxury which painfully distinguished Jacob, who must needs import -specimens of English goods and English tailoring, while all that William -brought back was a copy of Locke on the Human Understanding, the -purchase of which absorbed all his private means, as he never willingly -asked his father for a single penny. But it was becoming apparent that -he had not the physical strength to continue in the Guard during war -time, and after the disastrous campaign of 1757, and the defeat at -Hastenbeck,[1] 26th July, 1757 (between 20 and 30 miles from Hanover), -his parents resolved to remove him—a step apparently attended by no -small difficulty, as our faithful chronicler narrates:— - - -“I can now comprehend the reason why we little ones were continually -sent out of the way, and why I had only by chance a passing glimpse of -my brother as I was sitting at the entrance of our street-door, when he -glided like a shadow along, wrapped in a great coat, followed by my -mother with a parcel containing his accoutrements. After he had -succeeded in passing unnoticed beyond the last sentinel at Herrenhausen -he changed his dress.... My brother’s keeping himself so carefully from -all notice was undoubtedly to avoid the danger of being pressed, for all -unengaged young men were forced into the service. Even the clergy, -unless they had livings, were not exempted.” - - -During these times of public and private peril, the little girl was sent -regularly to the garrison school with her brother Alexander till three -in the afternoon, when she went to another school till six, to learn -knitting. - - -“From that time forward I was fully employed in providing my brothers -with stockings, and remember that the first pair for Alexander touched -the floor when I stood upright finishing the front. Besides this my pen -was frequently in requisition for writing not only my mother’s letters -to my father, but for many a poor soldier’s wife in our neighbourhood to -her husband in the camp: for it ought to be remembered that in the -beginning of the last century very few women, when they left country -schools, had been taught to write.” - - -In addition to these occupations, she was called upon to make herself -useful when the fastidious Jacob honoured the humble table with his -presence, “and poor I got many a whipping for being awkward at supplying -the place of footman or waiter.” The sight of her mother constantly in -tears; the prolonged absence of her father; the sister’s unhappiness at -being homeless when about to become a mother; all these circumstances -combined to sadden the personal recollections of a time of almost -unsurpassed national calamity. After the loss of the battle at -Hastenbeck, the Recollections thus conclude this period. - -[Sidenote: 1757-1760. _Early Recollections._] - - -“Nothing but distressing reports came from our army, and we were almost -immediately in the power of the French troops,[2] each house being -crammed with men. In that in which we were obliged to bewail in silence -our cruel fate, no less than 16 privates were quartered, besides some -officers who occupied the best apartments, and this lasted for about two -years [a note of later date says “not so long”] before the town was -liberated.” - - -A gap occurs here, between the years 1757 and 1760, several pages having -been torn out in both the original “Recollections” and the unfinished -memoir commenced in 1840. In the former, a sentence beginning “the next -time I saw him [Jacob] was when he came running to my mother with a -letter, the contents of which,” remains unfinished, and the narrative -recommences with: “After reading over many pages, I thought it best to -destroy them, and merely to write down what I remember to have passed in -our family.” Accordingly there is no record of anything preserved during -this interval until May, 1760, when the head of the family returned to -it for good—broken in health and worn out by hardships to which he was -no longer equal, but strong in purpose and devoting himself at once to -the musical education of his children and to giving lessons to the -numerous pupils who soon came to seek instruction from so excellent a -master. Jacob returned for the second time from England at the end of -1759, and obtained the place of first violin in the court orchestra. As -usual the appearance of this member of the family caused a general upset -of domestic comfort, for - - -“when he came to dine with us, it generally happened that before he -departed his mother was as much out of humour with him as he was at the -beefsteaks being hard, and because I did not know how to clean knives -and forks with brickdust.” - -[Sidenote: 1760-1761. _Early Recollections._] - - -The younger children made great progress under their father’s careful -training, and with all her propensity for seeing the dark side, the -daughter’s recollections of this period afford glimpses of a tolerably -happy household. If it was “a helpless and distracted family” to which, -as she writes, her father returned, those epithets could ill apply to -the father himself, for there is abundant evidence that he was a man of -no ordinary character—one who, in spite of constant suffering of a most -distressing kind, persisted in hard work to the very end, and who set -his children a noble example of patience, unselfishness, and -self-denial. To the last, as his daughter records,— - - -“Copying music employed every vacant moment, even sometimes throughout -half the night, and the pen was not suffered to rest even when smoking a -pipe, which habit he indulged in rather on account of his asthmatical -constitution than as a luxury; for, without all exception, he was the -most abstemious liver I ever have known; and in every instance, even in -the article of clothing, the utmost frugality was observed, and yet he -never was seen otherwise than very neat.... With my brother [Dietrich] -now a little engaging creature of between four and five years old—he was -very much pleased, and [on the first evening of his arrival at home] -before he went to rest, the Adempken (a little violin) was taken from -the lumbering shelf and newly strung and the daily lessons immediately -commenced.... I do not recollect that he ever desired any other society -than what he had opportunities of enjoying in many of the parties where -he was introduced by his profession; though far from being of a morose -disposition; he would frequently encourage my mother in keeping up a -social intercourse among a few acquaintances, whilst his afternoon hours -generally were taken up in giving lessons to some scholars at home, who -gladly saved him the troublesome exertion of walking.... He also found -great pleasure in seeing Dietrich’s improvement, who, young as he was, -and of the most lively temper imaginable, was always ready to receive -his lessons, leaving his little companions (with whom our neighbourhood -abounded) with the greatest cheerfulness to go to his father, who was so -pleased with his performances that—I think it must have been in October -or November—he made him play a solo on the Adempken in Rake’s concert, -being placed on a table before a crowded company, for which he was very -much applauded and caressed, particularly by an English lady, who put a -gold coin in his little pocket. - -“It was not long before my father had as many scholars as he could find -time to attend, for some of those he had left behind returned to him -again, and several families who had sons of about the age of my little -brother, became his pupils and proved in time very good performers. And -when they assembled at my father’s to make little concerts, I was -frequently called to join the second violin in an overture, for my -father found pleasure in giving me sometimes a lesson before the -instruments were laid by after practising with Dietrich, for I never was -missing at those hours, sitting in a corner with my knitting and -listening all the while.” - - -A serious interruption of this and all other occupations was caused by a -severe attack of typhus fever which in the summer of 1761 threatened to -be fatal, and - - -“reduced my strength to that degree that for several months after I was -obliged to mount the stairs on my hands and feet like an infant; but -here I will remark that from that time to this present day (June 5, -1821) I do not remember ever to have spent a whole day in bed.” - - -In spite of her strong objections to learning, the worthy mother had too -correct a view of her duties to stand in the way of the necessary -preparation for her daughter’s confirmation, who was accordingly, but -not without complaints at the loss of time, released from her household -avocations for this purpose. Alexander, who had been taken as a sort of -apprentice by Griesbach, was now of an age to turn his great musical -talents to profitable account, and returned to Hanover, where he -obtained the somewhat mysterious situation of Stadtmusicus (Town -Musician), the duties of which office involved - - -“little else to do but to give a daily lesson to an apprentice and to -blow a Corale from the Markt Thurm; so that nearly all his time could be -given to practice and receiving instruction from his father. There was -no doubt but that he would soon become a good violin player, for his -natural genius was such that nothing could spoil it.” - -[Sidenote: 1761-1764. _Early Recollections._] - - -Although the absent brother William kept up regular correspondence with -Hanover, many of his letters were written in English and addressed to -Jacob, on such subjects as the Theory of Music, in which the family in -general could not participate. Year after year went by, and William -showed no inclination to leave England, to which country he was becoming -more and more attached; the poor father, who felt his strength steadily -declining, became painfully eager for his return. On the 2nd April, -1764, they were thrown into “a tumult of joy” by his appearance among -them. The visit was a very brief one, offering no hope of any intention -to settle in Hanover; the father was well aware that he at least could -not look forward to another meeting on earth, while to the poor little -unnoticed girl, this visit and its attendant circumstances stood out in -her memory as fraught with anguish, which even her unskilled pen -succeeds in representing as a grief almost too deep for words. - - -“Of the joys and pleasures which all felt at this long-wished-for -meeting with my—let me say my _dearest_ brother, but a small portion -could fall to my share; for with my constant attendance at church and -school, besides the time I was employed in doing the drudgery of the -scullery, it was but seldom I could make one in the group when the -family were assembled together. - -“In the first week some of the orchestra were invited to a concert, at -which some of my brother William’s compositions, overtures, &c., and -some of my eldest brother Jacob’s were performed, to the great delight -of my dear father, who hoped and expected that they would be turned to -some profit by publishing them, but there was no printer who bid high -enough. - -“Sunday the 8th was the—to me—eventful day of my confirmation, and I -left home not a little proud and encouraged by my dear brother William’s -approbation of my appearance in my new gown.” - - -Not only was she disappointed in her fervent hope that the longed-for -brother would not come at the very time when she was obliged to be much -from home, but several of the precious days of his stay were spent in a -visit to the Griesbachs at Coppenbrügge, and the Sunday fixed for his -departure was the very day on which she was to receive her first -communion. - -[Sidenote: 1764-1767. _Early Recollections._] - - -“The church was crowded and the door open: the Hamburger Postwagen -passed at eleven, bearing away my dear brother, from whom I had been -obliged to part at 8 o’clock. It was within a dozen yards from the open -door; the postilion giving a smettering blast on his horn. Its effect on -my shattered nerves, I will not attempt to describe, nor what I felt for -days and weeks after. I wish it were possible to say what I wish to say, -without feeling anew that feverish wretchedness which accompanied my -walk in the afternoon with some of my school companions, in my black -silk dress and bouquet of artificial flowers—the same which had served -my sister on her bridal day. I could think of nothing but that on my -return I should find nobody but my disconsolate father and mother, for -Alexander’s engagements allowed him to be with us only at certain hours, -and Jacob was seldom at home except to dress and take his meals.” - - -From the state of hopeless lethargy in which the poor sister describes -herself as going mechanically about her daily tasks after that memorable -day, she was roused by a calamity which affected all alike. The father -had a paralytic seizure the August following, by which he lost the use -of his right side almost entirely, and although he so far recovered as -to be able still to receive pupils in his own house, he never regained -his former skill on the violin, and was reduced to a sad state of -suffering and infirmity; a few months later he was pronounced to be in a -confirmed dropsy. Changes of abode, not always for the better; -anxieties, on account of Alexander’s prospects and Jacob’s vagaries; -disappointment, at seeing his daughter grow up without the education he -had hoped to give her; were the circumstances under which the worn-out -sufferer struggled through the last three years of his life, copying -music at every spare moment, assisting at a Concert only a few weeks -before his death, and giving lessons until he was obliged to keep wholly -to his bed. He was released from his sufferings at the comparatively -early age of sixty-one on the 22nd March, 1767, leaving to his children -little more than the heritage of his good example, unblemished -character, and those musical talents which he had so carefully educated, -and by which he probably hoped the more gifted of his sons would attain -to eminence. - -Miss Herschel describes herself as having fallen into “a kind of -stupefaction,” which lasted for many weeks after the loss of her father, -and the awakening to life had little of hope in the present or promise -for the future, so far as she could see then. At the age of seventeen -she had learned little beyond the first elements of education, and she -was now deprived of the one friend who encouraged and sympathised with -her desire for better instruction. The parents had never agreed on the -subject. “When I had left school,” she writes, - -[Sidenote: 1767. _Early Recollections._] - - -“My father wished to give me something like a polished education, but my -mother was particularly determined that it should be a rough, but at the -same time a useful one; and nothing farther she thought was necessary -but to send me two or three months to a sempstress to be taught to make -household linen. Having added this accomplishment to my former -ingenuities, I never afterwards could find leisure for thinking of -anything but to contrive and make for the family in all imaginable forms -whatever was wanting, and thus I learned to make bags and sword-knots -long before I knew how to make caps and furbelows.... My mother would -not consent to my being taught French, and my brother Dietrich was even -denied a dancing-master, because she would not permit my learning along -with him, though the entrance had been paid for us both; so all my -father could do for me was to indulge me (and please himself) sometimes -with a short lesson on the violin, when my mother was either in good -humour or out of the way. Though I have often felt myself exceedingly at -a loss for the want of those few accomplishments of which I was thus, by -an erroneous though well-meant opinion of my mother, deprived, I could -not help thinking but that she had cause for wishing me not to know more -than was necessary for being useful in the family; for it was her -certain belief that my brother William would have returned to his -country, and my eldest brother not have looked so high, if they had had -a little less learning. - - * * * * * - -But sometimes I found it scarcely possible to get through with the work -required, and felt very unhappy that no time at all was left for -improving myself in music or fancy-work, in which I had an opportunity -of receiving some instruction from an ingenious young woman whose -parents lived in the same house with us. But the time wanted for -spending a few hours together could only be obtained by our meeting at -daybreak, because by the time of the family’s rising at seven, I was -obliged to be at my daily business. But during the summer months of 1766 -very few mornings passed without our spending a few hours together, to -which I was called by my friend’s loud cough at her window by way of -notice that she was ready for me [she could not sleep, and was glad of -my company. I lost her soon after, for she died of consumption]. Though -I had neither time nor means for producing anything immediately either -for show or use, I was content with keeping samples of all possible -patterns in needlework, beads, bugles, horsehair, &c., for I could not -help feeling troubled sometimes about my future destiny; yet I could not -bear the idea of being turned into an Abigail or housemaid, and thought -that with the above and such like acquirements with a little notion of -Music, I might obtain a place as governess in some family where the want -of a knowledge of French would be no objection.” - - -It was with the same object of fitting herself to earn her bread, that, -after her father’s death, she obtained permission to go for a month or -two to learn millinery and dress-making; her eldest brother Jacob, -before leaving them to join William at Bath, having graciously given his -consent, “if it was only meant to learn to make my own things, but -positively forbidding it for any other purpose.” The following account -of this episode shows how customary such apprenticeship was among young -ladies of good family, as a part of their education:— - -[Sidenote: 1768. _Early Recollections._] - - -“My mother found some difficulty in persuading the lady to whom I wished -to go, to receive me without paying the usual premium, but at last she -gave me leave to come on paying one thaler per month. I felt myself -rather humbled on going the first time among twenty-one young people -with an elegant woman, Madame Küster, at their head, directing them in -various works of finery. Among the group were several young ladies of -genteel families, and as I came there on rather reduced terms, I -expected that I should be kept in the back ground, doing nothing but the -plain work of the business; but contrary to my fears, I gained in the -school-mistress a valuable friend.... Here I found myself daily happy -for a few hours, and one of the young women,[3] after a lapse of -thirty-five years, when I was introduced to her at the Queen’s Lodge, -received me as an old acquaintance, though I could but just remember -having sometimes exchanged a nod and smile with a sweet little girl -about ten or eleven years old. But I soon was sensible of having found -what hitherto I had looked for in vain—a sincere and disinterested -friend to whom I might have applied for counsel and comfort in my -deserted situation.” - - -A proposal from Jacob that Dietrich, whom the father on his deathbed had -specially commended to his care, should be sent to England, caused his -mother the utmost distress, on account of his being still too young to -be confirmed; but her scruples were overcome and Dietrich was despatched -in the summer as soon as a fitting escort could be found. - - -“But what was yet more aggravating was, that the loss of his company was -supplied by a country cousin whom my mother permitted to spend the -summer with us in order to have the advantage of my mother’s advice in -making preparation for her marriage.... This young woman, full of -good-nature and ignorance, grew unfortunately so fond of me that she was -for ever at my side, and by that means I lost what little interval of -leisure I might then have had for reading, practising the violin, &c., -entirely. Besides this, I was extremely discomposed at seeing Alexander -associating with young men who led him into all manner of expensive -pleasures which involved him in debts for the hire of horses and -carioles, &c., and I was (though he knew my inability of helping him) -made a partaker in his fears that these scrapes should come to the -knowledge of our mother. - -“My time was, however, filled up pretty well with making household -linen, &c., against Jacob’s return.... It was not, however, till the -middle of the following summer that we saw him again, and I suppose his -stay must have been prolonged on account of waiting till he had had the -honour of playing before their Majesties, for which (in consequence of -having composed and dedicated a set of six sonatas to the Queen) he was -informed he would receive a summons.... After this his salary was -augmented by 100 thalers,” and the promise of not being overlooked in -future. - - -[Note.—Before I leave this subject I cannot help remembering the -sacrifices these good people were making to pride. They played nowhere -for money, for even when in 1768 (I think it was) the King’s theatre was -first opened _to the Public_, and the Court orchestra was called upon to -play there, they did it without any emolument, so that there was no way -left to increase their small salaries but by giving a few subscription -concerts in the winter, or by teaching. So much, by way of apology, for -the emigration of part of my family to England.] - -[Sidenote: 1768-1770. _Early Recollections._] - - -“We passed the winter in the utmost quiet, except when Alexander took it -into his head to entertain gentlemen in his own apartment, which always -made my mother very cross, else in general nothing disturbed us in our -occupation. My mother spun, I was at work on a set of ruffles of -Dresden-work for my brother Jacob, whilst Alexander often sat by us and -amused us and himself with making all sorts of things in pasteboard, or -contriving how to make a twelve-hour Cuckoo clock go a week.... As my -mother saw that Dietrich’s confirmation was still uncertain, she -insisted on having him back again.... Accordingly at the end of July -they [Jacob and Dietrich] arrived, and Dietrich entered school again -immediately,” but remained only until his confirmation the following -Easter. - - -A new direction was suddenly given to all their plans by the arrival of -letters from the absent brother William, who proposed that his sister -should join him at Bath— - - -... “to make the trial if by his instruction I might not become a useful -singer for his winter concerts and oratorios, he advised my brother -Jacob to give me some lessons by way of beginning; but that if after a -trial of two years we should not find it answer our expectation he would -bring me back again. This at first seemed to be agreeable to all -parties, but by the time I had set my heart upon this change in my -situation, Jacob began to turn the whole scheme into ridicule, and, of -course, he never heard the sound of my voice except in speaking, and yet -I was left in the harassing uncertainty whether I was to go or not. I -resolved at last to prepare, as far as lay in my power, for both cases, -by taking, in the first place, every opportunity when all were from home -to imitate, with a gag between my teeth, the solo parts of concertos, -_shake and all_, such as I had heard them play on the violin; in -consequence I had gained a tolerable execution before I knew how to -sing. I next began to knit ruffles, which were intended for my brother -William in case I remained at home—else they were to be Jacob’s. For my -mother and brother D. I knitted as many cotton stockings as would last -two years at least.” - - -Jacob remained with his family until the following July, when he -returned to Bath, this time taking Alexander with him for two years’ -leave of absence, the young Dietrich being deemed competent not only to -supply his place in the orchestra, but also to attend his private -pupils. - -[Sidenote: 1772. _Early Recollections._] - -Nothing is recorded in the interval between Jacob’s return to Hanover in -the autumn and the long expected arrival of William in April, 1772, -except one of the changes of abode, which were of such frequent -occurrence, involving abundance of employment in making and altering -articles of household use, which afforded some relief to the -conscientious daughter, who was sorely troubled by uncertainty as to her -duty in the matter of going to England or staying with her mother, -although the latter had given her consent to the change. - - -“In this manner” [making prospective clothes for them] “I tried to still -the compunction I felt at leaving relatives who, I feared, would lose -some of their comforts by my desertion, and nothing but the belief of -returning to them full of knowledge and accomplishments could have -supported me in the parting moment, which was much embittered by the -absence of my brother Jacob, who was with the Court which attended on -the Queen of Denmark at the _Görde_, where my brother Dietrich had also -been for some time, and but just returned when my brother William, for -whose safety we had for several weeks been under no small apprehension, -at last quite unexpectedly arrived.... His stay at Hanover could at the -utmost not be prolonged above a fortnight.... My mother had consented to -my going with him, and the anguish at my leaving her was somewhat -alleviated by my brother settling a small annuity on her, by which she -would be enabled to keep an attendant to supply my place.” They all went -over to Coppenbrügge “to see my sister—I to take leave of her; the -remaining time was wasted in an unsatisfactory correspondence: the -letters from my brother Jacob expressed nothing but regret and -impatience at being thus disappointed, and, without being able to effect -a meeting, I was obliged to go without receiving the consent of my -eldest brother to my going.... - - * * * * * - -“But I will not attempt to describe my feelings when the parting moment -arrived, and I left my dear mother and most dear Dietrich on Sunday, -August 16th, 1772, at the Posthouse, and after travelling for six days -and nights on an open (in those days very inconvenient) Postwagen, we -were on the following Saturday conveyed in a small open vessel from the -quay at Helvotsluis on a stormy sea, to the packet boat, which lay two -miles distant at anchor; from which we were again obliged to go in an -open boat to be set ashore, or rather thrown like balls by two English -sailors, on the coast of Yarmouth.[4] For the vessel was almost a wreck, -without a main and another of its masts. - -“After having crawled to one of a row of neat low houses, we found the -party previously arrived from the ship devouring their breakfast; -several clean-dressed women employed in cutting bread and butter (from -fine wheaten loaves) as fast as ever they could. One of them went -upstairs with me to help me to put on my clothes, and after taking some -tea we mounted some sort of a cart to bring us to the next place where -diligences going to London would pass. But we had hardly gone a quarter -of an English mile when the horse, which was not used to go in what they -called the shafts, ran away with us, overturning the cart with trunk and -passengers. My brother, another person, and myself all throwing -themselves out, I flying into a dry ditch. We all came off however, with -only the fright, owing to the assistance of a gentleman who, with his -servant, was accompanying us on horseback. These persons had come in the -packet with us, and it was settled not to part till in London, where we -arrived at noon on the 26th at an inn in the City. Here we remained till -the evening of the 27th. My brother having business at the West-end of -the town, left me under the care of our fellow travellers; but after his -return, in the evening when the shops were lighted up, we went to see -all that was to be seen in that part of London, of which I only remember -the opticians’ shops, for I do not think we stopped at any other. - -“The next day the mistress of the inn lent me a hat of her -daughter’s—mine was blown into one of the canals of Holland, for we had -storms by land as well as at sea—and we went to see St. Paul’s, the -Bank, &c., &c. Mem: only the outside, except of St. Paul’s and the Bank, -and we were never off our legs, except at meals in our inn. Towards -evening we went to the West of the town, where, after having called on -Despatch Secretary Wiese and his lady (Mr. Wiese conducted our -correspondence with Hanover) we went to the inn, from whence we at ten -o’clock in the evening started by the night coach for Bath on the 28th -of August.... After taking some tea I went immediately to bed, and I did -not awake till the next day in the afternoon, when I found my brother -had but just left his room. I for my part was, from the privation of -sleep for eleven or twelve days (not having above twice been in what -they called a bed) almost annihilated.” - - --------------------- - - - END OF RECOLLECTIONS, VOL. I. - -The only allusion to this journey in Sir W. Herschel’s Journal is the -brief entry:—“August 16, 1772. Set off on my return to England in -company with my sister.” - -[Illustration: - - SIR WILLIAM HERSCHEL’S FORTY-FOOT TELESCOPE AT SLOUGH. - [_To face page 29._] - - - - - CHAPTER II. - - LIFE OF THE BROTHER AND SISTER IN BATH. - - -AT the time when William Herschel brought his sister back with him to -Bath, he had established himself there as a teacher of music, numbering -among his pupils many ladies of rank. He was also organist of the -Octagon Chapel, and frequently composed anthems, chants, and whole -services for the choir under his management. On the retirement of Mr. -Linley (father of the celebrated singer, afterwards the beautiful Mrs. -Sheridan) from the direction of the Public Concerts, he at once added -this to his other avocations, and was consequently immersed in business -of the most laborious and harassing kind during the whole of the Bath -season. But he considered all this professional work only as the means -to an end; devotion to music produced income and a certain degree of -leisure, and these were becoming every day more imperatively necessary. -Every spare moment of the day, and many hours stolen from the night, had -long been devoted to the studies which were compelling him to become -himself an observer of the heavens. Insufficient mechanical means roused -his inventive genius; and, as all the world knows, the mirror for the -mighty forty-foot telescope was the crowning result. To his pupils he -was known as not a music-master alone. Some ladies had lessons in -astronomy from him, and, at the invitation of his friend Dr. Watson, he -became a member of a philosophical society then recently started in -Bath, to which he for several years contributed a great number of papers -on various scientific subjects. It soon came to pass that the gentlemen -who sought interviews with him, asking for a peep through the wonderful -tube, carried stories of what they had seen to London, and these were -not long in finding their way to St. James’s. - -[Sidenote: 1772. _Life in Bath._] - -It was thus at the very turning-point of her brother’s career that -Caroline Herschel became his companion and fellow-worker. No contrast -could be sharper than that presented by the narrow domestic routine she -had left to the life of ceaseless and inexhaustible activity into which -she was plunged;—unless, indeed, it be that presented by the nature of -the events she has to record, and the tone in which they are recorded. -For ten years she persevered at Bath, singing when she was told to sing, -copying when she was told to copy, “lending a hand” in the workshop, and -taking her full share in all the stirring and exciting changes by which -the musician became the King’s astronomer and a celebrity; but she -never, by a single word, betrays how these wonderful events affected -her; nor ever indulges in the slightest approach to an original -sentiment, comment, or reflection not strictly connected with the -present fact. Whether it be to record the presentation of the “golden -medal,” or the dishonesty of the incorrigible Betties who then, and till -her life’s end, so sorely tried her peace of mind, there is no -difference in the style or spirit of the “Recollections.” Partly as -apology and partly as complaint, the one grievance is harped on, even -when fifty years’ experience might have convinced her that she had done -something more for herself and the world than earn her bread by her own -labour. “In short,” she writes, “I have been throughout annoyed and -hindered in my endeavours at perfecting myself in any branch of -knowledge by which I could hope to gain a creditable livelihood.” It is -seldom, however, that she is diverted from the main theme to write about -herself otherwise than incidentally, and in a note addressed to her -nephew, she says:—“My only reason for saying so much of myself is to -show with what miserable assistance your father made shift to obtaining -the means of exploring the heavens.” - - -“On the afternoon of August 28th, 1772, I arrived with my brother at his -house No. 7, New King Street, Bath, where we were received only by Mr. -Bulman’s family, who occupied the parlour floor, and had the management -of his servant and household affairs. My brother had formerly boarded -with them at Leeds, whence, on Mr. Bulman’s failure in business, they -had removed to Bath, where my brother procured for him the place of -Clerk at the Octagon Chapel.... On our journey he had taken every -opportunity to make me hope to find in Mrs. Bulman a well-informed and -well-meaning friend, and in her daughter, a few years younger than -myself, an agreeable companion. But as I knew no more English than the -few words which I had on our journey learned to repeat like a parrot, it -may be easily supposed that it would require some time before I could -feel comfortable among strangers. But as the season for the arrival of -visitors to the Baths does not begin till October, my brother had -leisure to try my capacity for becoming a useful singer for his concerts -and oratorios, and being very well satisfied with my voice, I had two or -three lessons every day, and the hours which were not spent at the -harpsichord were employed in putting me in the way of managing the -family.... On the second morning, on meeting my brother at breakfast, he -began immediately to give me a lesson in English and arithmetic, and -showed me the way of booking and keeping accounts of cash received and -laid out.... By way of relaxation we talked of astronomy and the bright -constellations with which I had made acquaintance during the fine nights -we spent on the Postwagen travelling through Holland. - -“My brother Alexander, who had been some time in England, boarded and -lodged with his elder brother, and with myself, occupied the attic. The -first floor, which was furnished in the newest and most handsome style, -my brother kept for himself. The front room containing the harpsichord -was always in order to receive his musical friends and scholars at -little private concerts or rehearsals.... Sundays I received a sum for -the weekly expenses, of which my housekeeping book (written in English) -showed the amount laid out, and my purse the remaining cash. One of the -principal things required was to market, and about six weeks after -coming to England I was sent alone among fishwomen, butchers, -basket-women, &c., and I brought home whatever in my fright I could pick -up.... My brother Alex, who was now returned from his summer engagement, -used to watch me at a distance, unknown to me, till he saw me safe on my -way home. But all attempts to introduce any order in our little -household proved vain, owing to the servant my brother then had—a -hot-headed old Welshwoman. All the articles, tea-things, &c., which I -was to take in charge, were almost all destroyed: knives eaten up by -rust, heaters of the tea-urn found in the ash-hole, &c. And what still -further increased my difficulty was, that my brother’s time was entirely -taken up with business, so that I only saw him at meals. Breakfast was -at 7 o’clock or before (much too early for me, who would rather have -remained up all night than be obliged to rise at so early an hour).... - -“The three winter months passed on very heavily. I had to struggle -against _heimweh_ (home sickness) and low spirits, and to answer my -sister’s melancholy letters on the death of her husband, by which she -became a widow with six children. I knew too little English to derive -any consolation from the society of those who were about me, so that, -dinner-time excepted, I was entirely left to myself.” - -[Sidenote: 1774-1775. _Life in Bath._] - - -Introductions to her brother’s scholars led to occasional evening -parties, where her voice was in demand as well for single songs as to -take part in duets and glees, and one of these ladies, Mrs. Colebrook, -invited her to go to London on a visit. This visit was prolonged for -several weeks owing to the deep snow, which rendered the roads -impassable. The Duchess of Ancaster is said to have offered any sum to -have a passage cut near Devizes, but without success, her Grace was in -consequence unable to be present on the 18th January, when the Queen’s -birthday was kept. Operas, plays, auctions, and all the usual amusements -of the town, gave Miss Herschel a glimpse of the gay world; but the -expense of dress and chairmen troubled her spirit too much to allow of -her finding pleasure in these dissipations; and although Mrs. Colebrook -is allowed to be both “learned and clever,” her society does not appear -to have contributed much more to her happiness than that of some younger -ladies whose companionship was offered, but whose visits she did not -encourage, because, as she bluntly explains, she “thought them very -little better than idiots.” - - -“The time when I could hope to receive a little more of my brother’s -instruction and attention was now drawing near; for after Easter, Bath -becomes very empty; only a few of his scholars whose families were -resident in the neighbourhood remaining. But, I was greatly -disappointed; for, in consequence of the harassing and fatiguing life he -had led during the winter months, he used to retire to bed with a bason -of milk or glass of water, and Smith’s ‘Harmonics and Optics,’ -Ferguson’s ‘Astronomy,’ &c., and so went to sleep buried under his -favourite authors; and his first thoughts on rising were how to obtain -instruments for viewing those objects himself of which he had been -reading. There being in one of the shops a two and a half foot Gregorian -telescope to be let, it was for some time taken in requisition, and -served not only for viewing the heavens but for making experiments on -its construction.... It soon appeared that my brother was not contented -with knowing what former observers had seen, for he began to contrive a -telescope eighteen or twenty feet long (I believe after Huyghens’ -description).... I was much hindered in my musical practice by my help -being continually wanted in the execution of the various contrivances, -and I had to amuse myself with making the tube of pasteboard for the -glasses which were to arrive from London, for at that time no optician -had settled at Bath. But when all was finished, no one besides my -brother could get a glimpse of Jupiter or Saturn, for the great length -of the tube would not allow it to be kept in a straight line. This -difficulty, however, was soon removed by substituting tin tubes.... My -brother wrote to inquire the price of a reflecting mirror for (I -believe) a five or six foot telescope. The answer was, there were none -of so large a size, but a person offered to make one at a price much -above what my brother thought proper to give.... About this time he -bought of a Quaker resident at Bath, who had formerly made attempts at -polishing mirrors, all his rubbish of patterns, tools, hones, polishers, -unfinished mirrors, &c., but all for small Gregorians, and none above -two or three inches diameter. - -“But nothing serious could be attempted, for want of time, till the -beginning of June, when some of my brother’s scholars were leaving Bath; -and then to my sorrow I saw almost every room turned into a workshop. A -cabinet-maker making a tube and stands of all descriptions in a -handsomely furnished drawing-room; Alex putting up a huge turning -machine (which he had brought in the autumn from Bristol, where he used -to spend the summer) in a bedroom, for turning patterns, grinding -glasses, and turning eye-pieces, &c. At the same time music durst not -lie entirely dormant during the summer, and my brother had frequent -rehearsals at home, where Miss Farinelli, an Italian singer, was met by -several of the principal performers he had engaged for the winter -concerts.... He composed glees, catches, &c., for such voices as he -could secure, as it was not easy to find a singer to take the place of -Miss Linley.... Sometimes, in the absence of Fisher, he gave a concerto -on the oboe, or a sonata on the harpsichord; and the solos on the -violoncello of my brother Alexander were divine!... He also took great -delight in a choir of singers who performed the cathedral service at the -Octagon Chapel, for whom he composed many excellent anthems, chants, and -psalm tunes.[5] As soon as I could pronounce English well enough I was -obliged to attend the rehearsals, and on Sundays at morning and evening -service, which, though I did not much like at first, I soon found to be -both pleasant and useful. - -[Sidenote: 1775-1782. _Life in Bath._] - -“But every leisure moment was eagerly snatched at for resuming some work -which was in progress, without taking time for changing dress, and many -a lace ruffle was torn or bespattered by molten pitch, &c., besides the -danger to which he continually exposed himself by the uncommon -precipitancy which accompanied all his actions, of which we had a -melancholy sample one Saturday evening, when both brothers returned from -a concert between 11 and 12 o’clock, my eldest brother pleasing himself -all the way home with being at liberty to spend the next day (except a -few hours’ attendance at chapel) at the turning bench, but recollecting -that the tools wanted sharpening, they ran with the lantern and tools to -our landlord’s grindstone in a public yard, where they did not wish to -be seen on a Sunday morning.... But my brother William was soon brought -back fainting by Alex with the loss of one of his finger-nails. This -happened in the winter of 1775, at a house situated near Walcot -turnpike, to which my brother had moved at midsummer, 1774. On a grass -plot behind the house preparation was immediately made for erecting a -twenty-foot telescope, for which, among seven and ten foot mirrors then -in hand, one of twelve foot was preparing; this house offered more room -for workshops, and a place on the roof for observing. - -“During this summer I lost the only female acquaintances (not friends) I -ever had an opportunity of being very intimate with by Bulmer’s family -returning again to Leeds. For my time was so much taken up with copying -music and practising, besides attendance on my brother when polishing, -since by way of keeping him alive I was constantly obliged to feed him -by putting the victuals by bits into his mouth. This was once the case -when, in order to finish a seven foot mirror, he had not taken his hands -from it for sixteen hours together.[6] In general he was never -unemployed at meals, but was always at those times contriving or making -drawings of whatever came in his mind. Generally I was obliged to read -to him whilst he was at the turning lathe, or polishing mirrors, Don -Quixote, Arabian Nights’ Entertainment, the novels of Sterne, Fielding, -&c.; serving tea and supper without interrupting the work with which he -was engaged, ... and sometimes lending a hand. I became in time as -useful a member of the workshop as a boy might be to his master in the -first year of his apprenticeship.... But as I was to take a part the -next year in the oratorios, I had for a whole twelvemonth two lessons -per week from Miss Fleming, the celebrated dancing mistress, to drill me -for a gentlewoman (God knows how she succeeded). So we lived on without -interruption. My brother Alex was absent from Bath for some months every -summer, but when at home he took much pleasure to execute some turning -or clockmaker’s work for his brother.” - - -News from Hanover put a sudden stop for a time to all these labours. The -mother wrote, in the utmost distress, to say that Dietrich had -disappeared from his home, it was supposed with the intention of going -to India “with a young idler not older than himself.” His brother -immediately left the lathe at which he was turning an eye-piece in -cocoanut, and started for Holland, whence he proceeded to Hanover, -failing to meet his brother as he expected. Meanwhile the sister -received a letter to say that Dietrich was laid up very ill at an inn in -Wapping. Alexander posted to town, removed him to a lodging, and after a -fortnight’s nursing, brought him to Bath, where, on his brother -William’s return, he found him being well cared for by his sister, who -kept him to a diet of “roasted apples and barley-water.” Dietrich -remained in England, his brother easily procuring him employment until -1779, when he returned to Hanover, and shortly afterwards married a Miss -Reif. The family now moved to a larger house, 19, New King Street, which -had a garden behind it, and open space down to the river. It is -incidentally mentioned, “that here many interesting discoveries besides -the Georgium Sidus were made.” - -In preparation for the oratorios to be performed during Lent, Miss -Herschel mentions that she copied the scores of the “Messiah” and “Judas -Maccabæus” into parts for an orchestra of nearly one hundred performers, -and the vocal parts of “Samson,” besides instructing the treble singers, -of which she was now herself the first. On the occasion of her first -public appearance, her brother presented her with ten guineas for her -dress,— - - -“And that my choice could not have been a bad one I conclude from having -been pronounced by Mr. Palmer (the then proprietor of the Bath theatre) -to be an ornament to the stage. And as to acquitting myself in giving my -songs and recitatives in the ‘Messiah,’ ‘Judas Maccabæus,’ &c., I had -the satisfaction of being complimented by my friends, the Marchioness of -Lothian, &c., who were present at the rehearsals, for pronouncing my -words like an Englishwoman.” - - -It is evident that had she chosen to persevere, her reputation as a -singer would have been secure. The following year she was first singer -at the concerts, and was offered an engagement for the Birmingham -Festival, which she declined, having resolved only to sing in public -where her brother was conductor. At this time he had repeated proposals -from London publishers to bring out some of his vocal compositions, but -with the exception of “The Echo” catch, none of them ever appeared in -print. Besides the regular Sunday services, concerts and oratorios had -to be prepared for and performed in steady routine, sometimes at Bristol -also, while the poor prima-donna-housekeeper “hobbled on” with one -dishonest servant after another, until Whit Sunday, 1782, when both -brother and sister played and sung for the last time, in St. Margaret’s -Chapel. On this occasion, their last performance in public, the anthem -selected for the day was one of the last compositions, of which mention -has been made above. - -The name of _William Herschel_ was fast becoming famous, as a writer, a -discoverer, and the possessor and inventor of instruments of unheard-of -power. He was now about to be released from the necessity of devoting -the time to music which he was eager to give to astronomical science.[7] -It came about as follows:— - - -... “He was now frequently interrupted by visitors who were introduced -by some of his resident scholars, among whom I remember Sir Harry -Engelfield, Dr. Blagden, and Dr. Maskelyne. With the latter he was -engaged in a long conversation, which to me sounded like quarrelling, -and the first words my brother said after he was gone was: ‘That is a -devil of a fellow.’... I suppose their names were not known, or were -forgotten; for it was not till the year 1782 or 1783 that a memorandum -of the names of visitors was thought of.... My brother applied himself -to perfect his mirrors, erecting in his garden a stand for his -twenty-foot telescope; many trials were necessary before the required -motions for such an unwieldy machine could be contrived. Many attempts -were made by way of experiment against a mirror for an intended -thirty-foot telescope could be completed, for which, between whiles (not -interrupting the observations with seven, ten, and twenty-foot, and -writing papers for both the Royal and Bath Philosophical Societies) -gauges, shapes, weight, &c., of the mirror were calculated, and trials -of the composition of the metal were made. In short, I saw nothing else -and heard nothing else talked of but about these things when my brothers -were together. Alex was always very alert, assisting when anything new -was going forward, but he wanted perseverance, and never liked to -confine himself at home for many hours together. And so it happened that -my brother William was obliged to make trial of my abilities in copying -for him catalogues, tables, &c., and sometimes whole papers which were -lent him for his perusal. Among them was one by Mr. Michel and a -catalogue of Christian Mayer in Latin, which kept me employed when my -brother was at the telescope at night. When I found that a hand was -sometimes wanted when any particular measures were to be made with the -lamp micrometer, &c., or a fire to be kept up, or a dish of coffee -necessary during a long night’s watching, I undertook with pleasure what -others might have thought a hardship.... Since the discovery of the -Georgium Sidus [March 13, 1781], I believe few men of learning or -consequence left Bath before they had seen and conversed with its -discoverer, and thought themselves fortunate in finding him at home on -their repeated visits. Sir William Watson[8] was almost an intimate, for -hardly a day passed but he had something to communicate from the letters -which he received from Sir Joseph Banks and other members of the Royal -Society, from which it appeared that my brother was expected in town to -receive the gold medal. The end of November was the most precarious -season for absenting himself. But Sir William went with him, and it was -arranged so that they set out with the diligence at night, and by that -means his absence did not last above three or four days, when my brother -returned alone, Sir William remaining with his father. - -“Now a very busy winter was commencing; for my brother had engaged -himself to conduct the oratorios conjointly with Ronzini, and had made -himself answerable for the payment of the engaged performers, for his -credit ever stood high in the opinion of every one he had to deal with. -(He lost considerably by this arrangement.) But, though at times much -harassed with business, the mirror for the thirty-foot reflector was -never out of his mind, and if a minute could but be spared in going from -one scholar to another, or giving one the slip, he called at home to see -how the men went on with the furnace, which was built in a room below, -even with the garden. - -“The mirror was to be cast in a mould of loam prepared from horse dung, -of which an immense quantity was to be pounded in a mortar and sifted -through a fine sieve. It was an endless piece of work, and served me for -many an hour’s exercise; and Alex frequently took his turn at it, for we -were all eager to do something towards the great undertaking. Even Sir -William Watson would sometimes take the pestle from me when he found me -in the work-room, where he expected to find his friend, in whose -concerns he took so much interest that he felt much disappointed at not -being allowed to pay for the metal. But I do not think my brother ever -accepted pecuniary assistance from any one of his friends, and on this -occasion he declined the offer by saying it was paid for already. - -“Among the Bath visitors were many philosophical gentlemen who used to -frequent the levées at St. James’s, when in town. Colonel Walsh, in -particular, informed my brother that from a conversation he had had with -His Majesty, it appeared that in the spring he was to come with his -seven-foot telescope to the King. Similar reports he received from many -others, but they made no great impression nor caused any interruption in -his occupation or study, and as soon as the season for the concerts was -over, and the mould, &c., in readiness, a day was set apart for casting, -and the metal was in the furnace, but unfortunately it began to leak at -the moment when ready for pouring, and both my brothers and the caster -with his men were obliged to run out at opposite doors, for the stone -flooring (which ought to have been taken up) flew about in all -directions, as high as the ceiling. My poor brother fell, exhausted with -heat and exertion, on a heap of brickbats. Before the second casting was -attempted, everything which could ensure success had been attended to, -and a very perfect metal was found in the mould, which had cracked in -the cooling. - -“But a total stop and derangement now took place, and nearly six or -seven months elapsed before my brother could return to the undisturbed -enjoyment of his instruments and observations. For one morning in -Passion week, as Sir William Watson was with my brother, talking about -the pending journey to town, my eldest nephew[9] arrived to pay us a -visit, and brought the confirmation that his uncle was expected with his -instrument in town. A chaise was at the door to take us to Bristol for a -rehearsal in the forenoon, of the ‘Messiah,’ which was to be performed -the same evening. The conductor being still lost in conversation with -his friend, was obliged to trust to my poor abilities for filling the -music box with the necessary parts for between ninety and one hundred -performers. My nephew had travelled all night, but we took him with us, -for we had not one night in the week, except Friday, but what was set -apart for an oratorio either at Bath or Bristol. Soon after Easter a new -organ being erected in St. James’s Church, it was opened with two -performances of the ‘Messiah;’ this again took up some of my brother’s -time.... - -... The Tuesday after Whit Sunday, May 8th, my brother left Bath to join -Sir William Watson at his father’s in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, furnished -with everything necessary for viewing double stars, of which the first -catalogue had just then appeared in the ‘Philosophical Transactions.’ A -new seven-foot stand and steps were made to go in a moderate sized box, -to be screwed together on the spot where wanted. Flamsteed’s Atlas, in -which the stars had during the winter been numbered, catalogues of -double stars, micrometers, tables, &c., and everything which could -facilitate reviewing objects, had been attended to in the preparation -for the journey. - -“But when almost double the time had elapsed which my brother could -safely be absent from his scholars, Alex, as well as myself, were much -at a loss how to answer their inquiries, for, from the letters we -received, we could learn nothing but that he had been introduced to the -King and Queen, and had permission to come to the concerts at Buckingham -House, where the King conversed with him about astronomy.” - - -It was during his absence at this time that the three following letters -were written and received:— - - -DEAR LINA,— - -I have had an audience of His Majesty this morning, and met with a very -gracious reception. I presented him with the drawing of the solar -system, and had the honour of explaining it to him and the Queen. My -telescope is in three weeks’ time to go to Richmond, and meanwhile to be -put up at Greenwich, where I shall accordingly carry it to-day. So you -see, Lina, that you must not think of seeing me in less than a month. I -shall write to Miss Lee myself; and other scholars who inquire for me, -you may tell that I cannot wait on them till His Majesty shall be -pleased to give me leave to return, or rather to dismiss me, for till -then I must attend. I will also write to Mr. Palmer to acquaint him with -it. - -I am in a great hurry, therefore can write no more at present. Tell -Alexander that everything looks very likely as if I were to stay here. -The King inquired after him, and after my great speculum. He also gave -me leave to come to hear the Griesbachs play at the private concert -which he has every evening. My having seen the King need not be kept a -secret, but about my staying here it will be best not to say anything, -but only that I must remain here till His Majesty has observed the -planets with my telescope. - -Yesterday I dined with Colonel Walsh, who inquired after you. There were -Mr. Aubert and Dr. Maskelyne. Dr. Maskelyne in public declared his -obligations to me for having introduced to them the high powers, for Mr. -Aubert has so much succeeded with them that he says he looks down upon -200, 300, or 400 with contempt, and immediately begins with 800. He has -used 2500 very completely, and seen my fine double stars with them. All -my papers are printing, with the postscript and all, and are allowed to -be very valuable. You see, Lina, I tell you all these things. You know -vanity is not my foible, therefore I need not fear your censure. -Farewell. - - I am, your affectionate brother, - WM. HERSCHEL. - -Saturday Morning, - probably _May 25_. - - - TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - Monday Evening, _June 3, 1782_. - -DEAR LINA,— - -I pass my time between Greenwich and London agreeably enough, but am -rather at a loss for work that I like. Company is not always pleasing, -and I would much rather be polishing a speculum. Last Friday I was at -the King’s concert to hear George play. The King spoke to me as soon as -he saw me, and kept me in conversation for half an hour. He asked George -to play a solo-concerto on purpose that I might hear him; and George -plays extremely well, is very much improved, and the King likes him very -much. These two last nights I have been star-gazing at Greenwich with -Dr. Maskelyne and Mr. Aubert. We have compared our telescopes together, -and mine was found very superior to any of the Royal Observatory. Double -stars which they could not see with their instruments I had the pleasure -to show them very plainly, and my mechanism is so much approved of that -Dr. Maskelyne has already ordered a model to be taken from mine and a -stand to be made by it to his reflector. He is, however, now so much out -of love with his instrument that he begins to doubt whether it -_deserves_ a new stand. I have had the influenza, but am now quite well -again. It lasted only five or six days, and I never was confined with -it.... There is hardly one single person here but what has had it. - -I am introduced to the best company. To-morrow I dine at Lord -Palmerston’s, next day with Sir Joseph Banks, &c., &c. Among opticians -and astronomers nothing now is talked of but _what they call_ my great -discoveries. Alas! this shows how far they are behind, when such trifles -as I have seen and done are called _great_. Let me but get at it again! -I will make such telescopes, and see such things—that is, I will -endeavour to do so. - - -The letter ends abruptly with this sentence, and only one more was -written during this momentous interval. - -[Sidenote: 1775-1782. _Impending Changes._] - - - TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - _July 3, 1782._ - -DEAR CAROLINA,— - -I have been so much employed that you will not wonder at my not writing -sooner. The letter you sent me last Monday came very safe to me. As Dr. -Watson has been so good as to acquaint you and Alexander with my -situation, I was still more easy in my silence to you. Last night the -King, the Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, Princess -Sophia, Princess Augusta, &c., Duke of Montague, Dr. Heberden, M. de -Luc, &c., &c., saw my telescope, and it was a very fine evening. My -instrument gave general satisfaction. The King has very good eyes, and -enjoys observations with telescopes exceedingly. - -This evening, as the King and Queen are gone to Kew, the Princesses were -desirous of seeing my telescope, but wanted to know if it was possible -to see without going out on the grass, and were much pleased when they -heard that my telescope could be carried into any place they liked best -to have it. About 8 o’clock it was moved into the Queen’s apartments, -and we waited some time in hopes of seeing Jupiter or Saturn. Meanwhile -I showed the Princesses, and several other ladies who were present, the -speculum, the micrometers, the movements of the telescope, and other -things that seemed to excite their curiosity. When the evening appeared -to be totally unpromising, I proposed an artificial Saturn as an object, -since we could not have the real one. I had beforehand prepared this -little piece, as I guessed by the appearance of the weather in the -afternoon we should have no stars to look at. This being accepted with -great pleasure, I had the lamps lighted up which illuminated the picture -of a Saturn (cut out in pasteboard) at the bottom of the garden wall. -The effect was fine, and so natural that the best astronomer might have -been deceived. Their royal highnesses and other ladies seemed to be much -pleased with the artifice. - -I remained in the Queen’s apartment with the ladies till about half -after ten, when in conversation with them I found them extremely well -instructed in every subject that was introduced, and they seemed to be -most amiable characters. To-morrow evening they hope to have better -luck, and nothing will give me greater happiness than to be able to show -them some of those beautiful objects with which the heavens are so -gloriously ornamented. - - -Sir William Watson returned to Bath after a fortnight or three weeks’ -stay. From him we heard that my brother was invited to Greenwich with -the telescope, where he was met by a numerous party of astronomical and -learned gentlemen, and trials of his instrument were made. In these -letters he complained of being obliged to lead an idle life, having -nothing to do but to pass between London and Greenwich. Sir William -received many letters which he was so kind as to communicate to us. By -these, and from those to Alexander or to me, we learned that the King -wished to see the telescope at Windsor. At last a letter, dated July 2, -arrived from Therese, and from this and several succeeding ones we -gathered that the King would not suffer my brother to return to his -profession again, and by his writing several times for a supply of money -we could only suppose that he himself was in uncertainty about the time -of his return. - -In the last week of July my brother came home, and immediately prepared -for removing to Datchet, where he had taken a house with a garden and -grass-plot annexed, quite suitable for the purpose of an -observing-place. Sir Wm. Watson spent nearly the whole time at our -house, and he was not the only friend who truly grieved at my brother’s -going from Bath; or feared his having perhaps agreed to no very -advantageous offers; their fears were, in fact, not without reason.... -The prospect of entering again on the toils of teaching, &c., which -awaited my brother at home (the months of leisure being now almost gone -by), appeared to him an intolerable waste of time, and by way of -alternative he chose to be Royal Astronomer, with a salary of £200 a -year. Sir William Watson was the only one to whom the sum was mentioned, -and he exclaimed, “Never bought monarch honour so cheap!” To every other -inquirer, my brother’s answer was that the King had provided for him. - -[Sidenote: 1782. _Removal to Datchet._] - - -Everything was immediately packed for the removal, and on the 1st of -August, when the brothers and sister walked over to Datchet from Slough -(where the coach passed), they found the waggon, with its precious load -of instruments, as well as household furniture, waiting to be unpacked. -The new home was a large neglected place, the house in a deplorably -ruinous condition, the garden and grounds overgrown with weeds. For a -fortnight they had no female servant at all; an old woman, the -gardener’s wife, showed Miss Herschel the shops, where the prices of -everything, from coals to butcher’s meat, appalled her. But these -considerations weighed for nothing in her brother’s eyes against the -delight of stables where mirrors could be ground, a roomy laundry, which -was to serve for a library, with one door opening on a large grass-plot, -where “the small twenty-foot” was to be erected; he gaily assured her -that they could live on eggs and bacon, which would cost nothing to -speak of now that they were really in the country! - - -The beginning of October, Alexander was obliged to return to Bath. The -separation was truly painful to us all, and I was particularly affected -by it, for till now I had not had time to consider the consequence of -giving up the prospect of making myself independent by becoming (with a -little more uninterrupted application) a useful member of the musical -profession. But besides that my brother William would have been very -much at a loss for my assistance, I had not spirit enough to throw -myself on the public after losing his protection. - -Poor Alexander! we had hoped at first to persuade him to change Bath for -London, where he had the offer of the most profitable engagements, and -we should then have had him near us ... but he refused, and before we -saw him again the next year he was married. - -Much of my brother’s time was taken up in going, when the evenings were -clear, to the Queen’s Lodge to show the King, &c., objects through the -seven-foot. But when the days began to shorten, this was found -impossible, for the telescope was often (at no small expense and risk of -damage) obliged to be transported in the dark back to Datchet, for the -purpose of spending the rest of the night with observations on double -stars for a second Catalogue. My brother was besides obliged to be -absent for a week or ten days for the purpose of bringing home the metal -of the cracked thirty-foot mirror, and the remaining materials from his -work-room. Before the furnace was taken down at Bath, a second -twenty-foot mirror, twelve-inch diameter, was cast, which happened to be -very fortunate, for on the 1st of January, 1783, a very fine one cracked -by frost in the tube. I remember to have seen the thermometer 1½ degree -below zero for several nights in the same year.... - -[Sidenote: 1783. _Life at Datchet._] - -... In my brother’s absence from home, I was of course left solely to -amuse myself with my own thoughts, which were anything but cheerful. I -found I was to be trained for an assistant-astronomer, and by way of -encouragement a telescope adapted for “sweeping,” consisting of a tube -with two glasses, such as are commonly used in a “finder,” was given me. -I was “to sweep for comets,” and I see by my journal that I began August -22nd, 1782, to write down and describe all remarkable appearances I saw -in my “sweeps,” which were horizontal. But it was not till the last two -months of the same year that I felt the least encouragement to spend the -star-light nights on a grass-plot covered with dew or hoar frost, -without a human being near enough to be within call. I knew too little -of the real heavens to be able to point out every object so as to find -it again without losing too much time by consulting the Atlas. But all -these troubles were removed when I knew my brother to be at no great -distance making observations with his various instruments on double -stars, planets, &c., and I could have his assistance immediately when I -found a nebula, or cluster of stars, of which I intended to give a -catalogue; but at the end of 1783 I had only marked fourteen, when my -sweeping was interrupted by being employed to write down my brother’s -observations with the large twenty-foot. I had, however, the comfort to -see that my brother was satisfied with my endeavours to assist him when -he wanted another person, either to run to the clocks, write down a -memorandum, fetch and carry instruments, or measure the ground with -poles, &c., &c., of which something of the kind every moment would -occur. For the assiduity with which the measurements on the diameter of -the Georgium Sidus, and observations of other planets, double stars, -&c., &c., were made, was incredible, as may be seen by the various -papers that were given to the Royal Society in 1783, which papers were -written in the daytime, or when cloudy nights interfered. Besides this, -the twelve-inch speculum was perfected before the spring, and many hours -were spent at the turning bench, as not a night clear enough for -observing ever passed but that some improvements were planned for -perfecting the mounting and motions of the various instruments then in -use, or some trials were made of new constructed eye-pieces, which were -mostly executed by my brother’s own hands. Wishing to save his time, he -began to have some work of that kind done by a watchmaker who had -retired from business and lived on Datchet Common, but the work was so -bad, and the charges so unreasonable, that he could not be employed. It -was not till some time afterwards in his frequent visits to the meetings -of the Royal Society (made in moonlight nights), that he had an -opportunity of looking about for mathematical workmen, opticians, and -founders. But the work seldom answered expectation, and it was kept to -be executed with improvements by Alexander during the few months he -spent with us. - -The summer months passed in the most active preparation for getting the -large twenty-foot ready against the next winter. The carpenters and -smiths of Datchet were in daily requisition, and as soon as patterns for -tools and mirrors were ready, my brother went to town to have them cast, -and during the three or four months Alexander could be absent from Bath, -the mirrors and optical parts were nearly completed. - -But that the nights after a day of toil were not given to rest, may be -seen by the observations on Mars, of which a paper, dated December 1, -1783, was given to the Royal Society. Some trouble also was often thrown -away during those nights in the attempt to teach me to re-measure double -stars with the same micrometers with which former measures had been -taken, and the small twenty-foot was given me for that purpose.... I had -also to ascertain their places by a transit instrument lent for that -purpose by Mr. Dalrymple, but after many fruitless attempts it was seen -that the instrument was perhaps as much in fault as my observations. - -_July 8._—I began to use the new Newtonian small sweeper, (for a -description of this instrument see note to Neb. No. 1, V. class, at the -end of the catalogue of first 1000 Neb. and Cl.), but it could hardly be -expected that I should meet with any comets in the part of the heavens -where I swept, for I generally chose my situation by the side of my -brother’s instrument, that I might be ready to run to the clock or write -down memorandums. In the beginning of December I became entirely -attached to the writing-desk, and had seldom an opportunity after that -time of using my newly-acquired instrument. - -My brother began his series of sweeps when the instrument was yet in a -very unfinished state, and my feelings were not very comfortable when -every moment I was alarmed by a crack or fall, knowing him to be -elevated fifteen feet or more on a temporary cross-beam instead of a -safe gallery. The ladders had not even their braces at the bottom; and -one night, in a very high wind, he had hardly touched the ground before -the whole apparatus came down. Some labouring men were called up to help -in extricating the mirror, which was fortunately uninjured, but much -work was cut out for carpenters next day. - -That my fears of danger and accidents were not wholly imaginary, I had -an unlucky proof on the night of the 31st December. The evening had been -cloudy, but about ten o’clock a few stars became visible, and in the -greatest hurry all was got ready for observing. My brother, at the front -of the telescope, directed me to make some alteration in the lateral -motion, which was done by machinery, on which the point of support of -the tube and mirror rested. At each end of the machine or trough was an -iron hook, such as butchers use for hanging their joints upon, and -having to run in the dark on ground covered a foot deep with melting -snow, I fell on one of these hooks, which entered my right leg above the -knee. My brother’s call, “Make haste!” I could only answer by a pitiful -cry, “I am hooked!” He and the workmen were instantly with me, but they -could not lift me without leaving nearly two ounces of my flesh behind. -The workman’s wife was called, but was afraid to do anything, and I was -obliged to be my own surgeon by applying aquabusade and tying a kerchief -about it for some days, till Dr. Lind, hearing of my accident, brought -me ointment and lint, and told me how to use them. At the end of six -weeks I began to have some fears about my poor limb, and asked again for -Dr. Lind’s opinion: he said if a soldier had met with such a hurt he -would have been entitled to six weeks’ nursing in a hospital. I had, -however, the comfort to know that my brother was no loser through this -accident, for the remainder of the night was cloudy, and several nights -afterwards afforded only a few short intervals favourable for sweeping, -and until the 16th January there was no necessity for my exposing myself -for a whole night to the severity of the season. - -I could give a pretty long list of accidents which were near proving -fatal to my brother as well as myself. To make observations with such -large machinery, where all around is in darkness, is not unattended with -danger, especially when personal safety is the last thing with which the -mind is occupied; even poor Piazzi[10] did not go home without getting -broken shins by falling over the rack-bar, which projects in high -altitudes in front of the telescope, when in the hurry the cap had been -forgotten to be put over it. - -In the long days of the summer months many ten- and seven-foot mirrors -were finished; there was nothing but grinding and polishing to be seen. -For ten-foot several had been cast with ribbed backs by way of -experiment to reduce the weight in large mirrors. In my leisure hours I -ground seven-foot and plain mirrors from rough to fining down, and was -indulged with polishing and the last finishing of a very beautiful -mirror for Sir William Watson. - -An account of the discoveries made with the twenty-foot and the -improvements of the mechanical parts of that instrument during the -winter of 1785, is given with the Catalogue of the first 1000 new -nebulæ. By which account it must plainly appear that the expenses of -these improvements, and those which were yet to be made in the apparatus -of the twenty-foot (which in fact proved to be a model of a larger -instrument), could not be supplied out of a salary of £200 a year, -especially as my brother’s finances had been too much reduced during the -six months before he received his _first_ quarterly payment of _fifty -pounds_ (which was Michaelmas, 1782). Travelling from Bath to London, -Greenwich, Windsor, backwards and forwards, transporting the telescope, -&c., breaking up his establishment at Bath and forming a new one near -the Court, all this, even leaving such personal conveniences as he had -for many years been used to, out of the question, could not be obtained -for a trifle; a good large piece of ground was required for the use of -the instruments, and a habitation in which he could receive and offer a -bed to an astronomical friend, was necessary after a night’s -observation. - -It seemed to be supposed that enough had been done when my brother was -enabled to leave his profession that he might have time to make and sell -telescopes. The King ordered four ten-foot himself, and many seven-foot -besides had been bespoke, and much time had already been expended on -polishing the mirrors for the same. But all this was only retarding the -work of a thirty or forty-foot instrument, which it was my brother’s -chief object to obtain as soon as possible; for he was then on the wrong -side of forty-five, and felt how great an injustice he would be doing to -himself and to the cause of Astronomy by giving up his time to making -telescopes for other observers. - -Sir William Watson, who often in the lifetime of his father came to make -some stay with us at Datchet, saw my brother’s difficulties, and -expressed great dissatisfaction. On his return to Bath he met among the -visitors there several belonging to the Court (among the rest Mde. -Schwellenberg), to whom he gave his opinion concerning his friend and -his situation very freely. In consequence of this my brother had soon -after, through Sir J. Banks, the promise that £2000 would be granted for -enabling him to make himself an instrument. - -Immediately every preparation for beginning the great work commenced. A -very ingenious smith (Campion), who was seeking employment, was secured -by my brother, and a temporary forge erected in an upstairs room. - -[Sidenote: 1784-1785. _Removal from Datchet to Clay Hall._] - - -It soon became evident that the big, tumble-down old house, which had -been taken possession of with such eagerness, would not do: the rain -came through the ceilings; the damp situation brought on ague, and in -June the brother and sister left it for a place called Clay Hall, Old -Windsor. But here again unlooked-for troubles arose in consequence of -the landlady being a “litigious woman,” who refused to be bound to -reasonable terms, and at length, on the 3rd of April, 1786, the house -and garden at SLOUGH were taken, and all the apparatus and machinery -immediately removed there. - -[Sidenote: 1786. _Removal from Clay Hall to Slough._] - - -... And here I must remember that among all this hurrying business, -every moment after daylight was allotted to observing. The last night at -Clay Hall was spent in sweeping till daylight, and by the next evening -the telescope stood ready for observation at Slough.... A workman for -the brass and optical parts was engaged, and two smiths were at work -throughout the summer on different parts for the forty-foot telescope, -and a whole troop of labourers were engaged in grinding the iron tools -to a proper shape for the mirror to be ground on (the polishing and -grinding by machines was not begun till about the end of 1788). These -heavy articles were cast in town, and caused my brother frequent -journeys to London, they were brought by water as far as Windsor.... At -Slough no steady out-of-door workman for the sweeping handle could be -met with, and a man-servant was engaged as soon as one could be found -fit for the purpose. Meanwhile Campion assisted, but many memorandums -were put down: “Lost a neb. by the blunder of the person at the handle.” -If it had not been sometimes for the intervention of a cloudy or -moonlight night, I know not when my brother (or I either), should have -got any sleep; for with the morning came also his workpeople, of whom -there were no less than between thirty and forty at work for upwards of -three months together, some employed in felling and rooting out trees, -some digging and preparing the ground for the bricklayers who were -laying the foundation for the telescope, and the carpenter in Slough, -with all his men. The smith, meanwhile, was converting a washhouse into -a forge, and manufacturing complete sets of tools required for the work -he was to enter upon. Many expensive tools also were furnished by the -ironmongers in Windsor, as well for the forge as for the turner and -brass man. In short, the place was at one time a complete workshop for -making optical instruments, and it was a pleasure to go into it to see -how attentively the men listened to and executed their master’s orders; -I had frequent opportunities for doing this when I was obliged to run to -him with my papers or slate, when stopped in my work by some doubt or -other. - -I cannot leave this subject without regretting, even twenty years after, -that so much labour and expense should have been thrown away on a swarm -of pilfering work-people, both men and women, with which Slough, I -believe, was particularly infested. For at last everything that could be -carried away was gone, and nothing but rubbish left. Even tables for the -use of workrooms vanished: one in particular I remember, the drawer of -which was filled with slips of experiments made on the rays of light and -heat, was lost out of the room in which the women had been ironing. This -could not but produce the greatest disorder and inconvenience in the -library and in the room into which the apparatus for observing had been -moved, when the observatory was wanted for some other purpose; they were -at last so encumbered by stores and tools of all sorts that no room for -a desk or an Atlas remained. It required my utmost exertion to rescue -the manuscripts in hand from destruction by falling into unhallowed -hands or being devoured by mice. - -But I will now return to July, 1786, when my brother was obliged to -deliver a ten-foot telescope as a present from the King to the -Observatory of Göttingen. Before he left Slough on July 3rd, the stand -of the forty-foot telescope stood on two circular walls capped with -Portland stone (which, cracking by frost, were afterwards covered with -oak) ready to receive the tube. The smith was left to continue to work -at the tube, which was sufficient employment cut out for him before he -would want farther direction. The mirror was also pretty far advanced, -and ready for the polish, for I remember to have seen twelve or fourteen -men daily employed in grinding or polishing. - -[Sidenote: 1786. _Life and Work at Slough._] - -To give a description of the task (or rather tasks) which fell to my -share, the readiest way I think will be to transcribe out of a day-book -which I began to keep at that time, and called “Book of work done.” - -_July 3._—My brothers William and Alex. left Slough to begin their -journey to Germany. Mrs. [Alex.] Herschel was left with me at Slough. By -way of not suffering too much by sadness, I began with bustling work. I -cleaned all the brass-work for seven and ten-foot telescopes, and put -curtains before the shelves to hinder the dust from settling upon them -again. - -_4th._—I cleaned and put the polishing-room in order, and made the -gardener clear the work-yard, put everything in safety, and mend the -fences. - -_5th._—I spent the morning in needle-work. In the afternoon went with -Mrs. Herschel to Windsor. We chose the hours from two to six for -shopping and other business, to be from home at the time most unlikely -for any persons to call, but there had been four foreign gentlemen -looking at the instruments in the garden, they had not left their names. -In the evening Dr. and Mrs. Kelly (Mr. Dollond’s daughter) and Mr. -Gordon came to see me. - -_6th._—I put all the philosophical letters in order, and the collection -of each year in a separate cover. - - * * * * * - -_12th._—I put paper in press for a register, and calculated for -Flamsteed’s Catalogue. - -_Mem._—When Flamsteed’s Catalogue was brought into zones in 1783, it was -only taken up at 45° from the Pole, the apparatus not being then ready -for sweeping in the zenith. - -By July 23rd the whole Catalogue was completed all but writing it in the -clear, which at that time was a very necessary provision, as it was not -till the year 1789 that Wollaston’s Catalogue made its appearance. Many -sweeps nearer the Pole than the register of sweeps, which only began at -45°, being made, it became necessary to provide a register for marking -those sweeps and the nebulæ discovered in them. - -_14th._—Dr. and Mrs. Maskelyne called here with Dr. Shepherd. - -_15th._—I spent the day with Mrs. Herschel at Mrs. Kelly’s. We met Dr. -and Mrs. Maskelyne and Dr. Shepherd, Marquis of Huntley, &c., &c., -there. - -_16th._—I ruled part of the register of sweeps. - - * * * * * - -_18th._—I spent the whole day in ruling paper for the register; except -that at breakfast I cut out ruffles for shirts. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly and -Mrs. Ramsden (Dollond’s sister) called this evening. I tried to sweep, -but it is cloudy, and the moon rises at half-past ten. - -_19th._—In the evening we swept from eleven till one. - -_20th._—Prince Charles (Queen’s brother) Duke of Saxe-Gotha and the Duke -of Montague were here this morning. I had a message from the King to -show them the instruments. - - * * * * * - -I had intended to go on with my Diary till my brother’s return, but it -would be tedious, so of the rest I shall give only a summary account, -and will mention in this place that all what follows would but be the -same thing over again; for the advantage of being quietly at work in the -presence of my brother to whom I could apply for information the moment -a doubt occurred, never returned again, and often have I been racking my -poor brains through a day and a night to very little purpose. I found it -necessary to continue my memoranda of “work done” to the last day I had -the care of my brother’s MS. papers. But I had rather copy a few days -more, as they contain the discovery of my first comet, and will serve -also to show that I attempted to register all discovered nebulæ, after a -precept my brother had left me, as this was necessary for revising the -MS. of the catalogue of the first thousand nebulæ, which he expected at -his return to find ready for correction from the printers. - -_22nd._—I calculated all the day for Flamsteed’s Catalogue. Lord -Mulgrave called this evening..... - -_23rd._—Received letters from Hanover. Finished calculating for -Flamsteed’s Catalogue. - - -The two following short letters were carefully preserved, and, though -they contain nothing of importance, they are of interest as being of the -very few from the same pen which are not on scientific subjects. - - - FROM W. HERSCHEL TO CAROLINE HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _Friday, July 14, 1786_. - -DEAR SISTER,— - -This morning we arrived safely at Hanover. We are a little tired, but -perfectly well in health. We travelled extra post all the way through -very bad roads. The post is going out in a very little time, so that I -write in a hurry that you might hear from us so much sooner. After a -night or two of sleep here (by way of recovery) I shall go on to -Göttingen; but when I have collected my thoughts better together I will -write more. Mamma is perfectly well and looks well. Jacob looks a little -older, but not nearly so much as I expected. In Sophy [Mrs. Griesbach] -there is hardly any change, but a few white hairs on her head. John -[Dietrich] is just the same as before, his little boy seems to be a -charming creature. Farewell, dear Lina. I hope we shall see you again in -a few weeks. I must finish for Alexander to write. Adieu once more. - - - FROM W. HERSCHEL TO CAROLINE HERSCHEL. - - [_August, 1786._] - -DEAR LINA,— - -We are still in Hanover, and find it a most agreeable place. I have been -in Göttingen, where Jacob went along with me, and the King’s telescope -arrived there in perfect order. The Society of Göttingen have elected me -a member. We long very much to hear from you, as we have never had a -letter yet. This is the fourth we have sent you, and we hope you -received the former ones. This day fortnight we have fixed for our -setting out from this place, and be assured that we shall be happy to -see _old England_ again, though _old Germany_ is no bad place. Yesterday -and the day before I have seen the Bishop of Osnaburgh and the Prince -Edward. If an inquiry should be made about our return, you may say (I -hope with truth) that we shall be back by about the 24th of August. -Adieu, Lina. - - -_24th._—I registered some sweeps in present time and Pole distance. -Prince Resonico came with Dr. Shepherd to see the instruments. I swept -from ten till one. - - * * * * * - -_28th._—I wrote part of Flamsteed’s Catalogue in the clear. It was a -stormy night, we could not go to bed. - -_29th._—I paid the smith. He received to-day the plates for the -forty-foot tube. Above half of them are bad, but he thinks there will be -as many good among them as will be wanted, and I believe he intends to -keep the rest till they return. Paid the gardener for four days which he -worked with the smith. I registered sweeps to-day. By way of memorandum -I will set down in this book in what manner I proceed. - -I began some time ago with the last sweep which is booked in the old -register (Flamsteed’s time and P. D.), viz., 571, and at different times -I booked 570, 569, 568, 567, 566, 565. To-day I booked 564; 563 is -marked not to be registered; 560 and 561 I was obliged to pass over on -account of some difficulty. The rest of the day I wrote in Flamsteed’s -Catalogue. The storm continued all the day, but now, 8 o’clock, it turns -to a gentle rain. - -_30th._—I wound up the sidereal timepiece, Field’s and Alexander’s -clocks, and made covers for the new and old registers. - -_31st._—I booked 558, 557, and 554; 556, 555, I was obliged to leave out -on account of some difficulty. - -_Mem._—I find I cannot go on fast enough with the registering of sweeps -to be serviceable to the Catalogue of Nebulæ. Therefore I will begin -immediately to recalculate them, and hope to finish them before they -return. Besides, I think the consequences of registering the sweeps -backwards will be bad. - -[Sidenote: 1786. _Slough.—The first Comet._] - -_August 1._—I have counted one hundred nebulæ to-day, and this evening I -saw an object which I believe will prove to-morrow night to be a comet. - -_2nd._—To-day I calculated 150 nebulæ. I fear it will not be clear -to-night. It has been raining throughout the whole day, but seems now to -clear up a little. - -1 o’clock.—The object of last night _is a comet_. - -_3rd._—I did not go to rest till I had wrote to Dr. Blagden and Mr. -Aubert to announce the comet. After a few hours’ sleep, I went in the -afternoon to Dr. Lind, who, with Mr. Cavallo, accompanied me to Slough, -with the intention of seeing the comet, but it was cloudy, and remained -so all night. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO DR. BLAGDEN. - - _August 2, 1786._ - -SIR,— - -In consequence of the friendship which I know to exist between you and -my brother, I venture to trouble you, in his absence, with the following -imperfect account of a comet:— - -The employment of writing down the observations when my brother uses the -twenty-foot reflector does not often allow me time to look at the -heavens, but as he is now on a visit to Germany, I have taken the -opportunity to sweep in the neighbourhood of the sun in search of -comets; and last night, the 1st of August, about 10 o’clock, I found an -object very much resembling in colour and brightness the 27 nebula of -the _Connoissance des Temps_, with the difference, however, of being -round. I suspected it to be a comet; but a haziness coming on, it was -not possible to satisfy myself as to its motion till this evening. I -made several drawings of the stars in the field of view with it, and -have enclosed a copy of them, with my observations annexed, that you may -compare them together. - -_August 1_, 1786, 9^h 50ʹ. Fig. 1. The object in the centre is like a -star out of focus, while the rest are perfectly distinct, and I suspect -it to be a comet. - -10^h 33ʹ. Fig. 2. The suspected comet makes now a perfect isosceles -triangle with the two stars _a_ and _b_. - -11^h 8ʹ. I think the situation of the comet is now as in Fig. 3, but it -is so hazy that I cannot sufficiently see the small star _b_ to be -assured of the motion. - -By the naked eye the comet is between the 54 and 53 Ursæ Majoris and the -14, 15, and 16 Comæ Berenices, and makes an obtuse triangle with them, -the vertex of which is turned towards the south. - -_Aug. 2nd_, 10^h 9ʹ. The comet is now, with respect to the stars _a_ -and _b_, situated as in Fig. 4, therefore the motion since last night is -evident. - -10^h 30ʹ. Another considerable star, _c_, may be taken into the field -with it by placing _a_ in the centre, when the comet and the other star -will both appear in the circumference, as in Fig. 5. - -These observations were made with a Newtonian sweeper of 27-inch focal -length, and a power of about 20. The field of view is 2° 12ʹ. I cannot -find the stars _a_ or _c_ in any catalogue, but suppose they may easily -be traced in the heavens, whence the situation of the comet, as it was -last night at 10^h 33ʹ, may be pretty nearly ascertained. - -You will do me the favour of communicating these observations to my -brother’s astronomical friends. - - I have the honour to be, - Sir, - Your most obedient, humble servant, - CAROLINA HERSCHEL. - -_August 2nd, 1786._ - SLOUGH, NEAR WINDSOR. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO ALEX. AUBERT, ESQ. - - SLOUGH, _August 2, 1786_. - -DEAR SIR,— - -_August 1st_, in the evening, at 10 o’clock, I saw an object very much -resembling (in colour and brightness) the 27 of Mr. Messier’s Nebulæ, -except this object being round. I suspected it to be a comet; but a -haziness came on before I could convince myself of its having moved. I -made several figures of the objects in the field, whereof I take the -liberty to send the first, that you might compare it with what I saw -to-night. - -In Fig. 1 I observed the nebulous spot in the centre, a bright red but -small star upwards, another very faint white star following, and in the -situation as marked in the figure. There is a third star preceding, but -exceedingly faint. I suspected several more, which may perhaps appear in -a finer evening, but they were not distinct enough to take account of. - -In Fig. 2, _August 2nd_, are only the red and its following star: the -preceding, in Fig. 1, is partly hid in the rays of the comet, and by one -or two glimpses I had, I think it is got before it. - -In Fig. 3 I took the comet in the edge by way of taking in the -assistance of another star of about the same size and colour as that in -the centre. - -The only stars I can possibly see with the naked eye which might be of -service to point out the place of the comet are 53 and 54 Ursæ Maj., -from which it is at about an equal distance with the 14, 15, and 16 Comæ -Ber., and makes an obtuse angle with them. I think it must be about 1° -above the parallel of the 15 Comæ. - -I made these observations with my little Newtonian sweeper, and used a -power of about 30: the field is about 1½ degree. - -I hope, sir, you will excuse the trouble I give you with my wag [_qy._ -vague] description, which is owing to my being a bad (or what is better) -no observer at all. For these last three years I have not had an -opportunity to look as many _hours_ in the telescope. - -Lastly, I beg of you, sir, if this comet should not have been seen -before, to take it under your protection in regard to A. R. and D. C. - -With my respectful compliments to the ladies, your sisters, I have the -honour to be, - - Sir, - Your most obedient, humble servant, - CAR. HERSCHEL. - - - DR. BLAGDEN TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - GOWER STREET, BEDFORD SQUARE, - _August 5, 1786_. - -MADAM,— - -Mr. Aubert’s letter, as well as that with which you favoured me, both -arrived safe. The evening was fine on Thursday, but Mr. Aubert was -prevented from going to Loam Pit Hill, and I have no opportunity of -making astronomical observations here, so that I believe the comet has -not yet been seen by anyone in England but yourself. Yesterday the -visitation of the Royal Observatory at Greenwich was held, where most of -the principal astronomers in and near London attended, which afforded an -opportunity of spreading the news of your discovery, and I doubt not but -many of them will verify it the next clear night. I also mentioned it in -a letter to Paris, and in another I had occasion to write to Munich, in -Germany. If the weather should be favourable on Sunday evening, it is -not impossible that Sir Joseph Banks and some friends from his house may -wait upon you to beg the favour of viewing this phenomenon through your -telescope. - -Accept my best thanks for your obliging attention in communicating to me -the news, and believe me to be, with great esteem, - - Your obedient, humble servant, - C. BLAGDEN. - - - ALEX. AUBERT, ESQ., TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - LONDON, _7th August, 1786_. - -DEAR MISS HERSCHEL,— - -I am sure you have a better opinion of me than to think I have been -ungrateful for your very, very kind letter of the 2nd August. You will -have judged I wished to give you some account of your comet before I -answered it. I wish you joy, most sincerely, on the discovery. I am more -pleased than you can well conceive that _you_ have made it, and I think -I see your _wonderfully clever_ and _wonderfully amiable_ brother, upon -the news of it, shed a tear of joy. You have immortalized your name, and -you deserve such a reward from the Being who has ordered all these -things to move as we find them, for your assiduity in the business of -astronomy, and for your love for so celebrated and so deserving a -brother. I received your very kind letter about the comet on the 3rd, -but have not been able to observe it till Saturday, the 5th, owing to -cloudy weather. I found it immediately by your directions; it is very -curious, and in every respect as you describe it. I have compared it to -a fixed star, on Saturday night and Sunday night.... - - * * * * * - -You see it travels very fast—at the rate of 2° 10ʹ per day—and moves but -little in N. P. D. These observations were made with an equatorial -micrometer of Mr. Smeaton’s construction, which your brother must -recollect to have seen at Loam Pit Hill. I need not tell you that -meridian observations with my transit instrument and mural quadrant must -have been much more accurate. I give you a little figure of its -appearance last night and the preceding night upon the scale of -Flamsteed’s Atlas Cœlestis [here follows the sketch-figure]. - -By the above, you will see it will be very near 19 of Comæ Berenices -to-night, and it will be a curious observation if it should prove an -occultation of one of the stars of the Comæ. Notice has been given to -astronomers at home and abroad of the discovery. I shall continue to -observe it, and will give you by-and-by a further account of it. In the -meanwhile believe me to be, with much gratitude and regard, - - Dear Miss Herschel, - Your most obedient and obliged - humble servant, - ALEX. AUBERT. - -P.S.—I was glad to hear to-day, by my friends at our club, that they had -seen you last night in good health; pray let me know what news you have -of your brother, and when we may expect to see him. I have had twice at -Loam Pit Hill his serene highness the Duke of Saxe Gotha, and -entertained him, Count Bruhl, and Mr. Oriani (a Milanese astronomer), -with your comet last night. My sisters return you many thanks for your -kind remembrance, and, with their best compliments, enjoin me to wish -you joy. - -[Sidenote: 1786. _Employments at Slough._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO DIETRICH HERSCHEL. - - SLOUGH, _August 4, 1786_. - -DEAR BROTHER,— - -We received yesterday William’s and Alexander’s letter, and find that -they intend to leave Hanover on the 8th of August, therefore they will -not see the contents of this. However, as you have an instrument, I -think you are entitled to information of a telescopic comet which I -happened to discover on the 1st of August, and which I found, by the -observations of the 2nd, to have moved nearly three-quarters of a -degree. Last night it was cloudy, but I hope the weather will be more -favourable another night, that we may see a little more of it. I believe -you have a pair of Harris’s maps; the place where I saw the comet is -between 53 and 54 Ursæ Maj. and the 14, 15, and 16 Comæ Ber. of -Flamsteed’s Catalogue. All stars of Flamst. are in Bode’s Cat. to be -found, and if you cannot do without it, I dare say it is to be met with -at Hanover.... - -I found it with a magnifier of about 30, with a field of about 1½ -degree. Now, if you have a piece which is nearly like this, I would -advise you to make use of that in sweeping all around this place, for it -must be, by the time you receive this letter, at a considerable -distance. - -When I saw it, it appeared like a very bright, but round, small nebula. - -The first letter I received from Hanover from William gave us the -greatest satisfaction imaginable, for it contained an account of the -good health of all our dear relations. I hope our dear mother does not -grieve too much now they have left her. I dare say William will pay soon -another visit, and then I will take that opportunity of coming to see -her. Farewell, dear brother; give my best love, &c. - - -To this period of Miss Herschel’s life belongs a folio manuscript book, -written with the utmost neatness, which she sent with one of her various -consignments of papers to her nephew after her return to Hanover, and -introduced as follows:— - - -DEAR NEPHEW,— - -This is the fragment of a book which was too bulky for the portfolio in -which I was collecting such papers as I wished might not fall into any -other but your own hands. They contain chiefly answers of your father to -the inquiries I used to make when at breakfast before we separated each -for our daily tasks. - -[Sidenote: 1786-1787. _Employments at Slough._] - - -The information is of a very miscellaneous kind, but matters connected -with her special study form the greater part of the questions. For -instance:— - - - “Given the true time of the transit—take a transit. - Do the same thing another way. - To find what star Mercury is nearest. - Take its place in the Nautical Almanac. - Another way.... - - * * * * * - - Time of a star’s motion to be turned into space. - - * * * * * - - To adjust the quadrant when fastened to the telescope. - - * * * * * - - A logarithm given, to find the angle. - Oblique spherical triangles.” - -_4th._—I wrote to-day to Hanover, booked my observations, and made a -fair copy of three letters. Made accounts. The night is cloudy. - -_5th._—I calculated nebulæ all day. The night was tolerably fine, and I -saw the comet. - -_6th._—I booked my observations of last night. Received a letter from -Dr. Blagden in the morning, and in the evening Sir J. Banks, Lord -Palmerston, and Dr. Blagden, came and saw the comet. The evening was -very fine. - -_7th_, _8th_.—Booked my observations; was hindered much by being obliged -to find a man to assist the smith. Dr. Lind and Mr. Cavallo came on the -8th, and Mr. Paradise in the afternoon, but the evening was cloudy. - -_9th._—I calculated 100 nebulæ.... - -_10th._—Calculated 100 nebulæ. The smith borrowed a guinea. He complains -of Turner (the gardener), but we will, if possible, have patience till -my brother returns. - -_11th._ I completed to-day the catalogue of the first thousand. - -_12th._ ... calculated 200 nebulæ of the second thousand. - -_13th._ Professor Kratzensteine, from Copenhagen, was here to-day. In -the evening I saw the comet and swept. - -_14th._ ... I calculated 140 nebulæ to-day, which brought me up to the -last discovered nebulæ, and, therefore, this work is finished. - -_15th._ I went up with Mrs. H. to Windsor to pay some bills and to buy -several articles against my brother’s return. - -_16th._ ... my brothers returned about three in the afternoon. - - -It would be impossible for me, if it were required, to give a regular -account of all that passed around me in the lapse of the following two -years, for they were spent in a perfect chaos of business. The garden -and workrooms were swarming with labourers and workmen, smiths and -carpenters going to and fro between the forge and the forty-foot -machinery, and I ought not to forget that there is not one screw-bolt -about the whole apparatus but what was fixed under the immediate eye of -my brother. I have seen him lie stretched many an hour in a burning sun, -across the top beam whilst the iron work for the various motions was -being fixed. - -At one time no less than twenty-four men (twelve and twelve relieving -each other) kept polishing day and night; my brother, of course, never -leaving them all the while, taking his food without allowing himself -time to sit down to table. - -The moonlight nights were generally taken advantage of for experiments, -and for the frequent journeys to town which he was obliged to make to -order and provide the tools and materials which were continually -wanting, I may say by wholesale. - -The discovery of the Georgian satellites caused many breaks in the -sweeps which were made at the end of 1786 and beginning of 1787, by -leaving off abruptly against the meridian passage of the planet, which -occasioned much work, both in shifting of the instrument and booking the -observations. Much confusion at first prevailed among the loose papers -on which the first observations were noted, and some of them have -perhaps been lost; for I remember several configurations of the -situation of the satellites having been made by Sir William Watson and -Mr. Marsden, and only one could be found.... - - * * * * * - -That the discovery of these satellites must have brought many nocturnal -visitors to Slough may easily be imagined, and many times have I -listened with pain to the conversation my brother held with his -astronomical friends when quite exhausted by answering their numerous -questions. For I well knew that on such occasions, instead of renewing -his strength by going to rest, that there were too many who could not go -on without his direction, among whom I often was included, for I very -seldom could get a paper out of his hands time enough for finishing the -copy against the appointed day for its being taken to town. But -considering that no less than seven papers were delivered to the Royal -Society in 1786-1787, it may easily be judged that my brother’s study -had not been entirely deserted. I had always some kind of work in hand -with which I could proceed without troubling him with questions; such as -the temporary index which I began in June, 1787. Some years after, the -index to Flamsteed’s observations, calculating the beginning and ending -of sweeps and their breadth, for filling up the vacant places in the -registers, and works of that kind, filled up the intervals when nothing -more necessary was in hand. - -My brother Jacob was with us from April till October, 1787, when he -returned to Hanover again. Alexander came only for a short time to give -his brother the meeting, Mrs. H. being too ill to be left long alone. -(She died in January of 1788.) - -Professor Snaidecky often saw some objects through the twenty-foot -telescope, among others the Georgian satellites. He had taken lodgings -in Slough for the purpose of seeing and hearing my brother whenever he -could find him at leisure; he was a very silent man. - -My brother’s bust was taken by Lochée, according to Sir Wm. Watson’s -order. Professor Wilson and my brother Jacob[11] were present. - -In August an additional man-servant was engaged, who would be wanted at -the handles of the motions of the forty-foot, for which the mirror in -the beginning of July was so far finished as to be used for occasional -observations on trial. - -[Sidenote: 1786-1787. _Slough—Appointed Assistant Astronomer._] - -Such a person was also necessary for showing the telescopes to the -curious strangers, as by their numerous visits my brother or myself had -for some time past been much incommoded. In consequence of an -application made through Sir J. Banks to the King, my brother had in -August a second £2,000 granted for completing the forty-foot, and £200 -yearly for the expense of repairs, such as ropes, painting, &c., &c., -and the keep and clothing of the men who attended at night. A salary of -fifty pounds a year was also settled on me as an assistant to my -brother, and in October I received twelve pounds ten, being the first -quarterly payment of my salary, and the first money I ever in all my -lifetime thought myself to be at liberty to spend to my own liking. A -great uneasiness was by this means removed from my mind, for though I -had generally (and especially during the last busy six years) been -almost the keeper of my brother’s purse, with a charge to provide for my -personal wants, only annexing in my accounts the memorandum _for Car._ -to the sums so laid out—when cast up, they hardly amounted to seven or -eight pounds per year since the time we had left Bath. Nothing but -bankruptcy had all the while been running through my silly head, when -looking at the sums of my weekly accounts and knowing they could be but -trifling in comparison with what had been and had yet to be paid in -town, for my brother had not been fortunate enough to meet with a -reasonable man for a caster who could also furnish the crane, &c., and -his bills came in greatly overcharged. But more of this in another -place. I will only add that from this time the utmost activity prevailed -to forward the completion of the forty-foot. An additional optical -workman was engaged, and preparation made for casting the second mirror. -Journeys to town were made for moulding, and at the end of January a -fine cast mirror arrived safely at Slough. Several seven-foot telescopes -were finished and sent off. - -The fine nights were not neglected, though observations were often -interrupted by visitors. Messrs. Cassini, Mechain, Le Genre, and -Carochet spent November 26th and 27th with my brother, and saw many -objects in the twenty-foot and other instruments. - -[Sidenote: 1787-1788. _Slough—Marriage of Dr. Herschel._] - -The Catalogue of the second thousand new nebulæ wanted but a few numbers -in March to being complete. The observations on the Georgian satellites -furnished a paper which was delivered to the Royal Society in May. The -8th of that month being fixed on for my brother’s marriage, it may -easily be supposed that I must have been fully employed (besides minding -the heavens) to prepare everything as well as I could against the time I -was to give up the place of a housekeeper, which was the 8th of May, -1788. - - - END OF RECOLLECTIONS. - - - - - CHAPTER III. - - LIFE AFTER HER BROTHER’S MARRIAGE. - - -WITH the second volume of “Recollections” all connected narrative and -detailed relation of daily events ceases, and for the ten years from -1788 to 1798 there is not even the journal, which, however, was resumed -in the latter year. All has been destroyed. An event so important as her -brother’s marriage[12] is only noticed as fixing the date when the -“place of a housekeeper” had to be resigned. Miss Herschel lived from -henceforth in lodgings, coming every day for her work, and in all -respects continuing the same labours as her brother’s assistant and -secretary as before. But it is not to be supposed that a nature so -strong and a heart so affectionate should accept the new state of things -without much and bitter suffering. To resign the supreme place by her -brother’s side which she had filled for sixteen years with such hearty -devotion could not be otherwise than painful in any case; but how much -more so in this where equal devotion to the same pursuit must have made -identity of interest and purpose as complete as it is rare. One who -could both feel and express herself so strongly was not likely to fall -into her new place without some outward expression of what it cost -her—tradition confirms the assumption—and it is easy to understand how -this long significant silence is due to the light of later wisdom and -calmer judgment which counselled the destruction of all record of what -was likely to be painful to survivors. - -Her later letters abundantly show that she had learned to love the -gentle sister-in-law whom she so pathetically entreats to hold on with -her in their common old age, and the journals of her astronomical -researches sufficiently prove that her zeal in “_minding the Heavens_” -knew no abatement. It was at this period also that she made some of her -most important discoveries. Before the end of 1797 she had announced the -discovery of eight comets, to five of which the priority of her claim -over other observers is unquestioned. A packet, in coarse paper, bearing -the superscription, “_This is what I call the Bills and Receipts of my -Comets_,” contains some data connected with the discovery of these -objects, each folded in a separate paper, and marked “First Comet,” -“Second Comet,” &c., &c. Some of the correspondence on the occasion of -her first discovery has already been quoted, and in a note she explains -that many of the letters from distinguished men which she received had -been given to collectors of autographs. The letter to the Astronomer -Royal, announcing the discovery of her second comet, has been preserved, -with his answer. - -[Sidenote: 1788. _Second Comet discovered._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO THE REV. DR. MASKELYNE. - -DEAR SIR,— - -Last night, December 21st, at 7^h 45ʹ, I discovered a comet, a little -more than one degree south—preceding β Lyræ. This morning, between five -and six, I saw it again, when it appeared to have moved about a quarter -of a degree towards δ of the same constellation. I beg the favour of you -to take it under your protection. - -Mrs. Herschel and my brothers join with me in compliments to Mrs. -Maskelyne and yourself, and I have the honour to remain, - - Dear sir, - Your most obliged, humble servant, - CAROLINA HERSCHEL. - -SLOUGH, _Dec. 22, 1788_. - -P.S.—The comet precedes β Lyræ 7ʹ 5ʺ in time, and is in the parallel of -the small star (β being double). See fifth class, third star, of my -catalogue.—WM. H. - - - THE REV. DR. MASKELYNE TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - GREENWICH, _December 27, 1788_. - -DEAR MISS CAROLINE,— - -I thank you for your favour of the 22nd instant, containing an account -of your discovery of a _second_ comet on the 21st, and recommending it -to my attention. - -I received it only on the 24th, at ten in the morning, owing to the -slowness of our penny post. - -I delayed acknowledging it till I could inform you at the same time I -had seen it. The frost, unfortunately for us astronomers, broke up the -very same morning that your letter arrived, in consequence of which the -weather has been so bad that I could not get a sight of your comet till -last night, the 26th, when, at 6^h 34ʹ, it followed α Lyræ in the A. -R., 3ʹ 7ʺ of time, and was 2° 30ʹ S. of it. This only by the divisions -of the equatorial and meridian circles, but true to a minute or two of -declination and five seconds of time. I compared it more accurately with -a small telescopic star nearer it, which, when settled hereafter, will -determine its place within 30ʺ of a degree. Hence its A. R. was about -18^h 33ʹ 55ʺ, and distance from the North Pole 53° 59ʹ. By your -observation of December 22nd, 5^h 31ʹ in the morning, its A. R. was -18^h 35ʹ 12ʹ, and P. D. 56° 56ʹ. Hence it has moved retrograde in A. R. -about the rate of 17ʹ of time per day, and 30ʹ per day northward in -declination, which agrees nearly with your observation of its approach -towards δ Lyræ. Its motion is fortunately favourable for our keeping -sight of it for some time, which may be very useful, especially if it -should be moving from us, which there is an equal chance for, as the -contrary. It appeared to me very faint, and rather small, but the air -was hazy. By its faintness and slow motion, it is probably at a -considerable distance from the earth. Time will explain these things. -Let us hope the best, and that it is approaching the earth to please and -instruct us, and not to destroy us, for true astronomers have no fears -of that kind. Witness Sir Harry Englefield’s valuable tables of the -apparent places of the Comet of 1661, expected to return at this time, -with a delineation of its orbit, who, in page 7, speaks of the -possibility of seeing a curious and beautiful transit of it over the -sun’s disk, should the earth and comet be in the line of the nodes at -the same time, without _horror_ at the thought of our being involved in -its immense tail. I would not affirm that there may not exist some -astronomers so enthusiastic that they would not dislike to be whisked -away from this low terrestrial spot into the higher regions of the -heavens by the tail of a comet, and exchange our narrow uniform orbit -for one vastly more extended and varied. But I hope you, dear Miss -Caroline, for the benefit of terrestrial astronomy, will not think of -taking such a flight, at least till your friends are ready to accompany -you. Mrs. Maskelyne joins me in best compliments to yourself and Dr. and -Mrs. Herschel. If your observation was precise as to the difference of -A.R. of the comet and β Lyræ, it may be of use for determining the -orbit, especially if the comet should be going off from us. I have not -yet examined whether it can be the French comet discovered by M. -Messier, on the 26th of last month, which was going from the earth. Its -apparent motion must have turned at right angles to its former one, -which is possible, but not very probable. I could not see your comet -with the night glass, nor would its faintness allow of illuminating the -wires. - - I remain, dear Miss Caroline, - Your obedient and obliged humble servant, - N. MASKELYNE. - - - DR. HERSCHEL TO SIR H. ENGLEFIELD. - - _December 22, 1788._ - -SIR,— - -Your intelligence of the comet I received, but on account of the long -time elapsed since the 2nd and 3rd of this month we have not been able -to recover the fugitive. Last night, however, my sister discovered a -comet near β Lyræ, which you will find no difficulty to follow as its -motion is very slow, and the comet a pretty visible object. We saw it -again this morning, and it seems to go towards δ Lyræ, you will see it -pass by β Lyræ. It is a much larger object than the nebula near β Lyræ, -discovered by Mr. Darquier, of Toulouse (_Connoissance des Temps_, 75). - - - SIR H. ENGLEFIELD TO DR. HERSCHEL. - - PETERSHAM, _December 25, 1788_. - -DEAR SIR,— - -I am much obliged to you for your account of the comet, and beg you to -make my compliments to Miss Herschel on her discovery. She will soon be -the great comet finder, and bear away the prize from Messier and -Mechain. - -The weather yesternight was bad, and to-night I have looked for it, in -the moments of fine weather, with a good night-glass, but am not sure -that I saw it, though I thought I perceived it about half-way between β -and δ Lyræ. The glass I used showed D’Arquier’s nebula, though but -faintly. Before I could get any other telescope ready, the weather -clouded. If you have seen it again, pray be so good as to give me its -place when you saw it last, and with what power and light it may be -seen. I was going to write to Messier about his comet, but have deferred -it, as I would not mention yours without your leave, and could not find -it in my heart to write without doing it. - -Believe me, dear Sir, - With all the wishes of the season, - Your much obliged and faithful - H. C. ENGLEFIELD. - -[Sidenote: 1788-1790. _The Third Comet seen._] - - - DR. HERSCHEL TO SIR J. BANKS. - -SIR,— - -The last time I was in town, you expressed a wish to see my observations -on the comet which my sister, Caroline Herschel, discovered in the -evening of the 21st of last December, not far from β Lyræ. - -As she immediately acquainted the Reverend Dr. Maskelyne and several -other gentlemen with her discovery, the comet was observed by many of -them. The Astronomer Royal in particular having, I find, obtained a very -good set of valuable observations on its path, it will be sufficient if -I communicate only those particulars which relate to its first -appearance, and a few other circumstances that may perhaps deserve to be -noticed. - -_Dec. 21st, 1788._—About 8 o’clock I viewed the comet which my sister -had a little while before pointed out to me with her small Newtonian -_sweeper_. In my instrument, which was a ten-foot reflector, it had the -appearance of a considerably bright nebula, of an irregular round form, -very gradually brighter in the middle, and about five or six minutes in -diameter. The situation was low, and not very proper for instruments -with high powers. - -_Dec. 22nd._—About half-after 5 o’clock in the morning I viewed it -again, and perceived that it had moved apparently in a direction towards -δ Lyræ, or thereabout. I had been engaged all night with the twenty-foot -instrument, so that there had been no leisure to prepare my apparatus -for taking the place of the comet; but in the evening of the same day I -took its situation three times.... - -In every observation I found the small star which accompanies β Lyræ -exactly in the parallel of the comet. - -These transits were taken with a ten-foot reflector, and the difference -in right ascension, I should suppose, may be depended upon to within a -second of time. The determination also of the parallel can hardly err so -much as 15 seconds of a degree. - -This, and several evenings afterwards, I viewed the comet again with -such powers as its diluted light would permit, but could not perceive -any sort of nucleus which, had it been a single second in diameter, I -think, could not well have escaped me. This circumstance seems to be of -some consequence to those who turn their thoughts on the investigation -of the nature of comets, especially as I have also formerly made the -same remark on one of the comets discovered by Mr. Mechain in 1787, a -former one of my sister’s in 1786, and one of Mr. Pigott’s in 1783 in -neither of which any defined, solid nucleus, could be perceived. - - I have the honour to remain, - Sir, &c., - WM. HERSCHEL. - -SLOUGH, NEAR WINDSOR, - _March 3, 1789_. - - -The third comet was discovered on the 7th January, 1790; the fourth on -the 17th April of the same year, during her brother’s absence from home. -It was announced to Sir Joseph Banks in the following letter:— - - - _April 19th, 1790._ - -SIR,— - -I am very unwilling to trouble you with incomplete observations, and for -that reason did not acquaint you yesterday with the discovery of a -comet. I wrote an account of it to Dr. Maskelyne and Mr. Aubert, in -hopes that either of those gentlemen, or my brother, whom I expect every -day to return, would have furnished me with the means of pointing it out -in a proper manner. - -But as perhaps several days might pass before I could have any answer to -my letters, or my brother return, I would not wish to be thought -neglectful, and therefore if you think, sir, the following description -is sufficient, and that more of my brother’s astronomical friends should -be made acquainted with it, I should be very happy if you would be so -kind as to do it for the sake of astronomy. - -The comet is a little more than 3½° following α Andromedæ, and about 1½° -above the parallel of that star. I saw it first on April 17th, 16^h 24ʹ -sidereal time, and the first view I could have of it last night was -16^h 5ʹ. As far as I am able to judge, it has decreased in P. D. nearly -1°, and increased in A. R. something above 1ʹ. - -These are only estimations from the field of view, and I only mention it -to show that its motion is not so very rapid. - - I am, &c., - C. H. - -[Sidenote: 1790. _Letters about the Third Comet._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO ALEX. AUBERT, ESQ. - - SLOUGH, _April 18, 1790_. - -DEAR SIR,— - -I am almost ashamed to write to you, because I never think of doing so -but when I am in distress. I found last night, at 16^h 24ʹ sidereal -time, a comet, and do not know what to do with it, for my new sweeper is -not half finished; and besides, I broke the handle of the perpendicular -motion in my brother’s absence (who is on a little tour into Yorkshire). -He has furnished me to that instrument a Rumboides, but the wires are -too thin, and I have no contrivance for illuminating them. All my hopes -were that I should not find anything which would make me feel the want -of these things in his absence; but, as it happens, here is an object in -a place where there is no nebula, or anything which could look like a -comet, and I would be much obliged to you, sir, if you would look at the -place where the annexed eye-draft will direct you to. My brother has -swept that part of the heavens, and has many nebulæ there, but none -which I must expect to see with my instrument. I will not write to Sir -J. Banks or Dr. Maskelyne, or anybody, till you, sir, have seen it; but -if you could, without much trouble, give my best respects and that part -of this letter which points out the place of the comet to Mr. Wollaston, -you would make me very happy. - - I am, dear sir, &c., &c., - C. H. - - - SIR JOSEPH BANKS TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - SOHO SQUARE, _April 20, 1790_. - -MADAM,— - -I return you many thanks for the communication you were so good as to -make to me this day of your discovery of a comet. I shall take care to -make our astronomical friends acquainted with the obligations they are -under to your diligence. - -I am always happy to hear from you, but never more so than when you give -me an opportunity of expressing my obligations to you for advancing the -science you cultivate with so much success. - - Dear Madam, - Your faithful servant, - J. BANKS. - - - ALEX. AUBERT, ESQ. TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - LONDON, the _21st April_, Wednesday, 1790. - -DEAR MISS HERSCHEL,— - -I am much obliged to you for your kind letter. The night before last was -cloudy. Last night, or rather this morning, about half-past two, I got -up to look for the phenomenon; it was somewhat hazy. I observed with a -common night-glass of Dollond’s _a faint something_ in a line between α -and π Andromedæ, much like a faint star; it had no coma nor fuzzy -appearance. By looking at Flamsteed’s Atlas I find no small star there. -I was preparing to attack it with a good magnifying power, and to get -its place with my Smeaton’s equatorial micrometer, but when I was ready -a haze came on and soon after too much daylight, so I can say no more to -it as yet. If I saw what you judged a comet, it must have moved but -little since you saw it; it was as large as a star of 7th magnitude, but -rather faint. I sent this morning to Dr. Maskelyne: he says he could see -nothing _with a good night glass_, but will try again the next fair -morning, and after trying he will answer you; in the meanwhile he begs -his best compliments. I will also try again. Pray let me know if you -think it was the comet I saw. I have mentioned it to no one but to Mr. -Wollaston, who thanks you sincerely, but did not find himself well -enough to observe; he lives in Charter House Square; direct upon -occasion there to the Rev. Francis Wollaston. - -You cannot, my dear Miss Herschel, judge of the pleasure I feel when -your reputation and fame increase; everyone must admire your and your -brother’s knowledge, industry, and behaviour. God grant you many years -health and happiness. I will soon pay you a visit, as soon as your -brother returns. If I have any instrument you wish to use, it is at your -service. - - Believe me, &c., &c., - ALEXANDER AUBERT. - -[Sidenote: 1790. _Letters from Astronomers._] - - - REV. DR. MASKELYNE TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - GREENWICH, _April 22, 1790_. - -DEAR MISS HERSCHEL,— - - * * * * * - - * * * * * - -* * If I misunderstand anything I shall be obliged to you for an -explanation. The weather has not permitted me to see anything of the -comet yet, but it seems now mending, and I hope to be able to make -something of it to-morrow morning. Your second communication, at the -same time that it gives me fresh spirits as to the certainty of its -being a comet, will certainly assist me in more readily finding it. I -feared that your using your new telescope might make that a bright comet -to you which might prove but a very faint one, if at all visible, in a -common night-glass, which is what we first use to discover a comet with. -As soon as I shall have seen it I will send you a line. I sent -intelligence of your discovery to M. Mechain, at Paris, last Tuesday, -and will send to him your farther communication next Friday. Mr. -Maskelyne joins me in best compliments to yourself and Mrs. Herschel, -and Dr. Herschel on his return. Dr. Shepherd sent advice of it from me -last Tuesday to the Master of Trinity, at Cambridge, who perhaps may -convey the agreeable intelligence to your brother. - -I remain, dear Miss Herschel, - My worthy sister in astronomy, - Your faithful and obliged humble servant, - N. MASKELYNE. - - - J. DE LA LANDE TO CAROLINE HERSCHEL. - - RUE COLLÉGE ROYAL, le 12 Juillet, 1790. - -MA CHÈRE ET SAVANTE COMMÈRE,— - -J’ai reçu avec la plus délicieuse satisfaction la première lettre dont -vous m’avez honoré; je ne pouvois attribuer votre silence à une timidité -que votre reputation condamne, mais je l’aurais attribué à mon peu de -mérite si vous aviez continué de me refuser une réponse. Vous écrivez si -bien que vous ne pouvez pas avoir à cet égard une excuse légitime. - -[Sidenote: 1790. _Letters._] - -Vous verrez bientôt M. Ungeschick, qui a baptisé votre filleule -Caroline; dites-lui qu’elle se porte beaucoup mieux, ainsi que le petit -Isaac (je l’ai ainsi nommé en mémoire d’Isaac Newton); pour sa sœur je -ne pouvois lui donner un nom plus illustre que le vôtre; c’est ce que -j’ai fait remarquer en annonçant sa naissance dans notre _Moniteur_ ou -_Gazette Nationale_ du 31 janvier. Je ne pouvois vous donner un compère -d’un plus grand mérite que M. Delambre. Il fait actuellement des tables -des Satellites de Jupiter qui surpassent de beaucoup celles de M. -Wargentin. - -Votre commère ma nièce calcule des tables pour trouver l’heure en mer -par la hauteur du soleil. Mde. du Piery calcule des observations -d’éclipses. Pour moi, je suis occupé des étoiles, j’en ai déjà 6,000; -votre compère Le-Français[13] y met beaucoup de soin. Nous tâchons tous -de seconder vos heureux travaux et ceux de votre illustre frère; nous -vous prions tous de recevoir vous-même et de lui présenter nos respects. - -Remerciez-le bien de la complaisance qu’il a eu de m’envoyer la rotation -de l’anneau, dont j’étois bien curieux. Je suis avec autant -d’attachement que de respect, Savante Miss, - - Votre très-humble et très - obéissant serviteur, - DE LA LANDE. - -Plusieurs de mes étoiles ont servi à comparer votre comète qui a disparu -le 30 juin, mais que M. Messier et M. Méchain ont suivis sans -interruption, jusques dans le crépuscule. - -Je vous prie de demander les bontés de votre digne frère pour M. -Ungeschick, qui est un astronome de mérite, et qui a bien du zèle, mais -en vous voyant le zèle augmentera. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO M. DE LA LANDE. - - SLOUGH, _Sept. 12th, 1790_. - -DEAR SIR,— - -Our good friend, General Komavzewski, will persuade me to believe that I -am capable of giving you pleasure by writing a few lines; but I am under -an apprehension that he is overrating my abilities. You, my dear sir, -certainly overrated them when you thought me deserving of expressing -your esteem for me in so public a manner as the General and Mr. -Ungeschick have informed me of. - -I do not only owe you my sincerest thanks for your good opinion of me, -but my utmost endeavours shall be to make myself worthy of it if -possible. My good brother has not been omissive in furnishing me with -the means of becoming so in some respects. An excellent Newtonian -sweeper, of five-feet focal length, is nearly completed, which, being -mounted at the top of the house, will always be in readiness for -observing whenever my attendance on the forty or twenty-foot telescopes -is not required. - -I hope the little god-daughter is in good health, and wish she may grow -and give happiness and pleasure to her parents and uncle. - -I beg to present many respectful compliments to the ingenious ladies you -mentioned in your letter. - -Mrs. Herschel desires to be remembered to you, sir. We do not give up -the hopes of seeing you again at Slough, and are wishing it may not be -long before you visit England again. - - I remain, dear sir, - With greatest esteem, &c., &c., - C. HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1791-1795. _Two more Comets discovered._] - - -Another foreign correspondent was inspired to soar above the ordinary -level of scientific communications, and addressed Miss Herschel in a -strain of high-flown adulation, of which the following is a -translation:— - - - GÖTTINGEN, _May 10_, [about 1793.] - -Permit me, most revered lady, to bring to your remembrance a man who has -held you in the highest esteem ever since he had the good fortune to -enter the Temple of Urania, at Slough, and to pay his respects to its -priestess. I still recall the happy hours passed in England in earlier -days of sweet remembrance, and above all, those which I was privileged -to spend near you in a society as genial as it was intellectual. - -Give me leave, noble and worthy priestess of the new heavens, to lay at -your feet my small offering on eclipses of the sun, and at the same time -to express my gratitude and deepest reverence. The bearer is a young Mr. -Johnston, who has been studying here, and is now returning to England. -He is a young man of excellent character, and possessed of unusual -capacity and attainments. - -May I venture to ask, most honoured Miss, that when you or your brother -make any discovery, you will grant me early notice of it, as you once -had the kindness to promise to do. You can hardly fail to make them at -Slough, where every day is rich in discovery, especially when one of -your own subjects—the comets—comes to offer its homage. - -How happy should I esteem myself if there were any service I could -render you here, most admirable lady astronomer, that I might be -permitted to prove how entirely my heart is devoted to you. - - PROF. SEYFFER. - - -The fifth comet was discovered December 15th, 1791, and a simple record -of the fact is all that the packet devoted to it contains, with the -information, “My brother wrote an account of it to Sir J. Banks, Dr. -Maskelyne, and to several astronomical correspondents.” The discovery of -the sixth is treated with equal brevity. “Oct. 7, at 8h. mean time. I -discovered a comet, my brother settled its place on the 8th, and I wrote -to Sir J. Banks, Dr. Maskelyne, and to Mr. Planta. The letter to Mr. -Planta is printed in the Philosophical Transactions.” - -None of the correspondence in connection with the seventh has been -preserved, excepting her own letter announcing its discovery to Sir J. -Banks. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR JOSEPH BANKS. - - SLOUGH, _Nov. 8, 1795_. - -SIR,— - -Last night, in sweeping over a part of the heavens with my five-foot -reflector, I met with a telescopic comet. To point out its situation I -transcribe my brother’s observations of it from his journal. - - * * * * * - - * * * * * - -It will probably pass between the head of the Swan and the constellation -of the Lyre, in its descent towards the sun. The direction of its motion -is retrograde.[14] - - * * * * * - - * * * * * - -As the appearance of one of these objects is almost become a novelty, I -flatter myself that this intelligence will not be uninteresting to -astronomers, and therefore hope, sir, you will, with your usual -kindness, recommend it to their notice. - - I have the honour to be, - With great respect, &c., &c., - CAROLINE HERSCHEL. - - -Two years later the eighth and last comet was discovered, on the 6th of -August, 1797. It was the occasion of the following letter:— - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR JOSEPH BANKS. - - _August, 17, 1797._ - -SIR,— - -This is not a letter from an astronomer to the President of the Royal -Society announcing a comet, but only a few lines from Caroline Herschel -to a friend of her brother’s, by way of apology for not sending -intelligence of that kind immediately where they are due. - -I have so little faith in the expedition of messengers of all -descriptions that I undertook to be my own, with an intention of -stopping in town and write and deliver a letter myself, but -unfortunately I undertook the task with only the preparation of one -hour’s sleep, and having in the course of five years never rode above -two miles at a time, the twenty to London, and the idea of six or seven -more to Greenwich in reserve, totally unfitted me for any action. Dr. -Maskelyne was so kind as to take some pains to persuade me to go this -morning to pay my respects to Sir Joseph, but I thought a woman who -knows so little of the world ought not to aim at such an honour, but go -home, where she ought to be, as soon as possible. - -The letter which you sent, sir, to my brother, was the only one received -at Slough in my absence; it arrived towards noon on the 16th, and was -brought by a porter from an inn. - -I hope you will excuse the trouble I give by sending this, though I know -it is entirely useless, because Dr. Maskelyne had probably my memorandum -which I took to Greenwich with him when he called in Soho Square, and -therefore I can say nothing but what you, sir, are acquainted with -already; but I shall be a little more comfortable when I can say to my -brother I have written to Sir J. Banks concerning the comet. - - With the utmost respect, - I remain, sir, - Your most obedient servant, - C. HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1795-1797. _Ceases to reside with her Brother._] - - -We are now reduced to the short diary-like entries in a small book -entitled “_Extracts from a Day-Book kept during the years 1797 and -1821_,” which begins: “1797, in October I went to lodge and board with -one of my brother’s workmen (Sprat), whose wife was to attend on me. My -telescopes on the roof, to which I was to have occasional access, as -also to the room with the sweeping and observing apparatus, remained in -its former order, where I most days spent some hours in preparing work -to go on with at my lodging.” A chance memorandum shows how the leisure -time was employed; thus—“At the ending of 1787, or beginning of 1788, -began to make use of some of the proof-sheets of Wollaston’s Catalogue -along with Flamsteed’s;” and again, “December 24th, 1797, received -notice for printing the Index, which was not at all adapted for that -purpose; but March 8th, 1798, the copy was completed, and taken to the -Royal Society, and in the course of the summer the print was corrected.” -The following letter to the Astronomer Royal bears on this subject:— - -[Sidenote: 1797-1798. _Astronomical._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO REV. DR. MASKELYNE. - - SLOUGH, _Sept. 1798_. - -DEAR SIR,— - -I have for a long while past felt a desire of expressing my thanks to -you for having interested yourself so kindly for the little production -of my industry by being the promoter of the printing of the Index to -Flamsteed’s Observations. I thought the pains it had cost me were, and -would be, sufficiently rewarded in the use it had already been, and -might be in future, to my brother. But your having thought it worthy of -the press has flattered my vanity not a little. You see, sir, I do own -myself to be vain, because I would not wish to be singular; and was -there ever a woman without vanity? or a man either? only with this -difference, that among gentlemen the commodity is generally styled -ambition. - -I wish it were possible to offer something which could be of use to our -Royal Astronomer than merely thanks. Perhaps the enclosed catalogue may -be of some little service on some occasion or other. I was obliged to -bring it into that form by way of scrutinizing the real number of -omitted stars, and find it now very useful when my brother, in sweeping, -&c., observes stars which are not contained in Wollaston’s Catalogue, to -know immediately by this order of R. A. if they are in any of -Flamsteed’s omitted stars, and if they are, what number they bear in the -catalogue of omitted stars, which number we find in the first column. -The rest of the columns will want no explanation, except the last, which -would not be complete, or even intelligible, without the assistance of -the catalogue of omitted stars, and the notes to that catalogue, for -they are short memorandums collected from the descriptions in the -catalogue, and from the notes to some of the stars. - -As our Index contains all the corrections and information which I -possibly could collect, those corrections and memorandums of which I had -the pleasure, about eighteen months ago, to write a copy for Dr. -Maskelyne, will consequently be laid aside, else I ought to take notice -that there are one or two errors and several omissions which should have -been corrected in that copy, but with which it will now be needless to -trouble you, sir. - -What has laid me under particular obligation to you, my dear sir, was -your timely information, the August before last, of your having proposed -the printing of the Index to the P. R. S. The papers were then in so -incomplete a state, that it needed each moment which could possibly be -spared from other business to deliver them with some confidence of their -being pretty correct. - -Many times do I think with pleasure and comfort on the friendly -invitations Mrs. Maskelyne and yourself have given me to spend a few -days at Greenwich. I hope yet to have that pleasure next spring or -summer. This last has passed away, and I never thought myself well or in -spirits enough to venture from home. If the heavens had befriended me, -and afforded us a comet, I might, under its convoy, perhaps have -ventured at an emigration. However, I cannot help thinking that I shall -meet with some little reward for the denial it has been to me not coming -this summer in seeing the improvements Miss Maskelyne has made (more -perceptibly) in those accomplishments she seemed to be in so fair a way -of attaining when I was there last. - -With my best respects and compliments to Mrs. M., - I remain, with the greatest esteem, - Your most obliged and humble servant, - C. HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1798. _Extracts from Day-book._] - - - DIARY. - -_May 29th_ and _30th_.—Was mostly spent at the Observatory, Professor -Vince[15] being there. - -_July 30th._—My brother went with his family to Bath and Dawlish. I went -daily to the Observatory and work-rooms to work, and returned home to my -meals, and at night, except in fine weather, I spent some hours on the -roof, and was fetched home by Sprat. - - * * * * * - -_September 11th._—Dined at my brother’s. Professor Pictet and Dr. -Ingenhouse, &c., were there. Cloudy night. - -_October 7th._—Finished the MS. Catalogue of omitted stars for Dr. -Maskelyne. - - * * * * * - -_December 31st._—_Mem._ Uncommonly harassed in consequence of the loss -of time necessary for going backward and forward, and not having -immediate access to each book or paper at the moment when wanted. - -[Sidenote: 1799. _Extracts from Day-book._] - -_January 4th._—Spent the evening at my brother’s. Sir Wm. Watson[16] and -Mr. Wilson[17] were there. - -_February 11th._—My brother went to Bath to make some stay there, having -taken a house on Sion Hill. - -_February 26th._—Mrs. Herschel, Miss Cobet, and the servants left Slough -for Bath. Russell, the horse-keeper, and his wife, were, along with me, -left in charge of the house, from which I seldom was absent at any other -time but to go to dinner at my lodging every day at one o’clock. - -_March 29th._—The Prince of Orange stepped in to ask some questions -about planets, &c.[18] - -Lord Kirkwall and a gentleman came to see the instruments. - -_April 1st._—My brother arrived at Slough, and on the 11th he took a -paper to the R. S., which he brought with him for me to copy in the -clear. The fine nights were spent with sweeping. - - * * * * * - -_May 14th._—Was interrupted in works on account of the Montem. - -[_Montem_].—Was visited by Mrs. Owen, the Elds, Linds,[19] &c., at my -lodgings, or wherever they could find me. - -_June._—Began re-calculating all the sweeps as a constant work for -leisure time. - - * * * * * - -_June 8th._—My brother returned. I drank tea with him and Mrs. H., and -at seven went home to my lodgings. - - * * * * * - -_July 15th._—Agreed for apartments at Newby’s, the tailor, in Slough -(Mr. S. and Mrs. B. speaking well of them as sober, industrious people), -I am to enter at Michaelmas. - - * * * * * - -_August 19th._—I went to Greenwich to meet some company at Dr. -Maskelyne’s, and after having spent a week at the R. Observatory, I went -with Dr., Mrs., and Miss M. to pay a visit to Sir George Schuckburgh, at -Buxted Place, where I left the Ms. on the 30th, and arrived at Slough -the 31st. - - -It was so very rarely that Miss Herschel ever slept from home, that this -visit was a memorable event in her experience. A small sheet, written by -Miss Maskelyne, headed “Journal from the 19th to the 30th of August, -1799,” is preserved, with the superscription: “By Miss Maskelyne’s -memorandum only I found it possible to have any recollection of the -occurrences during the eleven days I had intended to spend at Greenwich -for the purpose of copying the memorandums from my brother’s second -volume of Flamsteed’s Observations into Dr. Maskelyne’s volume. But the -succession of amusements, &c., &c., left me no alternative between -contenting myself with one or two hours’ sleep per night during the six -days I was at Greenwich, or to go home without having fulfilled my -purpose.” - -The journal was enclosed in a letter from Mrs. Maskelyne, which bears -pleasant testimony to the agreeable impression which her visitor must -have made on the ladies, as well as the astronomer. - - - BUXTED PLACE, _August 30, 1799_. - -DEAR MISS HERSCHEL, - -We thank you for your polite message, are sorry you left Buxted at eight -o’clock; hoped you would have taken two dishes of coffee, and not gone -till half-past eight, for we were up at seven, to be ready to accompany -you to Uckfield. - -Margaret has sent the enclosed, and will be glad to hear if it is what -you meant; she was writing it when you stopped at the door, but did not -venture to open it for fear of disturbing us. Present our compliments to -Dr. and Mrs. Herschel. Pray let me know what sort of a journey you have -had to your dear sweeper, and accept our love. - - I am, dear Miss Herschel, - Your humble servant, - S. MASKELYNE. - -[Sidenote: 1799-1800. _Letters._] - - -The following letter has reference to this visit, and is inserted here, -although belonging to a somewhat later date:— - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO THE REV. DR. MASKELYNE. - - _January, 1800._ - -DEAR SIR, - -If it was not highly necessary to make you acquainted with the safe -arrival of your valuable present at Slough, I might perhaps be a long -while before I should think myself sufficiently collected to express the -grateful feelings the sight of it occasioned me. My being pleased at -having two such useful and convenient instruments has but very little -connection with my present ideas; and if they had come to me from any -other hands but those of the Astronomer Royal, I should use them as -occasion required, and think myself much obliged to the giver. But as it -is, I cannot help wishing I were capable of doing _something_ to make -myself deserving of all these kind attentions. - -I feel gratified in particular when I think of the stipulation I was -making when you were taking measure of the distance [apart] of my eyes: -viz., that if you in future should change in opinion, and not think me -worthy of the present, not to bestow it on me. - -Mrs. Maskelyne’s good-natured looks, and all she said at the time, come -now again to my remembrance, and seeing not only the binocular (which I -had but a conditional expectation of receiving), but also the -night-glass, makes me hope that during the time I had the honour of -being in the company of such esteemed friends, I have suffered no loss -in their former good opinion of me, which was a circumstance I often -feared might have happened; for I have too little knowledge of the rules -of society to trust much to my acquitting myself so as to give hope of -having made any favourable impressions. - -You see, dear sir, that you have done me more good than you were perhaps -aware of: you have not only enabled me to peep at the heavens, but have -put me into _good humour_ with myself. - -With my respectful compliments to Mrs. and Miss Maskelyne, - -I remain, with many thanks, Dear sir, - Your much obliged and humble servant, - C. HERSCHEL. - - -The following is from a friend who took the deepest interest in the -career of both brother and sister:— - - - ED. PIGOTT, ESQ. TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - BATH, ST. JAMES’S SQUARE, - _April 30, 1799_. - -MADAM, - -It is with much satisfaction that I received through the hands of Dr. -Herschel, the valuable publication you are so kind as to send me, and -which indeed is the more welcome as I have the volumes of the “Historia -Cœlestis,” and shall most probably have occasion to use them. Were -Flamsteed alive, how cordially would he thank you for thus rendering the -labours of his life so much more useful and acceptable to posterity, for -he surely little thought that his great work required to be elucidated -by an additional folio volume of explanations, errata, and indexes, the -advantages of which, by their excellence and accuracy, must every day be -more and more acknowledged, and future astronomers, as well as those of -the present times will doubtless often be conscious of the merit and -obligation you are entitled to. - - With many thanks, I remain, - Dear madam, - Your most obedient - EDWD. PIGOTT. - -Dr. and Mrs. Herschel, whom I have occasionally the pleasure of seeing, -though by no means so often as I could wish, are well, and desired to be -mentioned to you. - -[Sidenote: 1799-1800. _Extracts from Diary._] - - -_August 31st._—At six in the evening both my brothers arrived from Bath. -Alexander gave me a call. - -_September 8th._—Professor Vince, his lady, and Alexander came to see -me. - -_October 18th._—My brother returned from Bath, but with a violent cough -and cold, and was obliged to go to Newbury for change of air and meet -Mrs. H., who was there on a visit. - -_November 19th._—The bailiffs took possession of my landlord’s goods, -and I found my property was not safe in my new habitation. - - * * * * * - -_December 31st._—The king had been at the Observatory. - - * * * * * - - * * * * * - -_February 1st._—My brother went to Bath. - -_Mem._—Miss Baldwin [a niece of Mrs. Herschel’s] and little John[20] -frequently call on me. - - * * * * * - - * * * * * - -_April 28th._—My brother went to town for a fortnight. I was at the -Observatory after he was gone, from ten till two, to select work for me -to do at home. - -_April 29th._—From ten till three at the Observatory to make order in -the books and MSS. - -_May 1st._—Dined with Dr. Lind. Fetched my nephew from Mrs. Clark and -brought him to his boarding-dame, Mrs. Howard, at Eton. Worked every day -some hours at the Observatory. - - * * * * * - -_May 26th._—I went to take leave of my nephew, who entered at Dr. -Gretton’s School. - - * * * * * - -_June 23rd._—Paid my rent, and gave notice of quitting my apartments at -Michaelmas. - -_June 25th._—Began to pack up what I must take to Bath with me, for -there I am to go! - -_June 29th._—I dined with Mrs. H. and went with her to the Terrace, -where I took leave of my friends at the Lodge. Everything was arranged -for my books and furniture to remain at my lodging, to which my brother -was to keep the keys. But on receiving information they would be seized -along with my landlord’s goods by bailiffs, I prepared the same night -for their removal, and all was safely lodged in a garret at Mrs. H.’s by -July 2 at night. - -_July 3rd._—I left Slough by the nine o’clock Newbury coach, and -remained with the Miss Whites [at Newbury] till next morning. - -_July 4th._—At six in the evening I was received at Bath by my brother -Alex. and his old housekeeper in a house Mrs. H. had taken for the next -winter in Little Stanhope Street. The house had been uninhabited, and -the furniture moved into it from the house on Sion Hill by strangers, -labourers; the things met me helter-skelter in the passage, some -belonging to the drawing-room amongst curry-combs and bridles and other -stable utensils. My first care was to make an inventory of the whole, -before I let a stranger come into the house, but by the 10th of July I -hired a maid of all work to assist me to bring the house into habitable -order, and by July 29th I was ready for resuming the work of -re-calculating sweeps, or despatching some copying, &c., which was sent -me by the coach from Slough, and from the printer in London, my brother -being with his family at Tunbridge Wells. - -_Sept. 10th._—I received a box from Slough. My brother was come home, -and Alex. went to assist in re-polishing the forty-foot mirror, and left -Bath Sept. 15; he returned - -_Oct. 2nd._—Some of my time during his absence I spent at his house on -Margaret’s Hill to clean and repair his furniture, and making his -habitation comfortable against his return. - -_Oct. 29th._—I received notice that in about a fortnight I should be -wanted at Slough. - - - FROM DR. HERSCHEL IN LONDON TO CAROLINE HERSCHEL AT BATH. - - LONDON, _Nov. 7, 1800_. - -DEAR SISTER,— - -Last night my paper on which I have been so long at work was read at the -society. I came to London to bring it, and have been so hurried as not -to be able to look out any work for you, but shall now be at liberty to -do something of that kind. My things here are in considerable disorder, -and in a short time Mrs. Herschel and myself wish to come for a little -time to Bath, then we will let you know if it’s soon, that you may come -here on a visit before we go, that I may point out to you the work that -is most necessary to be done in our short absence. I thought it best to -give you this early notice, because, though we have not fixed upon the -time, it will be towards the latter end of this month that we mean to -come for perhaps a fortnight or three weeks, according to the weather; -for, if that should be fine we shall return, that I may have a few -sweeps before you go back to Bath. Miss Baldwin is at Slough, and stays -while we are away, so that you will have company, and the chaise will -also be left, so that you can pay visits at Windsor, and show yourself -to all your friends and ours. - -My last paper consisted of eighty pages, so that you will have a piece -of work to gather it together out of the scraps I leave. Some part of it -was brought together in the beginning by Miss Baldwin and Mrs. Herschel -which will show the order, but the rest remains in bits, which I have -gathered together and numbered.... - -Remember me to our good brother Alexander, and, with compliments from -Mrs. Herschel, - - I remain, dear sister, - Your affectionate brother, - WM. HERSCHEL. - -P.S.—The bacon and cheese are very excellent. I have not had time to try -Alexander’s green lenses; they look beautiful. - -[Sidenote: 1800-1801. _Extracts from Diary._] - - -_Nov. 14th._—I left Bath, slept the night at the inn at Newbury, and -left there between three and four. - -_Nov. 15th._—I arrived at my brother’s house, and as soon as I had dined -began to calculate and copy a paper which was to go to the R.S. - -_Nov. 24th._—My brother went with Mrs. H. and Miss Baldwin to Bath, the -keys to Obs., &c., were given me to make order and for despatching -memorandums which would have employed me for much longer time than it -was likely I should be allowed for doing them to my own satisfaction. - -_Dec. 15th._—The family returned, my brother extremely ill, and the next -day I had my furniture transported to Windsor, where I had taken a -couple of rooms to board and lodge with my eldest nephew, G. Griesbach, -and - -_Dec. 17th._—I slept there for the first night. - -_March 28th._—The MSS. and astronomical books in general were removed -out of the observatory above stairs and lodged in my brother’s library. -This alteration proved to be an additional clog to my business (which -besides was daily increasing on me) for I lost by this means my workroom -and found it very difficult to keep the necessary order among the MSS. * -* * * * - -_April 20th._—Moved from Windsor to a small house at Chalvy, rented from -Mr. House, the wood-cutter. - -_June 9th._—My brother went to Bath; by the 25th he was returned. - -_July 1st._—Alexander came from Bath. - -_July 29th._—I went to Slough to take (along with Alex.) care of the -house whilst my brother, with his family, were from home. - - * * * * * - - * * * * * - -_February 20th._—The first time Mrs. Beckedorff’s[21] name being -mentioned in my memorandums as having dined with her, and the whole -party leaving the dining-room on the Princesses Augusta, Amelia, and the -Duke of Cambridge coming in to see me. - -_March 2nd._—I went with Mrs. H. and Miss Baldwin to town on a visit to -Dr. and Miss Wilson, and went with a party to F. Griesbach’s concert at -the Opera House. The 4th we returned. - -_April 7th._—I shut my house at Chalvy, and went with my maid to Slough, -the latter to supply the place of the servants Mrs. H. took with her to -town. - -_May 6th._—My brother went to take a paper to the R. S., and remained -there till the 15th. - -_May 26th._—I returned home to Chalvy very ill with a bad leg, having -waited too long before I called in assistance. - -_June 27th._—The carriage was sent to take me to Slough. Hitherto work -had been daily sent me. - -_July 13th._—My brother, Mrs. H., my nephew John, and Miss Baldwin left -Slough to go to Paris. - -_August 25th._—All returned with my nephew dangerously ill. Going daily -for some hours to work at the Observatory, and to receive visitors and -letters, had not hastened my recovery, for it required no less than -seven months before I could be without the attendance of Dr. Pope. - -_March 25th._—I moved from Chalvy to Upton. - -_April 3rd._—Spent the day at Slough. Dr. and Miss Wilson, Miss Whites, -and Professor Johnes, from Cambridge, were there. - -_April 12th._—Had an account of my sister Griesbach’s death. She died -March 30th. - -_May 1st._—From the 1st till the 18th I worked with my brother at -Slough, when he went to town, and I returned to Upton; but went daily to -the library to work till the 26th, when my brother, with his family, -came home from town. - -_June 13th._—Alexander arrived from Bath. - -_June 25th._—Spent a melancholy day at the Queen’s Lodge on account of -the French having taken Hanover. - -_September 18th._—My brother Alex. returned to Bath. - -_October 18th._—I changed my rooms for the accommodation of Mr. and Mrs. -Slaughter, who had taken the house and gardens at Upton, excepting two -rooms for my habitation. - -_November 6th._—I spent the day at Slough. Professor Valis,[22] with his -lady, from Marlow, was there. - -_November 19th._—I dined at Slough to meet Dr., Mrs., and Miss -Maskelyne. - -_December._—Almost throughout the whole month I worked at Slough from -breakfast till nine in the evening. - -[Sidenote: 1801-1805. _Extracts from Diary._] - -_March 16th._—Finished re-calculating sweeps. - -_Mem._—Above 8,760 observations have been brought to [the year] 1800. - -_April 4th._—Dined at Slough to meet Mrs. Bates and a large party. In -the evening we heard Mrs. B. sing _Mad Bess_, &c., &c. - -_April 18th._—I went to Slough. My brother went, with his family, to -Bath. - -_May 10th._—My brother returned. - -_August 5th._—My brother Alexander came from Bath. - - * * * * * - - * * * * * - -_November 22nd._—I went to make some stay at Slough during the time my -brother spent in town with his family. - -_December 10th._—I returned to Upton. - -_January 14th._—I went, with my brother’s family, to a morning concert, -to my nephew, H. Griesbach, to hear the Hanoverian Concert-Meister Le -Vec play. - - * * * * * - -_March 5th._—Went to make some stay with my brother at Slough, Mrs. H. -being in town. - -_March 27th._—All returned, and I went with my work to Upton again. - - * * * * * - - * * * * * - -_August 14th._—I went to stay with Alex. at Slough while my eldest -brother went with his family from home. They had intended to have left -Slough on the 12th, but were detained in consequence of a report of an -expected invasion. - - * * * * * - - * * * * * - -In September was much hindered in my work by the packing of the Spanish -telescope, which was done at the barn and rick-yard at Upton, my room -being all the while filled with the optical apparatus. - -_September 24th._—I went to work with my brother at Slough. - -_October 1st._—When Mrs. H., with her niece, returned from Newbury, I -went again to Upton. The Spanish telescope left England in October.[23] - -_November 13th._—I went to Slough, the family to town; but, in the -absence of the moon, my brother was at home, and much observing, and -work was despatched. - -_December 1st._—All came home, and I went to my solitude again.[24] -During the winter months I suffered much from a violent cough and cold, -and found great difficulty in despatching the copying, &c., which daily -was sent to me when I was unable to go to my brother. - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: 1805-1806. _Extracts from Diary._] - -_May 1st._—I went to Slough to make some stay with my brother. - - * * * * * - -_July 4th._—My brother went to Gravesend to meet my youngest brother -(who came to pay us a visit), and was detained there for a passport. - -_July 6th._—In the evening they both arrived at Slough. - -_July 10th._—Alexander joined us from Bath.... The same day my eldest -brother went to the visitation of the Observatory at Greenwich, and my -brother D. accompanied him. They returned on the 12th. - -_July 13th._—We went all to the Terrace, and took our tea with Mrs. -Bremeyer and Mr. Beckedorff at the Castle. - -_July 23rd._—Dietrich took leave of his friends at Cumberland Lodge. -Alex. and I accompanied him. In Windsor I went shopping to buy presents -for my Hanoverian relations. - -_July 24th._—D. left us. My eldest brother and Mrs. H. accompanied him -to London. - - * * * * * - - * * * * * - -_August 1st._—I left Upton for Slough. My brother went with Mrs. H. and -Miss B. on an excursion. My nephew went to spend the holidays at -Newbury, at the Miss Whites. One man and a woman were left with me to -take care of the house. I distracted my thoughts by undertaking an -amazing deal of work; among the rest, I made catalogues of all books and -MSS. my brother’s library contained, and arranged them, to the best of -my knowledge, according to what the confined room would allow. - -[Sidenote: 1806-1807. _Extracts from Diary._] - -_September 8th._—My brother and family returned, and I went with my -works to Upton. Dr. and Miss Wilson were at Slough from September 22nd -to September 30th. - -_Mem._—During September, and the early part of October, many days were -spent at Slough in assisting my brother when the 40-foot mirror was -re-polishing. - -_December 28th._—I went to see Mrs. Bremeyer, but found she had died ten -hours before my arrival at the Castle. - -_January 15th._—My brother went to Bath to see his brother and Sir Wm. -Watson. - -_January 24th_, _5th_, and _6th_.—I spent with my friends at Windsor. My -brother returned with a violent cough, added to a nervous headache which -it had been hoped would, by change of air, have been removed. My brother -brought the place of a comet announced in the papers with him. I had -also heard of it at the Castle, and saw it on the 27th at Upton. Next -day I had my sweeper carried to Slough, but the nights of the 28th, -29th, and 30th were not clear enough, and I could not find it again till -the 31st, when my brother began his observations on it.... - -_May 2nd._—I left Upton for Slough, to work with my brother. Mrs. H. -being in town till - -_June 18th._—Spent the day at Slough, Mr. and Mrs. Watt being there on a -visit, and a large party to dinner. - -_Aug. 13th._—I went with Mrs. H. and my nephew to pay a visit to our -friends at Cumberland Lodge. My brother, again finding it necessary to -recruit his strength by absenting himself for a few days from his -work-rooms, had left Slough for Tunbridge Wells just the day before, and -at our return we found the Duke of Kent, with the Dukes of Orleans, &c., -waiting for us, and my nephew [ætat. 15] and myself showed them Jupiter, -the Moon, &c., in the seven-foot. - -_Aug. 29th._—I dined at the Castle. The Queen and Princess Elizabeth -honoured me with kind enquiries after the health of my brother, &c. The -Princesses Augusta and Mary also came to see me in Miss Beckedorff’s -room. On coming home the next day, I found my brother had arrived the -day before. - -_Sept. 22nd._—In taking the forty-foot mirror out of the tube, the beam -to which the tackle is fixed broke in the middle, but fortunately not -before it was nearly lowered into its carriage, &c., &c. Both my -brothers had a narrow escape of being crushed to death. - - * * * * * - - * * * * * - -_Oct. 1st._—Received an account and letters announcing a comet. - -_Oct. 2nd._—Saw the comet, visible to the naked eye. - -_Oct. 4th._—My brother came from Brighton. The same night two parties -from the Castle came to see the comet, and during the whole month my -brother had not an evening to himself. As he was then in the midst of -polishing the forty-foot mirror, rest became absolutely necessary after -a day spent in that most laborious work; and it has ever been my opinion -that on the 14th of October his nerves received a shock of which he -never got the better afterwards; for on that day (in particular) he had -hardly dismissed his troop of men, when visitors assembled, and from the -time it was dark till past midnight he was on the grass-plot surrounded -by between fifty and sixty persons, without having had time for putting -on proper clothing, or for the least nourishment passing his lips. Among -the company I remember were the Duke of Sussex, Prince Galitzin, Lord -Darnley, a number of officers, Admiral Boston, and some ladies. - -_Nov. 3rd._—I came home to Upton (Mrs. H. returned from Brighton), but -went most days to assist my brother in the polishing-room or library, -and from the 10th December to the 22nd I was entirely at Slough going on -as above uninterruptedly, Mrs. Herschel being with my nephew, and Miss -Baldwin at Newbury with the Miss Whites. - -_Jan._—Many days at work in the library and workrooms assisting my -brother. - -_Feb. 3rd._—When at work in the library the Duke of Cambridge came in. -We were obliged to a storm for his visit, as he came in for the shelter. - -_Feb. 6th._—When I came to Slough to assist my brother in polishing the -forty-foot mirror, I found my nephew very ill with an inflammatory sore -throat and fever. - -_Feb. 9th._—Still very ill; and my brother obliged to go on with the -polishing of the great mirror, as every arrangement had been made for -that purpose. _Mem._ I believe my brother had reason for choosing the -cold season for this laborious work, the exertion of which alone must -put any man into a fever if he were ever so strong. - -_Feb. 10th._—From this day my nephew’s health kept on mending. - -_Feb. 19th._—My nephew mending, but my brother not well. - -_Feb. 26th._—My brother so ill that I was not allowed to see him, and -till March 8 his life was despaired of, and by - -_Mar. 10th._—I was permitted to see him, but only for two or three -minutes, for he is not allowed to speak. - -_Mar. 22nd._—He went for the first time into his library, but could only -remain for a few moments. - -_April 7th._—I went to stay at Slough, my brother going by short stages -to Bath, Mrs. H., my nephew, and Miss Baldwin with him. - -_May 9th._—My brother returned, nearly recovered, but with a violent -cold and cough caught on the journey. - -_May 24th._—I went to Slough to be with my brother till the 31st. In -fine nights observing; working in the daytime, and writing a paper on -comets, filled up the time, though neither my brother nor myself were -well. - -_June 7th._—Was the Montem, of course much company. - -_June 13th._—I dined at the Castle to meet Lady and Miss Banks, Mr. De -Luc,[25] &c. - - * * * * * - -_July 1st._—Alexander arrived at Slough. _Mem._ We received very -distressing accounts from our brother at Hanover. - -_July 21st_ till _26th_.—My brother was absent, and I was daily at work -in the library. - -_Sept. 5th._—Alexander returned to Bath, leaving his brother far from -well. The laborious exertions required for the polishing of the -forty-foot mirror, besides the overlooking and directing the workmen out -of doors, who were at work on the repairs of the apparatus, during the -month of August, had again proved too much for him. - -_Oct. 4th._—I went to Slough; my brother, Mrs. H., my nephew, and his -cousin, went to Brighton. My brother was absent about a week, during -which time I worked as long as I could see in the library, and spent the -evenings in booking observations, &c., and such works as could be done -within doors. - -_Nov. 2nd._—My brother went to town, endeavouring to gain some -information about my brother Dietrich, who, according to a message from -a merchant in town, ought to have by this time been in England. - -_Nov. 6th._—A letter from Harwich arrived informing us that D. was -waiting there for a passport. - -_Nov. 7th._—D. arrived at Slough, but was obliged to return for his -trunk and to show himself at the alien office, and I did not see him -till the evening of the 9th. - -_Dec. 19th._—Dietrich left Slough for lodgings in Pimlico, London. Came -with Fr. Griesbach the day before Christmas Day, and returned to town -the 26th. - -[Sidenote: 1809. _Extracts from Diary._] - -_Mem._ From the hour of Dietrich’s arrival in England till that of his -departure, which was not till nearly four years after, I had not a day’s -respite from accumulated trouble and anxiety, for he came ruined in -health, spirit, and fortune, and, according to the old Hanoverian -custom, I was the only one from whom all domestic comforts were -expected. I hope I have acquitted myself to everybody’s satisfaction, -for I never neglected my eldest brother’s business, and the time I -bestowed on Dietrich was taken entirely from my sleep or from what is -generally allowed for meals, which were mostly taken running, or -sometimes forgotten entirely. But why think of it now! - -_Jan._—Throughout the whole month I had a cough, my nephew a sore throat -and fever. Great flood and stormy weather. The communication between -Slough and Upton was very troublesome to me. - -_Jan. 13th._—I spent the day at Slough. Dietrich came for the evening to -assist at a concert. I was shocked to see him so much worse, but I was -obliged to see him return to town the next morning with Fr. Griesbach. I -was prevented by my own illness and the severity of the weather from -going to see him in town, and - -_Feb. 5th._—I sprained my ankle in coming home in the evening from -Slough, by attempting to walk through the snow in pattens, and my -brother was obliged to send me work to Upton, for it was not till a -fortnight after, that I could walk again, and I felt the effects of the -accident for above three months after. - -_Mar. 9th._—I went to Slough to work with my brother. His family were -from home. Much work was done during the time, but the polishing the -forty-foot was interrupted on the 24th by the hot weather. - - * * * * * - - * * * * * - -_Oct. 2nd._—Alex left Slough. I was very ill, and had Dr. Pope to attend -me. - -_Oct. 9th._—Dismissed Pope and went to Dr. Phips. - -_Oct. 17th._—My nephew went to Cambridge. His mother and Miss Baldwin -remained in lodgings at Cambridge. - -_Nov. 20th._—Phips pronounced me out of danger from becoming blind, -which he ought to have done much sooner, or rather not to have put me -unnecessarily under such dreadful apprehension. - -_Dec. 6th._—Dietrich went to London for the winter. - - CHAPTER IV. - - DIARY—_continued_—1810. - - - * * * * * - - * * * * * - - * * * * * - -_April 29th._—My nephew took leave of me, returning to Cambridge. - -_May 4th._—I went to Slough, my brother going to town with Mrs. H. He -returned after a short stay, and I remained with him till Mrs. H. came -home again. Some of my last days of staying at Slough I spent in -papering and painting the rooms I was to occupy in a small house of my -brother’s attached to the Crown Inn, to which I removed. - -_July 13th._—I went to remain at my brother’s house during the time he, -with Mrs. H. and Miss Baldwin, went to Scotland. - - * * * * * - -_Sept. 18th._—My brother and the family returned, and Dietrich came to -Slough, a room being prepared for him in my cottage. - - * * * * * - -_Dec. 1st._—Dietrich went to town to enter on his winter engagement. - - * * * * * - - * * * * * - - * * * * * - - * * * * * - -[Illustration: - - Joseph Brown SC. - - SIR W^{M.} HERSCHEL, B^{T.} - - _From a Drawing by Lady Gordon, - after a Painting by L.T. Abbott in the National Portrait Gallery._ - - JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE ST. 1876.] - -_July 22nd._—My brother with his family left Slough on a tour to -Edinburgh and Glasgow. I went to his house till they returned, Sept. -18th. - -_Aug. 6th._—Dietrich came to Slough, and I left him to the care of Mrs. -Cock, at my habitation. - - * * * * * - - * * * * * - - * * * * * - - * * * * * - -_May 11th._—I went to be with my brother; Mrs. H. went to town for a -month. - -_June 1st._—Dietrich came to Slough, disengaged from all business in -town to spend the last few weeks he was to be in England with us. - -_June 12th._—Mrs. H. returned from town, and I went home to look to the -necessary preparations for Dietrich’s precarious (_sic_) journey he was -obliged to make through Sweden. - -_June 27th._—My eldest brother went to Oxford, came back the 30th, and -Alexander arrived the same day from Bath. - -_July 8th._—Dietrich left us; Alex accompanied him to town. - -_July 14th._—Dietrich left Harwich, and at the end of the month we -received a letter dated Gottenburg, July 18, and so far we knew that he -was safe, but of receiving any further account we had not the least -prospect, for all communication, with Hanover in particular, was cut -off. - -_Sept._—Mrs. Goltermann came to see me, and took a bed at my cottage, I -being left alone at my brother’s house. The family were at Dawlish with -Sir William Watson. - -_Oct. 5th._—My nephew left Slough for Cambridge with intention of not -returning till his studies were ended at the University. The latter end -of September Mr. Goltermann received a few lines which came open through -France to him, dated September 4, showing that a letter of August 15th -had been lost, and that at Helsinförs Dietrich had been robbed of his -pocketbook when under examination; to this accident we were indebted for -knowing that he was got home, as he was obliged to write for a duplicate -bill of exchange; such letters were, though unsealed, allowed to pass -through France. - -[Sidenote: 1813. _Extracts from Diary._] - -1813.—The three last months of the preceding year I spent mostly in -solitude at home, except when I was wanted to assist my brother at night -or in his library. - - * * * * * - -_Jan. 25th._—Congratulatory letters arrived from Cambridge on my -nephew’s having obtained the Senior Wranglership. He was then contending -for another prize, which a few days after he also obtained, so that from -the time he entered the University till his leaving he had gained all -the first prizes without exception. - - * * * * * - - * * * * * - -_March 5th._—Miss S. White, with her maid Sally (one of my nephew’s -nurses), came to be present at my nephew’s twenty-first birthday. - -_March 7th_ and _8th_.—I joined the company who dined there on this -occasion, and I must not forget that my nephew presented me with a very -handsome necklace, which I afterwards sent to my niece Groskopf, when a -bride, and I being too old for wearing such ornaments. - - * * * * * - -_March 17th._—My nephew went again to Cambridge to offer himself as -candidate for a fellowship, there being three vacant, and at the -conclusion of the examination he obtained the first choice of the three. - -_March 25th._—I went to be with my brother. Mrs. Herschel and Miss -Baldwin followed my nephew to Cambridge to assist him in settling his -occasional residence there. - - * * * * * - - * * * * * - -_May 3rd._—I intended to pay a long-promised visit to Mrs. Goltermann, -but found my brother too busy with putting the forty-foot mirror in the -tube, the carriage having broke down between the polishing-room and the -tube. Therefore I postponed my journey till I was sure I should not be -wanted at home. - -_May 10th._—I went to London, and met with a friendly reception at Mrs. -Goltermann’s. - -_May 11th._—I went with Mrs. G. and a Mrs. Kramer to Kensington. I -remained with Miss Wilson whilst they paid a charitable visit to the two -ladies attendant on the Duchess of Brunswick, who were left in a very -distressed situation by the death of their mistress. - -The evening we spent at Buckingham House with Mrs. Beckedorff. - -_May 12th._—The forenoon and early part of the afternoon were spent in -shopping and visiting, the evening again at Buckingham House, where I -just arrived as the Queen and Princesses Elizabeth and Mary, and the -Princess Sophia Mathilda of Gloucester, were ready to step into their -chairs going to Carlton House, full dressed for a fête, and meeting me -and Mrs. Goltermann in the hall, they stopped for near ten minutes, -making each in their turn the kindest enquiries how I liked London, &c., -&c. - -On entering Mrs. Beckedorff’s room I found Madame D’Arblay (Miss -Burney), and we spent a very pleasant evening. - -_May 15th._—I went to the Exhibition; the evening at Baron Best’s, where -I met the Beckedorffs. On my return home I found a letter from my -brother with Sir William Watson’s direction that I might give them the -meeting in town. The next morning I spent a few hours with them, and -next day Sir William, with Lady Watson and Miss Jay, called on me in -Charles Street. Baron Best also called and brought me the place of a -comet from the “Hamburger Zeitungen.” - -[Sidenote: 1814. _Extracts from Diary._] - -_May 18th._—I went home and found a great deal of work prepared for me. -The evening was spent in sweeping for the comet, but I could not find -it, the weather was not clear. - -_June 14th._—I returned to continue my works in the daytime at my own -rooms, and the fine evenings assisting my brother when observing, but we -were much interrupted by Mrs. H. being seriously ill. She was confined -to her room and bed from the 25th of June till the 8th of August before -perfectly recovered. - -_July 24th._—Alexander arrived at Slough to spend the summer and work -with his brother. - - * * * * * - - * * * * * - - * * * * * - -_Nov. 13th._—I had a call from Miss Joanna Baillie. - -_Nov. 29th._—Mr. Rehberg brought the first letter from our brother -Dietrich, dated November 10th, which, though still written with great -caution, gave us, after a lapse of sixteen months, the assurance that he -and his family were living. - -_Dec. 4th._—I met Madame D’Arblay and Mr. Rehberg, &c., at the Castle. - -_Jan. 1st._—My nephew, John Herschel, brought me, for a New Year’s -present, a new publication by him. - -_Mem._—The winter was uncommonly severe. My brother suffering from -indisposition, and I, for my part, felt I should never be anything else -but an invalid for life, but which I very carefully kept to myself, as I -wished to be useful to my brother as long as possibly I could.... - -_Feb. 7th._—I was obliged to move to a small cottage in Slough, at a -considerable distance from my brother. I began to move, and slept there -for the first night, the 22nd. - -_April 1st._—My brother went to Bath to see his brother and Sir William -Watson. His cough still very bad, and the 12th, when he came home, we -learned that he had been taken very ill on the road and suffered much -when at Bath. It was not till many weeks after, when the warm weather -came on, that he felt relieved. A few days after his return from Bath, -we received notice by a message from the Queen of the Duchess of -Oldenburg’s intention of coming to see my brother’s instruments. -Everything was put in readiness for either a morning or evening visit, -but the weather being very bad, the visit was put off till the arrival -of the Emperor. - -_May 4th._—I went to be with my brother. Mrs. H. and Miss B. went to -meet my nephew in town, who was keeping a term in the Temple, where he -had commenced to be a student for the law in February. - - * * * * * - -_June 10th._—My brother, being about this time engaged with re-polishing -the forty-foot mirror, it required some time to restore order in his -rooms before any strangers could be shown into them, and I again was -assisting him to prepare for the reception of the Emperor Alexander and -the Duchess of Oldenburg, &c., as they were at Windsor for Ascot Races. -But we might have saved ourselves the trouble, for they were -sufficiently harassed with public sights and festivities. - - * * * * * - -_Sept. 13th._—During the time I was with my brother I saw among the -visitors, &c., General P., who informed us of General Komarzewsky’s -death, and on my expressing a hope it might not be true, le Général said -he had buried him himself at Paris, and had erected to him a little -monument as long as seven years ago. - -[Sidenote: 1815-16. _Extracts from Diary._] - -_Sept. 30th._—I came to my home again, but under the greatest concern at -being obliged to leave my brother without my little help. But I have -since been with him every morning till he told me he should leave off. -His strength is now, and has for the last two or three years not been -equal to the labour required for polishing forty-foot mirrors. And it -was only by little excursions and absence from his workrooms, he for -some time recovered from the effects of over-exertion. - -_Nov. 15th._—I went to work with my brother, which chiefly consisted of -calculations and constructing new tables for the Georgian satellites, -&c., &c. - -_Nov. 29th._-Mrs. H. returned, and I continued calculating and copying -at home. - - * * * * * - -_Aug. 11th._—Alexander left Slough, my eldest brother with him, going on -to Dawlish to recruit his strength again. His declining health had a sad -effect on Alexander’s spirits, and I was in continual fear of the -consequences; for nothing but the thoughts of the yearly meeting had -till now kept up his spirits. From what is yet to follow, it will be -seen that our next meeting was not only the last, but a very distressing -one. - -_Sept. 11th._—I went to be with my brother, and remained with him till -the 12th of October. The first fortnight of my being with him he was not -able to do anything which required strength. - - * * * * * - - * * * * * - -_Jan. 2nd._—I was obliged to attend at Slough by eight o’clock, to be -present when the Archdukes John and Louis of Austria visited my brother -and his instruments. - -_Jan. 9th._—My nephew received a diploma of being Member of the -University of Göttingen. The packet brought very satisfactory letters -from our brother at Hanover. - -_Feb. 4th._—My brother sent the carriage to fetch me home [from the -Castle], and I was desired to write to our brother Alexander at Bath, -from whom a most melancholy letter had that morning arrived, acquainting -us with his being confined to his bed, having received an injury to his -knee. - -_April 5th._—My brother received the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order. - -_May 12th._—My brother went to town to prepare for going to a levée at -the Regent’s next Tuesday. He brought me the keys to the library for -going there to work. - - * * * * * - -_June 17th._—I went to my brother’s house, and was left in the deepest -concern for his health. He went with his family to Cambridge. [Alexander -was to make a journey to Hanover.] - -_Sept. 2nd._—I saw Alexander led by Captain Stevens on board ... of whom -I had the assurance that he would see Alexander safe to Dietrich’s -friend, Mr. Münter, in Bremen. A few hours after I left the place -[Wapping], taking with me receipts from everybody with whom I had had -occasion to keep accounts. I came very ill to Mrs. Goltermann’s, where I -remained a week under her care. - -_Sept. 9th._—I went home. - - * * * * * - -_Sept. 23rd._—We were at a fête the Queen gave at Frogmore. I was -obliged to return with my brother soon after he had been noticed by and -conversed with the Queen and Regent, being too feeble to be long in -company. - -_Sept. 26th._—We had letters from Hanover to acquaint us with -Alexander’s arrival in improved health, after a pleasant journey both by -sea and land. - -[Sidenote: 1817. _Extracts from Diary._] - -_October_, _Nov._, _Dec._—Nothing particular happened, my nephew -remaining at home working with his father, and I took the opportunity of -working on my MS. Catalogue at those times when I was left without -employment. - - * * * * * - -_March 27th._—I spent the day at my brother’s, Sir Robert and Lady -Liston being there on a visit before their return to Constantinople. - -_May 10th._—I met Sir William and Lady Watson at dinner at my brother’s, -but was grieved to see the sad change in Sir William’s health and -spirits, and felt my only friend and adviser was lost to me. - - * * * * * - -_June 9th._—All the family came home. I returned to my house with -astronomical work to finish. - -_June 14th._—Spent the day at Lady Herschel’s to meet Mrs. and Miss -Maskelyne. - -_July 10th_ and _11th_.—Spent at my brother’s, the mornings at work in -the library the evenings with the company.... - -_July 14th._—I spent with Mrs. Beckedorff and brought tickets of -invitation to a fête at Frogmore, for our family, with me; where we all -went on the 17th of July; but almost as soon as the Royal party sat down -to dinner I was obliged to go home with my brother, after having twice -been honoured by the notice and conversation of the Queen and Regent, -&c., &c. He found himself too feeble to remain in company. It was said -that there were above two thousand persons invited. - - * * * * * - - * * * * * - -_Nov. 7th._—Prepared for going into mourning for the Princess Charlotte. -Mrs. De Luc died a few days after or before the Princess. - -_Feb. 11th._—I went to my brother, and remained with him till the 23rd. -We spent our time, though not in idleness, in sorrow and sadness. He is -not only unwell but low in spirits. - -_April 13th._—Princess Elizabeth of Hesse Homburg and the Prince of -Hesse Homburg came to see my brother and his instruments. They were -attended by Count O——, Baron K——, and Baron G——. The latter being well -informed in the science of astronomy. - -_Mem._ I lost my attendants, the C.’s, at the latter end of April, and a -waste of my time was the consequence, for I never after met with anyone -who was deserving of my trust. - -_June 8th._—The Prince and Princess Schaumburg von der Lippe, attended -by Fraulein U., came to see my brother. Their behaviour to him was truly -kind and affectionate on leaving him, with a hope to see him in the same -place—in the garden at the foot of the forty-foot telescope—five or six -years hence, when they should come to England again. - - * * * * * - -_June 25th._—From this day to July 8th I was with my brother. The family -at Newbury; he being so far well that without interruption, I was -supplied with copying as he wrote. - -_July 16th._—I went to my brother’s, to be present in the evening when -the Archduke Michael of Russia, with a numerous attendance, came to see -Jupiter, &c. - -_July 21st._— - -_Mem._ Began to copy the numbering of stars from my brother’s 2nd volume -of Flamsteed’s Observations into one of my own, having succeeded to -procure all the three volumes complete at the price of four guineas. - -[Sidenote: 1818. _Extracts from Diary._] - -_Aug. 8th._—I spent the afternoon with my brother, who found himself -very unwell, but with the assistance of my nephew, he had the pleasure -of showing the Princess Sophia of Gloucester (who came in the evening -accompanied by the Archbishop of Canterbury and several lords and -ladies) many objects in the ten-foot telescope. - -_Aug. 18th._—I went to my brother’s, his family left home for Brighton, -where he intended to follow as soon as the repairs of the forty-foot -should be finished; but he was all the time too ill for being anywhere -but at home. The first evening we were alone, the Princess Sophia came -to see the moon. She was accompanied by Lady Mary Paulet, another lady, -and some gentlemen. After their departure, my brother seemed much -pleased with the intelligent enquiries made by the Princess; but with -much concern I saw that he had exerted himself too much above his -strength. - -_Aug. 25th._—I was obliged to leave my brother for a few hours to call -on the Princess Sophia Matilda, who desired to see me. - - * * * * * - -_Sept. 8th._—I spent some hours with the Princess at the Castle. - -_Oct. 14th._—The Ertz Herzog Maximilian of Austria came to see my -brother, charged with messages from his mother to both my brother and -myself, we having had the honour of seeing her Imperial Highness at -Slough, in 1786, when on a visit to the King, with her husband the -Archduke of Milan. - -_Nov. 12th._—I spent some hours in the forenoon with the Princess at the -Castle. I left her with a promise of coming soon again, but it was to be -my last visit for a long time to come, for.... - -_Nov. 17th._—The Queen died. The 3rd of December the Princess returned -my books with a kind note, and on the 4th she left Windsor. - -_Dec. 5th_, _6th_, _7th_.—I spent in Windsor to see Mrs. and Miss -Beckedorff at short intervals. Miss Wilson, Miss S. White, Miss Baldwin, -Mr. Beckwith (Miss B.’s bridegroom) were visitors for several days at -Slough, to see the funeral of the Queen. - - * * * * * - -_Dec. 16th._—My brother went to town, to sit for his portrait by Mr. -Artaud. - -_Feb. 3rd._—My brother went to town. The 4th I received a note from Mrs. -Beckedorff, desiring me to spend the next and last day with her, but I -went immediately and took (as I then thought) my last leave of both -mother and daughter, for I could not leave my brother on his return on -the 5th to be received only by the servants, as he went from home very -unwell with a cold. - -_Feb. 7th._—My nephew arrived in town, and on the 12th all came home and -I returned to my habitation. - -_Feb. 28th._—I heard of the death of Mrs. Beckedorff’s daughter, at -Hanover. My brother consented to my going next morning to London, and -before two o’clock, after I had procured a lodging in Pimlico, I was -with the poor mourners at Buckingham House, and remained till March 4th, -when I left them, hoping they would be able to leave England on the 9th. - -_March 11th._—Was Miss Baldwin’s wedding-day, which I spent at Slough, -with the family. - -_April 2nd._—My brother left Slough, accompanied by Lady H. for Bath, he -being very unwell, and the constant complaint of giddiness in the head -so much increased, that they were obliged to be four nights on the road -both going and coming. - -The last moments before he stepped into the carriage were spent in -walking with me through his library and workrooms, pointing with anxious -looks to every shelf and drawer, desiring me to examine all and to make -memorandums of them as well as I could. He was hardly able to support -himself, and his spirits were so low, that I found difficulty in -commanding my voice so far as to give him the assurance he should find -on his return that my time had not been misspent. - -[Sidenote: 1819-1820. _Extracts from Diary._] - -When I was left alone I found that I had no easy task to perform, for -there were packets of writings to be examined which had not been looked -at for the last forty years. But I did not pass a single day without -working in the library as long as I could read a letter without -candlelight, and taking with me papers to copy, &c., &c., which employed -me for best part of the night, and thus I was enabled to give my brother -a clear account of what had been done at his return. - -_May 1st._—But he returned home much worse than he went, and for several -days hardly noticed my handiworks. - - * * * * * - -_June 21st._—I went with my brother to town. He was to sit to Mr. -Artaud. We remained till Friday, whilst Lady Herschel entertained the -Wilson family at home, who were attending the funeral of Miss Wilson at -Upton. - -_July 8th._—We thought my brother was dying. On the 9th he was persuaded -to be blooded in the arm, which something relieved him. - -_Aug. 10th._—My brother and Lady H. took me with them to town. - -_Aug. 11th._—We went to the Bank and did what was thought necessary. - -_Aug. 12th._—I went with Lady H. to see my brother’s portrait, and -ordered a copy for myself. - -_Aug. 25th._— - -_Mem._—The 13th we came home, and one day passes like the other. I have -much to do and can do but little beyond going daily to my brother, and -often we are both unable to look about business. The present hot weather -bears hard on enfeebled constitutions. Thermometer most days above 80 -degrees. - -_Oct. 15th._—I went to my brother, his family being in town. - -_Oct. 29th._—I returned to my home. - - -A small slip of yellow paper, containing the following lines, traced by -a tremulously feeble hand, belongs to this year:— - - -“LINA,—There is a great comet. I want you to assist me. Come to dine and -spend the day here. If you can come soon after one o’clock we shall have -time to prepare maps and telescopes. I saw its situation last night—it -has a long tail.” - -_July 4th, 1819._ - - -Then follows:— - - -“I keep this as a relic! Every line _now_ traced by the hand of my dear -brother becomes a treasure to me. - - “C. HERSCHEL.” - - -The next year opens, as so many previous ones have done. The bare facts -of the steadily narrowing life being set down with the same brevity and -unswerving attention to _the one_ object. The family was in much anxiety -on account of the failing health of Mrs. Beckwith, the niece of Lady -Herschel, of whom, as Miss Baldwin, frequent mention has been made. The -spring and summer were passed in taking the sufferer to different places -in the country, but she was sinking in a rapid decline, and died in the -autumn. - -[Sidenote: 1819-1821. _Extracts from Diary._] - - -_Nov. 10th._—The remains of Mrs. Beckwith were brought to Upton to be -buried, and to me was left the melancholy task of keeping up my poor -brother’s spirits on such a melancholy occasion, when at the same time -my own were at their lowest ebb, and being besides much molested about -this time by the rejoicing of an unruly mob at the acquittal (as they -called it) of the Princess of Wales. - -From the 26th to 29th I was with my brother. - -_March._—We lost our brother Alexander, who died at Hanover.[26] - - * * * * * - -_May 22nd._—Again with my brother. My chief care was to see that my -brother was not fatigued by too many visitors, and reading to him to -prevent his sleeping too much. - - * * * * * - - * * * * * - - -The volume ends in October, 1821. - - -“Here closed my Day-book, for one day passed like another, except that -I, from my daily calls, returned to my solitary and cheerless home with -increased anxiety for each following day.” - -[Sidenote: 1822. _Death of Sir William Herschel._] - - -On the 25th of August, 1822, Sir William Herschel died in his house at -Slough. - -A small book, containing a very few pages, entitled “Memorandum from -1823 to,” &c., gives the sad history of the last days of that long life -of indefatigable toil over which the devoted sister had watched so long -with untiring love. It would be easy, and perhaps in some respects -preferable, to tell the story without the details, but it would be at -the cost of much that is characteristic and illustrative of the nature -which has thus far been unfolded from within, and it is the last chapter -of her life which she thought worth recalling to memory and committing -to paper. The terrible blow of the death of her brother seems to have -deprived her of all power or desire to do or to will anything beyond the -one stern, dogged resolve to leave England for ever as soon as the -beloved remains were buried from her sight. Six months after her return -to Hanover she thus prefaced this last and most pathetic of her -_Recollections_:— - - - HANOVER, _April 15th, 1823_. - -“Eighteen months have elapsed since I could acquire fortitude enough for -noting down in my Day-book any of those heartrending occurrences I -witnessed during the last nine months of the fifty years I have lived in -England, and I cannot hope that ever a time will come when I shall be -able to dwell on any one of those interesting but melancholy hours I -spent with the dearest and best of brothers. But if I was to leave off -making memorandums of such events as either affect or are interesting to -me, I should feel like what I am, viz., a person that has nothing more -to do in this world. - -“But to regain the thread of my narration, it is necessary to take -notice of the vacancy between the present date and the ending of the -year 1821, and the only way in which I can possibly fill up this vacancy -must be to take a few dates with memorandums marked in my almanac and -account books for the year 1822, without making any comments on what my -feelings and situation must have been throughout that whole interval. - -“By some letters I wrote during the first four months of 1822 to my -brother Alex^r. here at Hanover, I see that I was employed in copying -from the Philosophical Transactions the first twelve papers of my -brother’s publications. The time required for this purpose I could only -obtain by making use of most of the hours which are generally allotted -to rest, as during the day my time was spent in endeavours to support my -dear brother in his painful decline. And besides, the hope that we might -continue yet a little longer together began to forsake me, for my own -health and spirits were in that state that I was in daily expectation of -going before.[27] Therefore each moment of separation from my dear -brother I spent in endeavours to arrange my affairs so that my nephew, -J. Herschel, as the executor of my will, might have as little trouble as -possible. - -[A letter of eighteen pages would have been found along with a will, if -I had (as I then daily expected) died before my brother. After the sad -events of the succeeding two years, I thought it necessary to destroy -both the will and the letter.] My thoughts were continually divided -between my brother’s library, from which I was now on the point of being -severed for ever, and my own unfinished work at home endeavouring to -bring by degrees all into its proper place.” - -[Sidenote: _Recollections written at Hanover._] - - - DIARY—(_continued_). - -_May 13th._—Lady Herschel and my nephew went to town: I was left with my -brother alone, but was counting every hour till I should see them again, -for I was momentarily afraid of his dying in their absence. - -_May 20th._ * * * * - -The summer proved very hot; my brother’s feeble nerves were very much -affected, and there being in general much company, added to the -difficulty of choosing the most airy rooms for his retirement. - -_July 8th._—I had a dawn of hope that my brother might regain once more -a little strength, for I have a memorandum in my almanac of his walking -with a firmer step than usual above three or four times the distance -from the dwelling-house to the library, in order to gather and eat -raspberries, in his garden, with me. But I never saw the like again. - -The latter end of July I was seized by a bilious fever, and I could for -several days only rise for a few hours to go to my brother about the -time he was used to see me. But one day I was entirely confined to my -bed, which alarmed Lady Herschel and the family on my brother’s account. -Miss Baldwin[28] called and found me in despair about my own confused -affairs, which I never had had time to bring into any order. The next -day she brought my nephew to me, who promised to fulfil all my wishes -which I should have expressed on paper; he begged me not to exert myself -for his father’s sake, of whom he believed it would be the immediate -death if anything should happen to me....[29] Of my dear nephew’s advice -I could not avail myself, for I knew that at that time he had weighty -concerns on his mind. And, besides, my whole life almost has passed away -in the delusion that next to my eldest brother, none but Dietrich was -capable of giving me advice where to leave my few relics, consisting of -a few books and my sweeper. And for the last twenty years I kept to the -resolution of never opening my lips to my dear brother William about -worldly or serious concerns, let me be ever so much at a loss for -knowing right from wrong. And so it has happened that at the time when I -was stupefied by grief at seeing the death of my dear brother, I gave -myself, with all I was worth, up to my brother Dietrich and his family, -and from that time till the death of D. I found great difficulty to -remain mistress of my own actions and opinions. In respect to the latter -we never could agree. And this it was which prompted me to send -Flamsteed’s works to Göttingen (I would rather have kept them till now) -for fear they might be offered for sale. Having about this time received -very distressing accounts of family misfortunes from Dietrich at -Hanover, I could find no rest on his account till I should have made my -£500 stock over to him, but this required my presence at the bank, and I -could not think of leaving Slough till my brother should be engaged for -some days with his family previous to the departure of my nephew, who -was going to accompany a friend abroad. And besides, I knew that my -absence would then be scarcely perceived, as a very sensible elderly -lady (Mrs. Morsom) would be there on a visit. - -[Sidenote: 1822. _Recollections written at Hanover._] - -_Aug. 8th._—I went, and at six o’clock in the afternoon of the 10th I -was home again. My nephew had left Slough the same morning. - -I found my brother seated by the ladies, but so languid that I thought -it necessary to take a seemingly unconcerned leave for the night. - -_Aug. 11th_, _12th_, _13th_, and _14th_. I went as usual to spend some -hours of the forenoon with my brother. - -_Aug. 15th._—I hastened to the spot where I was wont to find him with -the newspaper which I was to read to him. But instead I found Mrs. -Morsom, Miss Baldwin, and Mr. Bulman, from Leeds, the grandson of my -brother’s earliest acquaintance in this country. I was informed my -brother had been obliged to return to his room, whither I flew -immediately. Lady H. and the housekeeper were with him, administering -everything which could be thought of for supporting him. I found him -much irritated at not being able to grant Mr. Bulman’s request for some -token of remembrance for his father. As soon as he saw me, I was sent to -the library to fetch one of his last papers and a plate of the -forty-foot telescope. But for the universe I could not have looked twice -at what I had snatched from the shelf, and when he faintly asked if the -breaking up of the Milky Way was in it, I said “Yes,” and he looked -content. I cannot help remembering this circumstance, it was the last -time I was sent to the library on such an occasion. That the anxious -care for his papers and workrooms never ended but with his life was -proved by his frequent whispered inquiries if they were locked and the -key safe, of which I took care to assure him that they were, and the key -in Lady Herschel’s hands. - -After half an hour’s vain attempt to support himself, my brother was -obliged to consent to be put to bed, leaving no hope ever to see him -rise again. For ten days and nights we remained in the most heartrending -situation till the 25th of August, when not one comfort was left to me -but that of retiring to the chamber of death, there to ruminate without -interruption on my isolated situation. Of this last solace I was robbed -on the 7th September, when the dear remains were consigned to the grave. - -[Sidenote: 1822. _Departure from England._] - -_Sept. 9th._—I returned to my house and began selecting the books and -clothing I should want to take with me to Hanover, where I thought it -best to go with the Michaelmas messenger. - -_Sept. 27th._—I had disposed of my furniture, partly by presents and -partly by sale; and after settling with my landlord, &c., I left my -house for Lady Herschel’s, to remain there till business should call her -and my nephew to town. - -_Oct. 3rd._—My friends as well as myself were made easy by the arrival -of my brother Dietrich, who came to fetch me. - -_Oct. 7th._—I took leave of Princess Augusta and all my friends and -connections in Windsor. - -_Oct. 10th._—At 9 in the morning I left Slough with my brother D. Lady -H. and my nephew followed the next day. - - * * * * * - -_Oct. 14th._—Princess Sophia Matilda sent her carriage for me to spend -the day with her at Blackheath. - -_Oct. 16th._—I went with my brother to Mortlake to take leave of Baron -Best and family; and thence we directly proceeded to Bedford Place, -where all my friends were assembled, among whom I had the comfort of -seeing once more my nephew’s friend, and the favourite of my dear -departed brother, Mr. Babbage. He had only that day arrived from the -North. I could find no opportunity for any conversation with him, but -just by a pressure of the hand recommended my nephew in incoherent -whispers to the continuance of his regards and friendship. - -From all these sorrowing friends and connections I was obliged to take -an everlasting leave, and in the few hours we were for the last time -together, I was obliged to sign many papers, among which was a receipt -for a half year’s legacy. I signed this with great reluctance ... but -Lady H. and my nephew insisted on my taking it, according to my -brother’s will. This unexpected sum has enabled me to furnish myself -with many conveniences on my arrival here, of which otherwise I should -have perhaps debarred myself. - -_Oct. 17th._—In the morning we left our lodging for an inn near the -Tower. Mr. Beckwith joined us, and settled at the Custom House for our -baggage. My nephew came for a moment to us, and after his departure I -saw no one I knew or who cared for me. - -_Oct. 18th._—At ten o’clock we went on board of the steam packet. - -_Oct. 20th._—At noon we landed after a stormy passage at Rotterdam. - -_Oct. 21st._—At daybreak we began to proceed on our way, and - -_Oct. 28th._—We arrived at the habitation of my brother, in Hanover. - - -A note, dated September 29th, 1828, apologizes to her nephew for -troubling him with the above and other papers, adding:— - - -I have destroyed my Day-book, but in doing so I was tempted to extract -some dates which I thought might still be interesting to me, and bring -the past once more to my recollection; but as that would only be a -drawback to the satisfaction I almost daily may enjoy by hearing of the -fame of my dear nephew, it is best to remove all that can bring the past -to my recollection. - - -The letters which follow are the only documents from which any -particulars can be drawn for this and many following years. No Day-book -or note-book of any kind appears to have been kept, or at any rate -preserved, from the time of the return to Hanover in October, 1822, -until the year 1833. - - - - - CHAPTER V. - - RETROSPECTION. - - -AS we close the record of Miss Herschel’s residence in England, we may -pause for a moment to look back over the space she had traversed while -following, with unvarying diligence and humility, the path her brother -marked out for her, first in blessed hourly companionship, when she was -as necessary in his home as in his library, or among his instruments; -and latterly, when with saddened heart but unflagging determination she -continued to work for him, but saw his domestic happiness pass into -other keeping. - -[Sidenote: 1822. _Retrospection._] - -While they toiled together through those first ten years of -ever-deepening interest and marvellous activity, during which the rapid -juxtaposition of mirror-grinding, concerts, oratorios, music -lessons,[30] and frequent papers written for philosophical societies, -almost takes the breath away as we read,—the brother had abundant -opportunity of learning how far he could trust to his companion’s -readiness, as well as capability, to accept of duties as utterly remote -from all that her previous life had prepared her for as if he had asked -her to accompany him on a pilgrimage to Mecca. And thus, of all of whom -he had made trial, it was not the brilliant Jacob, nor the gifted -Alexander, but the little quiet, home-bred Caroline, of whom nothing had -been expected but to be up early and to do the work of the house, and to -devote her leisure to knitting and sewing, in whom he found that _steady -devotion to a fixed purpose_ which he felt it was possible to link with -his own. “I did nothing for my brother,” she said, “but what a -well-trained puppy-dog would have done: that is to say, I did what he -commanded me. I was a mere tool which _he_ had the trouble of -sharpening.” Such was always her own modest self-estimate. It is hardly -too much to say that, to have worked as she had worked, and to have done -all that she had accomplished, and to claim no more than the credit due -to passive obedience to orders, is a depth of humility of that rare and -noble kind which is in itself a form of greatness. It must not be -forgotten, that the progress of astronomical science since Sir William -Herschel’s great reflector startled the world, has not been greater than -has been the change, both in opinion and practice, on the subject of -female employments and education. The appointment of a young woman as an -assistant astronomer, with a regular salary for her services, was an -unprecedented occurrence in England. She had watched and shared in every -effort and every failure from the first seven-foot telescope to the -construction of the ponderous machinery that was to support the mighty -tube of which she herself made the first crude model in pasteboard. -When, finally, her brother was summoned to the King, and wrote to tell -her how he fared at Court, she accepted the decision, by which he -exchanged a handsome income for the sake of obtaining the command of his -own time, and £200 a-year from his gracious sovereign, with only a -passing expression of regret from the housekeeper’s point of view, and -threw herself heart and soul into the new life at Datchet. One -all-sufficing reward sweetened her labours—“I had the comfort to see -that my brother was satisfied with my endeavours in assisting him.” When -the dignity of original discovery gave her a distinct and separate claim -to the respect of the astronomical world, she must have found out that -she was something better than a mere tool. The requisite knowledge of -algebra and mathematical formulæ for calculations and reductions she had -to gather when and how she could: chiefly at meals, and at any odd -moments when her brother could be asked questions, and the answers were -carefully entered in her Commonplace Book, where examples of taking -equal altitudes, and how to convert sidereal time into mean time, follow -upon pages of problems, oblique plain triangles, right-angled spherical -triangles, how to find the logarithm of a number given, and theorems for -making tables of motion. With this slender store of attainment she -accomplished a vast amount of valuable work, besides the regular duties -of assistant to so indefatigable an observer as Sir William Herschel. He -was invariably accustomed to carry on his telescopic observations till -daybreak, circumstances permitting, without any regard to season; it was -the business of his assistant to note the clocks and to write down the -observations from his dictation as they were made. Subsequently she -assisted in the laborious numerical calculations and reductions, so that -it was only during his absences from home, or when any other -interruption of his regular course of observation occurred, that she was -able to devote herself to the Newtonian sweeper, which she used to such -good purpose. Besides the eight comets discovered by her, she detected -several remarkable nebulæ and clusters of stars previously unnoticed, -especially the superb nebula known as No. 1, Class V., in Sir William -Herschel’s Catalogue. Long practice taught her to make light of her -work. “An observer at your twenty-foot when sweeping,” she wrote many -years after, “wants nothing but a being who _can_ and _will_ execute his -commands with the quickness of lightning; for you will have seen that in -many sweeps six or twice six objects have been secured and described in -one minute of time.” - -The ten years from 1788 to 1798, although a blank as regards her -personal history—the Recollections cease with her brother’s -marriage—were among the busiest of her life, and in the year last -mentioned the Royal Society published two of her works, namely, “A -Catalogue of 860 Stars observed by Flamsteed, but not included in the -British Catalogue,” and “A General Index of Reference to every -Observation of every Star in the above-mentioned British Catalogue.” It -is in reference to these that she wrote the very interesting letter to -the Astronomer Royal, which is given among others, in its place, in the -Journal. But another work, which was not published, was the most -valuable, as it was the most laborious of all her undertakings. This was -“The Reduction and Arrangement in the form of a Catalogue, in Zones, of -all the Star-clusters and Nebulæ observed by Sir W. Herschel in his -Sweeps.” It supplied the needful data for Sir John Herschel when he -undertook the review of the nebulæ of the northern hemisphere; and it -was for this that the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society was -voted to her in 1828, followed by the extraordinary distinction of an -Honorary Membership. This Catalogue was not completed until after her -return to Hanover, and Sir David Brewster wrote of it as “a work of -immense labour,” and “an extraordinary monument of the unextinguished -ardour of a lady of seventy-five in the cause of abstract science.” - -[Sidenote: _Her Sweepings._] - -Although the Recollections cease in 1788, there are some volumes -recording the nature and results of her nightly “sweepings,” which Miss -Herschel kept very regularly, and, as an unique example of a lady’s -journal, a few of the entries may be of interest. - - -1788. _Sept. 9th._—My brother showed me the five satellites of Saturn. -He made me take notice of a star, which made a double star last night -with the fifth satellite. - - * * * * * - -_Dec. 8th._—I swept for a comet which was announced in the papers as -having been discovered the 26th of November by Mr. Messier. According to -the observations of that date, it should have been within a few degrees -of the Pole star (by my brother’s calculation), but though I swept with -great attention a space of at least ten or twelve degrees all around the -pole over repeatedly, I could find nothing. - -Another night of unavailing search, with thermometer 20°.[31] - -1790. _Jan. 7th._—I have swept all this evening for my [third] comet in -vain. My brother showed me the G. Sidus in the twenty-foot telescope, -and I saw both its satellites very plainly. - -1791. _Aug. 2nd._—I began to sweep at 1.30, from the horizon through the -Pleiades up as high as the head of Medusa. Left off with β Tauri. -Afterwards I continued with horizontal sweeps till daylight was too -strong for seeing any longer. - -1792. _May 3rd._—My brother having desired me by way of practice to -settle the stars α Persei and Castor, and α Virginis, by some -neighbouring stars in Wollaston’s Catalogue, I made last night an -attempt to take their places. The moon was near the full, therefore no -sweeping could be done. - -1795. _May 1st._—_Mem._ In the future when any great chasms appear in my -journals, it may be understood that sweeping for comets has not been -neglected at every opportunity which did offer itself. But as I always -do sweep according to the precept my brother has given me, and as I -often am in want of time, I think it is very immaterial if the places -where I have seen nothing are noted down. - -_Nov. 7th._—0.40 sidereal time. About an hour ago I saw the comet -[seventh] which is marked in the annexed field of view [diagrams drawn -with extreme neatness illustrate the entries when necessary]. When I -perceived it first the two small stars were entirely covered by it, and -it appeared to be a cluster of stars mixed with nebulosity; but not -knowing of such an object in that place, I kept watching it, and -perceived it to be a comet by its having moved from the two small stars, -so as to leave them entirely free from haziness. - -1797. _Aug. 14th._—C. H.’s comet. At 9.30 common time, being dark enough -for sweeping, I began in the usual manner with looking over the heavens -with the naked eye, and immediately saw a comet nearly as bright as that -which was discovered by Mr. Gregory, January 8, 1793. I went down from -the observatory to call my brother Alexander, that he might assist me at -the clock. In my way into the garden I was met and detained by Lord S. -and another gentleman, who came to see my brother and his telescopes. By -way of preventing too long an interruption, I told the gentlemen that I -had just found a comet, and wanted to settle its place. I pointed it out -to them, and after having seen it they took their leave. - -[Sidenote: 1822. _Retrospection._] - - -These entries were continued with great regularity to the year 1819, at -which time, as the Diary shows, Sir William’s increasing feebleness made -her close daily attendance more necessary, and her pen was in greater -request than the “sweeper.” The last volume concludes with a carefully -drawn eye-draft of the situation of a comet visible at Hanover, January -31st, 1824. Thenceforth the instrument which had done such good service -in her hands for forty years of steady work, became the chief ornament -of her sitting-room, until her disquieting fears for its ultimate fate -led her to send it back to England. - -Sad as is the story of those last years of declining old age, while the -beloved brother lived we know that his sister’s life was full of -occupation. It is not until the cruel hour comes, and she knows that -death and the grave will soon claim him, that she allows the sense of -her own bitter desolation to find expression. When all was over, her -only desire seems to have been to hurry away. Hardly was he laid in his -grave than she collected the few things she cared to keep, and left for -ever the country where she had spent fifty years of her life, living and -toiling for him and him only. “If I should leave off making memorandums -of such events as affect, or are interesting to me, I should feel -like—what I am, namely, a person that has nothing more to do in this -world.” Mournful words: doubly mournful when we know that the writer had -nearly half an ordinary lifetime still between her and that grave which -she made haste to prepare, in the hope that her course was nearly run. -Who can think of her, at the age of seventy-two, heart-broken and -desolate, going back to the home of her youth in the fond expectation of -finding consolation, without a pang of sympathetic pity? She found -everything changed. In addition to those changes, for which she might -have been in some measure prepared, there were others of a kind to admit -of neither cure nor alleviation. The life she had led for fifty years -had removed her, she little guessed how much, from the old familiar -paths: her thoughts, her habits, all her ideas had been formed and -moulded in a totally different world: more bitter still, she found -herself alone in her great sorrow and quenchless love; pride in the -distinction reflected on themselves from relationship to the illustrious -astronomer was a miserable substitute for the reverential affection she -had looked to find for one of the kindest and most generous of brothers. -But the bitterest suffering of all was from a source which was, and ever -remained, beyond the reach of help. “You don’t know,” wrote one of Miss -Edgeworth’s sisters, “the blank of life after having lived within the -radiance of genius;” and this was the blank in which Miss Herschel -doomed herself not only to live, but to try to begin anew, when past -three score and ten. The extracts from her letters bear strong testimony -to the gallant struggle she made to find interests and occupations in -what those about her, as well as she herself, looked upon as a kind of -exile, and “Why did I leave happy England?” was often her cry, more -especially as time went on, and interest in her nephew and his family -came mercifully to fill the heart still so yearning and ready for -affection. When she heard the news of Sir John Herschel’s intended -departure for the Cape, she wrote, “Ja! if I was thirty or forty years -junger and could go too? in Gottes nahmen!” her interest in the science -to which she had devoted her best years never ceased, though she -persisted to the end in ridiculing the bare suggestion that the Rosse -telescope could by any possibility be so good as _the_ forty-foot. The -homage paid to her as a _savante_ amused as well as gratified her. “You -must give me leave to send you any publication you can think of,” she -wrote to her nephew, “without mentioning anything about paying for them. -For it is necessary I should every now and then lay out a little of my -spare cash in that for the sake of supporting the reputation of being a -learned lady (there is for you!), for I am not only looked at for such a -one, but even stared at here in Hanover!” Her deprecation of the -membership of the Irish Academy, conferred on one who for so many years -had “_not even discovered a comet_,” was thoroughly sincere as well as -characteristic, but she found pleasure in receiving the homage which was -naturally paid to her; no man of any scientific eminence passed through -Hanover without visiting her; from the Royal Family she received the -most kind and graceful attentions; and it became a matter of public -concern to note the presence of the well-known tiny figure at the -Theatre, where her constant appearance in extreme old age was in itself -a marvel. The frugal simplicity of her habits made it a positive -perplexity to dispose of her income; she protested that £50 a-year was -all she could manage to spend on herself, and she pertinaciously -resisted receiving the pension of £100 per annum left to her by her -brother, often devoting the quarterly or half-yearly payment to the -purchase of some handsome present for her nephew or niece. She wrote -full instructions and made the most careful arrangements for every -detail of business in connection with her own burial and the disposal of -her property—that is of the little she reserved, for her generosity -towards her relations was as great as the expenditure on herself was -small. - -In these last remarks I have anticipated events, and must now return to -the year 1822, when the correspondence begins. - -[Sidenote: 1822. _Journey to Hanover._] - - - FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - ROTTERDAM, _Monday, Oct. 21, 1822_. - -DEAR LADY HERSCHEL,— - -At this present moment I have nothing to wish for, besides the means of -convincing myself by one look of your and my dear nephew’s health. After -a very troublesome passage of forty-eight hours, we find ourselves -almost restored to our former condition and composure, with only the -difference that we have no more hunting after our trunks from -Custom-house to Custom-house, and can proceed on our way to Hanover in -peace after one night’s rest here in a very good inn. But the last night -was truly dismal, for the sailors themselves confessed that it was what -is called a high sea. At one time a spray conveyed a bucket-full of -water into my bed, which was regarded as nothing in comparison to the -evils with which I was surrounded. I was the most sick of all on board, -and the poor old lady was pitied by all who enquired after her, but I -had four ladies in the same cabin with me, who encouraged me to hold -out, which at one time I thought would have been impossible. Something -happened to the vessel for want of a good pilot in the Thames, and at -Blackwall we laid still three hours, then we hobbled on to near -Gravesend, and there lay in a high sea at anchor all night, whilst they -were hatching and thumping to mend the vessel we were to go in. In -consequence of this, we could not reach the spot where a pilot could -meet us time enough on Sunday evening, and lay again at anchor. At half -past eleven I set foot on shore, where so many people were assembled to -gaze on us that it set me a crying, and now I am glad to be shut up once -more in a room by myself and where I can make proper preparations for -travelling further, which hitherto I have not had the opportunity of -doing. All my clothes which I had prepared for the ship or sleeping on -the road were locked up at the Custom-house, and I could not get hold of -them again till we entered this house. So much for our adventures at -present, and I beg and hope you will soon and often let us know how you -are with my nephew, and how and where you can pass the following winter -months in the most comfortable way. - -My brother is gone into the street to look about him. The weather is -fine, and I wish my dear nephew was with him, for it looks very tempting -and new all about me, and I think he would enjoy seeing the bustle on -the water with which this house is surrounded. My brother has charged me -with millions of compliments and thanks to yourself and our nephew, but -I cannot afford him quite so many, as else there would be no room for -all those I owe to my dear Lady H. and my nephew, who took last Friday -so long a walk to see us once more. My fears for what was to come and -regret for what I left behind were so stupifying that it made me almost -insensible to all what was passing about me, only this I shall remember, -with satisfaction, that his looks were better than I have seen for a -long time past. - -I am now going to direct the little parcel for Professor Swinden, and -likewise to Mr. Crommelin, jun., and to Professor Moll, at Utrecht, and -Gauss will not be forgotten as we go along. - -I beg you will remember me to Miss Baldwin (who I hope is with you), and -particularly to Mr. Beckwith, whom I shall never be able to thank -sufficiently for the friendly care he has shown to me on all, and -especially on the last occasion of helping me on with my packages. - -Farewell, my dear Lady Herschel, and let me hear soon that you and my -nephew are well. - -Miss Baldwin will write, and of course she will inform me of her own and -all friends’ health, &c. - - Ever your affectionate - CAR. HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1822. _Arrival in Hanover._] - - - FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _Oct. 30, 1822_. - -MY DEAR LADY HERSCHEL,— - -We arrived here at noon, on the 28th, without the least accident, but -not without the utmost exertion and extreme fatigue to both my brother -and myself, from which it will be some time before I shall get the -better, on account of the many visits of our friends, who come to -convince themselves of our safe arrival, of which I hope you will have -been informed long before this can reach you, as Mr. Quintain has -promised me to send you a line the moment he reaches London. He left -Hanover yesterday. I had wrote a letter in hopes he would have taken it, -but that was impossible, and the post from here has been changed from -Tuesday to Monday. - -Mr. Hausmann called also here yesterday, and you may easily imagine that -many inquiries are made after you and my dear nephew by all those who -come near me, and I hope you will soon enable me, by a few lines, to -inform them of your welfare and health, and give me the comfort to know -that you have regained some of your former composure, after the late -melancholy change and unsettled state in which we all were involved. - -I found Mrs. H. in personal appearance so different from what I had -imagined, that I can hardly believe her to be the same; she is just -sixty-three years of age, and suffers much from rheumatism, which has -taken away partially the use of her hands, but she is still of so -cheerful a disposition and so active by way of overcoming disease by -exercise, that I cannot wonder enough, and her reception of me was truly -gratifying; the handsomest rooms, three or four times larger than what I -have been used to, from which I can step in her own apartments, have -been prepared for me and furnished in the most elegant style. But I -cannot say that I feel well enough to enjoy all these good things nor be -able to show myself to those who wish to see me, at least not at -present. - -Mrs. Beckedorff sent to enquire after me when I had been hardly two -hours arrived. Miss B. is confined with a severe cold. My brother went -yesterday to see them, and we have postponed our meeting till Saturday, -when she will come to town for the winter. - -From Rotterdam I sent a letter which I hope you have received, and by -which you will have seen that our passage was not of the most agreeable -kind. - -The papers to Professor Van Swinden, Crommelin jun., at Amsterdam, and -Professor Moll, at Utrecht, have been delivered, but that to Gauss, I am -sorry to say, is either lost or mislaid, for I cannot find it anywhere, -and I am vexed to give my dear nephew so bad a sample of my willingness -to be of use to him. Perhaps through Mr. Quintain he might get one over -when the Duke of Cambridge returns, else the next conveyance I know of -is at Christmas, by Goltermann. - -I beg my love to my nephew and Miss Baldwin, who, I hope, will soon let -me know how you are, &c. - - Believe me, - Your truly and affectionate - CAR. HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1822. _Life in Hanover._] - - - FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _Nov. 12, 1822_. - -MY DEAR LADY HERSCHEL,— - -I hope you have received the letter which I sent by the first post which -went from here after my arrival, dated 31st October, and also one I -wrote in Rotterdam, by which you will have seen what a disagreeable -passage we had at sea, but all those frights and fears, and the troubles -and fatigues of the journey we afterwards experienced by land appear now -to have been nothing but a dream, and my waking thoughts are for ever -wandering back to the scenes of sorrows which embittered the afflicting -and final parting from my revered brother. If I could but be assured -that you and my dear nephew at this present moment were in tolerable -health and otherwise exempted from vexation, I should feel myself much -more comfortable, but it is hard to live for months without knowing what -may have happened to those with whom one has been for so many years -immediately connected and in the habit of keeping up a daily -intercourse. - -I have hitherto not been able to overcome a dislike to going abroad, and -what little I have seen of Hanover (in my way to the families of my two -nieces and Mrs. Beckedorff, who live all close by) I do not like! And -though some streets have been enlarged (as I am told), they appear to me -much less than I left them fifty years ago. But a total seclusion from -society will not do for a continuance, for I will not be ungrateful, I -must call on the Delmerings, &c.,—who have been here. Mrs. D. is grown -quite fat and very handsome, her daughter is a head taller and a very -pretty young woman; the eldest son is already in the service with the -Erz Herzog of Strelitz, and there has been no increase in the family -since they left England. Mrs. D. made many inquiries after you and my -nephew’s health, and gratefully remembers the kindly treatment she -received at all times from you. - -_Nov. 18th._—Mrs. Beckedorff and Miss B. and myself have been laid up -with severe colds, and I am still unable to go into company, but Mrs. B. -sent Dr. Mühry to make her excuse for not returning my visit. The first -time I went to them, Mrs. B. made all her ten grandchildren stand up -before me according to their ages, and a fine healthy family it is. But -all the little folks I am introduced to are disappointed at finding me -to be only a _little_ old woman; which I suppose must be owing to having -been told the _Great_ Aunt Caroline from England was coming. - -From the family of my eldest niece I have seen nothing as yet, and -probably shall not before next summer, as her affairs must remain for -some time in an unsettled state. I did not know till we were within -sight of Hanover how greatly I was obliged to my brother for coming to -fetch me, for I find he was but barely recovered from a serious illness -when he left home, which had been occasioned by travelling to and fro to -his daughter, who was in need of the support of both her parents on -losing her husband after a few days’ illness; in the same week she had -given birth to a son, and was made a widow with nine children in her -38th year. But, happily, she is blessed with an uncommon share of -understanding and fortitude, besides the means of seeing them well -educated and improving their fortunes. - -_Nov. 27th._—You will see, my dear Lady H., by the above, that at -different times I have been employed in giving a circumstantial account -of all what concerns that part of my family amongst whom I came to end -my days; but I would not conclude, nor send off my letter, till I should -have received some satisfactory account of your well-being, and the -arrival of the last post has given a most agreeable turn to the dismal -impression the parting scenes of the 17th and 18th October had left on -my mind. To Miss Baldwin I feel greatly obliged for her comforting -letter, and hope she will be able to write me many more equally -consoling; my brother is going to speak for himself, and if I would -leave a little room for a few words to my nephew, I must conclude with -saying that I am - - My dear Lady Herschel’s - Most obliged and affectionate, - CAR. HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1822. _Settled in Hanover._] - -MY DEAR NEPHEW,—I thank you for the few lines in the P.S., for by them I -see you were thinking of me when you procured some indexes to -Flamsteed’s obs. But I will not trouble you to send any; I only wished -you to have some for your own friends, Mr. South, Major Kater, &c., for -as they were not members of the R. Society at the time of publication, -they may perhaps not be possessed of that necessary Appendix. - -The next messenger will take the book Mr. Babbage wishes for, and I want -very much to send you some of the numerous philosophical productions in -which this country my nephew Groskopf says abounds, but I am at a loss -on what to fix my choice. _I wish you would let me know if any of the -works of Schelling are known in England?_ Of him it is said that his -philosophy is entirely new, and beyond all what goes before, and so -profound, that nobody _here_ can understand him, &c. - - Believe me yours most affectionately, - CAR. HERSCHEL. - - - FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _Dec. 18, 1822_. - -MY DEAR LADY HERSCHEL,— - -At last I am enabled to inform you of the safe arrival of my boxes and -trunks, which only came the day before yesterday, and then I was obliged -to wait till the keys were sent by to-day’s post, but I have the -satisfaction to find that every article is exactly as I had packed them -with my own hands. For the last three weeks, I was despairing of ever -seeing them again, for the vessel had been no less than three weeks at -sea, and then had been obliged to unload six German miles beyond Bremen -for want of water in the Weser. The country is in general much -distressed for want of water; our large rivers may be passed on foot, -&c. But of these things you are perhaps informed by the newspapers, and -of many other circumstances; such as the mice eating the corn as soon as -sowed, so that sowing it three times over was without effect, till the -mice were destroyed by a pest coming among them. - -I would give anything if I at this moment could see with my own eyes how -you and my dear nephew are; tell him that on the day after Christmas -(Dec. 26th) the messenger will leave Hanover, and will take the book for -Mr. Babbage, and one in two volumes for my nephew; also two or three -letters of his father’s which I have found among some papers of my -brother Alex. - -I know not if I mentioned it in my last that I selected all his last -receipts when he left England, and shall keep them yet a little longer. - -As yet I lead but a dull sort of life; the town is much too gay for -me—plays, concerts, card parties, walking, &c. I cannot take part _in -any_; my cold in my head is still very bad, and my poor brother is -frequently unwell, and for want of my trunks I could not accept Mrs. -Beckedorff’s invitation to meet Madam Zimmermann, &c., in an evening, on -account of not having clean things; but she is so kind as to call on me -sometimes among all the hurry she is engaged in at present with the -Princess Augusta. - -Mr. Gisewell came a few days ago to see me; he lives a little way out of -town, and poor Mrs. G. keeps her bed, and is hardly ever well; their -eldest daughter is happily situated with the Queen of Würtemberg, and -Mr. Gisewell enjoys a very lucrative situation. - -I wish you could conveniently acquaint my nephew, H. Griesbach, as soon -as possible, that my brother has received an answer to the letter he -sent to Antwerp to the sister of H. Griesbach, and that in the parcel -which the messenger will bring will be enclosed her letter to Mr. H. G. - -I hope you will make Miss Baldwin write me soon a long account how -yourself and all _around_ and _with_ you are, but pray let it be a -favourable one, and remember me to all (who are so good as to inquire -after me) most cordially, and believe me, - - My dear Lady H., - Your very affectionate - CAR. HERSCHEL. - -P.S.—We have had a few days’ very severe frost; to-morrow I shall unpack -my thermometer; I suppose I shall find the difference between a German -and an English winter, though they make the rooms hot enough with their -stoves; but then I am afraid of firing their chimneys, and we have no -water, though the police have demanded that every housekeeper shall be -provided with eight buckets of water in their kitchen; besides, the -price of fuel is enormous, owing to the French having destroyed all the -forests. - -[Sidenote: 1822. _Letters.—Life in Hanover._] - - - FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL, ESQ. - - HANOVER, _Dec. 26, 1822_. - -MY DEAR NEPHEW,— - -The parcel I am packing up contains so many odds and ends, that I think -it will be necessary to give you an inventory of them. The most -interesting to you, I think, will be the three letters from your dear -father (which I found among my brother Alexander’s papers), both on -account of the handwriting and their containing some accounts of the -busy life of the times in which they were written. - -Of the philosophical work, I will say nothing further than that I am -curious to know if I have sent you sense, or nonsense, that I may know -in future how to trust my informer; I am only sorry I could not send -them bound, but they came too late from Leipsic for that purpose. In the -small cover (with _your_ little man looking through the telescope) is a -shade of your Uncle Alex., which you will be so good as to give to your -mother, who (if I remember right) wished for the same, after it had been -packed up, and she will perhaps be so good as to send the letter to Mr. -Henry Griesbach the first time anybody goes to Windsor. - -So much for business, and on the other side I will talk a little of -myself. But it is a poor account I can give of myself at present, and -the worst of it is that I cannot hope for better times. I am still -unsettled, and cannot get my books and papers in any order, for it is -always noon before I am well enough to do anything, and then visitors -run away with the rest of the day till the dinner hour (which is two -o’clock). Two or three evenings in each week are spoiled by company. And -at the heavens is no getting, for the high roofs of the opposite houses. - -But within my room I am determined nothing shall be wanting that can -please my eye. Exactly facing me is a bookcase placed on a bureau, to -which I will have some glass doors made, so that I can see my books. -Opposite this, on a sofa, I am seated, with a sofa-table and my new -writing-desk before me, but what good I shall do there the future must -tell. - -Many more of such like transactions I was going to communicate to you, -but I am interrupted by the carpenter (our Andrews), who is come to do -some jobs for me, so for this once you will be released from my -nonsense. - -But one thing I must yet add, which is that you will accept my heartfelt -wishes for your health, happiness, and prosperity throughout the coming -year and for many more hereafter, in which my brother and sister are -joining most sincerely, to yourself and Lady Herschel, and believe me, -my dear nephew, - - Ever your most affectionate aunt, - CAR. HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1823. _Letter to J. F. W. Herschel._] - - - FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL, ESQ. - - HANOVER, _Feb. 27, 1823_. - -MY DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -I take the earliest opportunity I have to acquaint you with having -received a letter from Mr. H. Goltermann, accompanied with a draft for -£2 4_s._ 6_d._, which is already received and safely deposited in my -writing-desk. But the information that he had had the pleasure of seeing -you in good health afforded me the _greatest_ satisfaction, and he -further promised me to forward the parcel to you in Downing Street, -which was particularly pleasing to me, as I wished to avoid the sending -backward and forward by blundering coachmen. - -On the 5th of this month I received your letter without date, but -conclude it was written about the same time with those of your dear -mother and cousin Mary, dated the 9th and fifteenth of January. I -delayed answering them (and must do so still for the present) because I -knew that all mails were detained this side of the sea. - -One passage in your letter affected me much, it was gratifying to me and -unexpected: “... speaks of your _English life_, &c.... But now that you -have left the scene of your labours you have the satisfaction of knowing -that they are duly appreciated by those you leave behind.” But I can -hardly hope that those favourable impressions should be lasting, or -rather not be effaced by my hasty departure; but believe me I would not -have gone without at least having made the offer of my service for some -time longer to you, my dear nephew, had I not felt that it would be in -vain to struggle any longer against age and infirmity, and though I had -no expectation that the change from the pure country air in which I had -lived the best part of my life, to that of the closest part of my native -city, would be beneficial to my health and happiness, I preferred it to -remaining where I should have had to bewail my inability of making -myself useful any longer. - -I hope you and Lady H. have not suffered by the severity of the weather; -to me it has certainly done no good. I am grown much thinner than I was -six months ago; when I look at my hands they put me so in mind of what -your dear father’s were, when I saw them tremble under my eyes, as we -latterly played at backgammon together. Good night! dear nephew, I will -say the rest to-morrow. - -By way of postscript I only beg you will give my love and many thanks to -your dear mother and cousin for their kind letters; and if the latter -will continue from time to time to inform me of all your well-being, I -shall equally feel gratified, for it is no matter from which hand I -receive the comfortable information. - - I remain, ever your affectionate aunt, - CAR. HERSCHEL. - - - FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL, ESQ. - - HANOVER, _April 14, 1823_. - -MY DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -I hasten to send this sheet, which is but this moment come to hand, and -the post within an hour of leaving Hanover. I begin to fear that I shall -not hear from you till you send me an acknowledgment of having received -the certificate, which we are not able to obtain till after the 10th of -April and 10th of October, but January and July it is the 5th. I assure -you I would rather go without the money than be so long without hearing -from you, or have a line to express your pleasure for the present I -offered you and Mr. Babbage by sending the books by the Christmas -messenger, of which I, at this moment, have no information that they -have been delivered. By the Easter messenger I have sent some mettwurst -[a Hanoverian delicacy], which I hope you and your dear mother will find -good, but when they are once cut they must be eaten soon, else they are -dry and lose all their flavour. - - * * * * * - -The Germans are very busy about the fame of your dear father; there does -not pass a month but something appears in print, and Dr. Groskopf saw in -den gelehrten Zeitungen that Professor Pfaff had translated _all_ your -dear father’s papers from the Phil. Trans. into German, and which will -be published in Dresden. I wish he had left it for some good astronomer -to do the same. Pray let me know how you and your dear mother are in -health; I am not well, but have a severe cold at present, but am always -and still your affectionate aunt, - - CAR. HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1823. _Letter to Miss Herschel._] - - -The following letter from the Princess Sophia of Gloucester is a -pleasing memorial of the kindness and amiability of which Miss Herschel -experienced so many proofs while she lived at Slough:— - - - THE PRINCESS SOPHIA MATILDA TO MISS HERSCHEL. - -MY DEAR MISS HERSCHEL,— - -Your obliging attention in sending the Astronomical Almanack to me I am -very sensible of, and at the same time that I return my best thanks for -this flattering mark of your recollection, I must express my regret that -I am not possessed of more knowledge and leisure, that I might profit -sufficiently by your kindness in endeavouring to instruct me. I was very -happy to learn that you had reached your native land in safety, and I -sincerely form every wish that your health may be _long_ preserved to -you! - -May I request you to remember me kindly to Mr. and to Miss Beckedorff, -and to be assured yourself of the true esteem and regard with which I -remain, my dear Miss Herschel, - - Yours very faithfully, - SOPHIA MATILDA. - -LONDON, _June 16, 1823_. - -[Sidenote: 1823. _Letter to J. F. W. Herschel._] - - - FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL, ESQ. - - HANOVER, _June 24, 1823_. - -MY DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -I had intended to write you a long and very learned epistle, but I am -just now informed that the messenger will leave Hanover within a very -few hours, and I must content myself with giving you the outlines of -what I would have said. - -I believe I have mentioned in a former letter to your mother that a -Professor Pfaff has announced his intention of giving a translation of -your father’s papers. It runs in my head that this professor is but a -_Jackanapes_,[32] who will spoil the _broth_,[32] and I wished he would -not meddle with what he cannot understand. But I thought it but right to -inform you of what is come to my knowledge, particularly as I was told -it had been announced again that the translation would appear with -corrections and explanations. Dr. Luthmer (in the “Ast. Jahrbuch” for -this year you may see a paper by this gentleman) told me since there -were two professors of that name (brothers), one an _astrologer_, and if -it was the latter he would make nonsense of it. - -Miss Baldwin mentioned you were at Cambridge on the business of having -your father’s papers printed. I think it could not be amiss if something -of your intention could be mentioned in the _Edinburgh Quarterly -Review_, which appears here at Hanover, and of course throughout -Germany, that it may be known that your father’s labours are in _yours_ -and of course in the _most able hands_ to make remarks on them. I only -wish to draw your attention this way, but say nothing. - -I have mentioned it over and over again that I was so unlucky as to lose -the paper on my journey you entrusted to my care for Prof. Gauss. If you -have another copy to spare give it to Mr. Goltermann for the return of -the messenger; for he has heard of your good intention, and laments my -negligence; I shall be introduced to him shortly, when he comes through -Hanover again, where he passed through about a fortnight ago on a -journey of observation, tending to establish some new discovery of his -own, of which we are soon to know more. The theodolite has something to -do with it; so much I snapt up in a company of learned ladies who, -within these last two months, have taken me into their circle. But I am -imitating Robinson Crusoe, who kept up his consequence by keeping out of -sight as much as possible when he acted the governor, and when they want -to know anything of me, I say I cannot tell!... I did nothing for my -brother but what a well-trained puppy dog would have done, that is to -say, I did what he commanded me. - -I send you a small publication which I think must interest you, but if -it contains anything which is new to you I cannot tell. I shall, -however, obtain what I very much long for, viz., to see your -handwriting, for surely you will write me a line of thanks? - -I am in general too unwell to sit much at the writing-table, and have -not been able to do anything which could be of use to you. The letters -which you will receive under cover to you I hope you will do me the -favour to cause them to be safely delivered. They are sealed already, -else I should have added a P.S. to your dear mother of the following, -viz., that I was agreeably surprised by a letter this morning from the -Princessin Sophia of Gloucester, and that my brother’s family are all -well at present; my brother in particular makes work for the tailor to -let out his waistcoats, and they are happy to have their eldest daughter -for a fortnight with them on a visit; she is a truly interesting little -delicate creature just turned of forty, and has one daughter fit to be -married, two sons preparing for the university, and the youngest weaned -a month ago; she is to me a wonder when I look at her, she reads English -fluently, French she was used to speak like her mother tongue from her -infancy. - -I am interrupted, and must seal up the packet. - - And I remain, dear nephew, - Your most faithful and affectionate aunt, - CAR. HERSCHEL. - - - FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL, ESQ. - - HANOVER, _July 14, 1823_. - -MY DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -As a proof of my being still among the number of the living, you will -perhaps not dislike to see my own handwriting added to that of the three -gentlemen who signed my certificate. But I am at a loss for a subject -which should be interesting to you, because, hearing so seldom from you, -I begin to fear my correspondence may turn out to be troublesome. But -still I long to hear a little oftener that you and your dear mother are -well; for since April eleventh (date of Lady H.’s letter) I have had no -assurance of the same on which I could depend. - - * * * * * - -I wish often that I could see what you were doing, that I might give you -a caution (if necessary) not to overwork yourself like your dear father -did. I long to hear that the forty-foot instrument is safely got down; -your father, and Uncle A. too, have had many hair-breadth escapes from -being crushed by the taking in and out of the mirror; but God preserve -you, my dear nephew, says - - Your most affectionate aunt, - CAR. HERSCHEL. - -P.S.—My brother and family join me in many compliments to you and your -dear mother. They are all well; I am the only one who is complaining, -but I think I have a right to that preference, for I am the oldest. - -[Sidenote: 1823. _Letter from J. F. W. Herschel._] - - - FROM J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - DOWNING STREET, _August 1, 1823_. - -DEAR AUNT,— - -I have been long threatening to send you a long letter, but have always -been prevented by circumstances and want of leisure from executing my -intention. The truth is, I have been so much occupied with astronomy of -late, that I have had little time for anything else—the reduction of -these double stars, and the necessity it has put me under of looking -over the journals, reviews, &c., for information on what has already -been done, and in many cases of re-casting up my father’s measures, -swallows up a great deal of time and labour. But I have the satisfaction -of being able to state that our results in most instances confirm and -establish my father’s views in a remarkable manner. These inquiries have -taken me off the republication of his printed papers for the present. - -I think I shall be adding more to his fame by pursuing and verifying his -observations than by reprinting them. But I have by no means abandoned -the idea. Meanwhile I am not sorry to hear they are about to be -translated into German. There is a Mr. Pfaff, a respectable -mathematician, and I hope it is he who undertakes the work. If you can -learn more particulars, pray send them to me. I hope this season to -commence a series of observations with the twenty-foot reflector, which -is now in fine order. The forty-foot is no longer capable of being used, -but I shall suffer it to stand as a monument. - - * * * * * - -I am much obliged to you for the book on temperaments you were so kind -as to send me, which seems interesting, but I have not had time to read -it through.... - -P.S.—Your books on animal magnetism, and that for Babbage, arrived -safe.... I wish you would procure and send me Pfaff’s translation of my -father’s papers as soon as published. Write as often as you can. Your -letters are very interesting. I wish I were a better correspondent, but -my time is so occupied, I know not where to turn. - -P.P.S.—Babbage has had £1,500 granted him by Government to enable him to -execute his engine, which is very curious. A report is strongly current -of Captain Parry’s successful arrival at Valparaiso; it comes in a very -probable form. - -[Sidenote: 1823. _Astronomical._] - - - FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _August 11, 1823_. - -MY DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -I thank you most heartily for your kind care and punctuality in sending -my remittance, and am only sorry to trouble you so often; I might have -acknowledged the receipt thereof by the last post, but I wished first to -enable myself to give the following information. Johann Wilhelm Pfaff, -professor, in Erlangen, is the same who intends to translate your -father’s papers, but those only which he can get a copy of. The -Philosophical Transactions, I am told, are not within his reach. You may -depend on my sending you whatever may come out as soon as it makes its -appearance. - -I can easily imagine how little time you can have to spare for writing -to me when once you have entered on that mass of your father’s -observations contained in his journals, &c.... I think the temporary -index (such as it is) will in many instances be of service to you, but I -wish to point out here that about the year 1800 there was a change made -in the titles of some of the books. The first volume of miscellaneous -observations was then called _Journal No. 10_, &c., ... so if the index -directs you to January 24th, 1797 M. (for _M._ read _J._) I think a -memorandum of this will be found in the cover or beginning of the index, -but I am not certain. - -You have truly gratified me by sending the inscription of the -monument,[33] for such subjects only are capable of interesting my -waking thoughts and nightly dreams. I was going to give you an idea of -what they are; but why should I communicate grief? - -The paper for Gauss is gone to Göttingen. I have directed it to -Professor Harding, who is the next to Gauss in the astronomical -department, as Gauss is not yet returned from his journey of -measurements. I made a few extracts from the paper[34] by way of having -something to be delighted with, but am glad such a thing was not -invented fifty years ago, for then my existence would have been of no -use at all at all. - -I am amusing myself with having the seven-foot mounted by Hohenbaum, -though I have not even a prospect of a window for a whole constellation, -but it shall stand in my room and be my monument—as the forty-foot is -yours. When Hohenbaum comes for a trifling direction, we generally do -not separate till dinner, or some other interruption puts a stop to our -conversation; for this man is never tired when speaking of your father’s -inventful imaginations and the readiness with which everything was -executed. - -I have not above six hours’ tolerable ease out of the twenty-four, and -not one hour’s sleep, and yet I wish to live a little longer, that I -might make you a more correct catalogue of the 2,500 nebulæ, which is -not even begun, but hope to be able to make it my next winter’s -amusement. - -I was much pleased with the partial success of Mr. Babbage in having -something granted towards going on with his _grand_ ideas. - - With many compliments and best wishes, &c., - Your most affectionate aunt, - CAR. HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1824. _Her Nephew on the Continent._] - - - FROM J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - CATANIA (SICILY), _July 2, 1824_. - -DEAR AUNT,— - -The last time I wrote to you from Slough I little expected that my next -would be dated from the foot of Etna—but I mean this to be the farthest -point of my wanderings, and from hence to turn my steps northwards. I am -not without some hopes that my time will so far serve as to enable me to -pay you a visit at Hanover, as I long very much to see you among your -and my Hanoverian friends.... My mother will have told you of my -arrangements,—of the alteration which my plans of life have undergone -(and for which I see every day more reason to be thankful), and of my -present excursion, so that the date of this will not surprise you. -To-morrow I hope to see the sun set from the top of Etna, and will keep -this open to give you an account of my excursion there. Meanwhile let me -congratulate you on the good accounts my mother gives me of your present -state of health and spirits, the knowledge of which has enabled me to -give real pleasure to many who, when they heard I was related to you, -enquired with the greatest interest respecting you. Among the rest I may -mention M. Arago, of the Observatory at Paris, and M. Fourrier, the -secretary of the Institute, who has just been reading the _Éloge_ of my -dear father at a meeting of that body, in which I am sure (from the -associations I had with him, and the written communications that passed -between us on the subject) your own name will stand associated with his -in a manner that cannot fail to be gratifying to you. I have not (of -course, as I quitted Paris before it was read, or even written) seen it, -but the man is of the right sort, and I will endeavour to procure copies -of it for you and my uncle. Indeed, at Paris I find (as where do I not -find it?) universal justice rendered to my father’s merits, and a degree -of admiration excited by the mention of his name that cannot fail to be -gratifying to me, as his son. In fact, I find myself received wherever I -go by all men of science, for his sake, with open arms, and I find -introductions perfectly unnecessary. At Turin I sent up my card to Prof. -Plana, of the Observatory, one of the most eminent mathematicians of the -age, who received me like a brother, and made my stay at Turin, which I -prolonged a week for the sake of his society, very pleasant. He married -_a niece of Lagrange_ (not of _Lalande_), and both he and his wife were -full of enquiries about my “celebrated sister,” (for everybody seems to -think me your brother, instead of nephew), and made me tell them a -thousand particulars about you. The same reception, but, if possible, -still more friendly, and the same curiosity (and, I may add, the same -mistake) I met with at Modena, from Professor Amici, an artist and a man -of science of the first eminence. He is the only man who has, since my -father, bestowed great pains on the construction of specula, and I do -assure you that his ten-foot telescopes with twelve-inch mirrors are of -very extraordinary perfection. Among other of your enquiring friends I -should not omit the Abbé Piazzi, whom I found ill in bed at Palermo, and -who is a fine respectable old man, though I am afraid not much longer -for this world. He remembered you personally, having himself visited -Slough. - -_Naples, Aug. 20th, 1824._—I take the first moment of leisure to proceed -with this. I made the ascent of Etna without particular difficulty, -though with excessive fatigue. The ascent from Catania is through the -village of Nicolosi, about ten miles from Catania, almost every step of -which is covered with the tremendous stream of lava which, in 1669, -burst from the flanks of the mountain, near Nicolosi, and overwhelmed -the city. Here I found a M. Gemellaro, who was so good as to make -corresponding observations of the barometer and thermometer during my -absence, while his brother observed below at Catania, and I carried up -my mountain barometer and other instruments to the summit. From Nicolosi -the ascent becomes rugged and laborious, first through a broad belt of -fine oak forest, which encircles the mountain like a girdle about its -middle, and affords some beautiful romantic scenery—when this is passed -we soon reach the limits of vegetation, and a long desolate scorched -slope, knee-deep in ashes, extends for about five miles to a little hut, -where I passed the night (a glorious starlight one) with the barometer -at 21·307 in.—and next morning mounted the crater by a desperate -scramble up a cone of lava and ashes, about 1,000 feet high. The sunrise -from this altitude, and the view of Sicily and Calabria, which is -gradually disclosed, is easier conceived than described. On the highest -point of the crater I was enveloped in suffocating sulphurous vapours, -and was glad enough to make my observation (bar. 21·400) and get down. -By this the altitude appears to be between 10 and 11,000 feet. I reached -Catania the same night, almost dead with the morning’s scramble and the -dreadful descent of near thirty miles, where the mules (which can be -used for a considerable part of the way) could scarce keep their feet. - -_Florence, Aug. 16th, 1824._—In the hurry and bustle of travelling one -is obliged to write by snatches when one can.... I hope to hear from you -at all events when I reach England if I should not see you first, of -which I begin now to have serious doubts, having been so terribly -retarded in my Sicilian journey, and at Naples, on my return, by the -illness of a friend. - - Your affectionate nephew, - J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - -P.S.—Have you heard how M. Pfaff’s translation proceeds? I wrote to him -from Cattagione, in Sicily. - -[Sidenote: 1824. _Her Nephew’s Travels._] - - MUNICH, _Sept. 17, 1824_. - -MY DEAR AUNT,— - - * * * * * - -I had originally intended to have gone to Switzerland from Inspruck, or -from this place, having a great desire to visit the north of -Switzerland, and to make certain observations among the Alps, but my -wish to see you once more, to assure myself and to be able to report to -my mother how I find you—to pay my uncle Dietrich a visit—and, though -last, not least, to see my father’s birth-place—these considerations -outweigh the attractions of Switzerland, and, although the increase this -détour will make in the length of my journey homewards is so -considerable as to limit my stay in Hanover to two or three days at the -utmost, I shall at least have had the satisfaction of not neglecting an -opportunity which _may_ never occur again. - -The time when I hope to arrive I cannot precisely fix, as it will depend -on circumstances which may occur in my route, having so arranged as to -take in a variety of objects interesting in various ways, thus:—I shall -go somewhat out of my way to visit Professor Pfaff, at Erlangen, and I -hope also to find Mr. Encke at Seeberg, Mr. Lindenau at Gotha, Messrs. -Gauss and Harding at Göttingen, &c. Moreover, I hope there will not take -place a resurrection among the bones in the cave at Bayreuth before I -get there. These things necessarily interrupt post haste, besides which -there are always delays in passing frontiers, and accidents happening to -wheels, springs, screws, &c. Allowing for these, however, I think it -cannot be less than a fortnight, nor more than three weeks from the date -of this when I shall have the happiness of once more shaking you by the -hand, and I need not say what satisfaction it will give me to find -yourself and my uncle, Mrs. Herschel and their family in good health, as -well as our good friends the Beckedorffs, Detmerings and Haussmann, with -whom it will be a great pleasure to me to renew my acquaintance. You -have heard, I daresay, through my mother, of our poor friend, Miss -Deluc’s death. Mrs. Beckedorff will have been much grieved at it. - -I hope you have not forgotten your English, as I find myself not quite -so fluent in this language as I expected. In fact, since leaving Italy, -I have so begarbled my German with Italian that it is unintelligible -both to myself and to everyone that hears it; and what is very perverse, -that though when in Italy I could hardly talk Italian fit to be heard, I -can now talk nothing else, and whenever I want a German word, pop comes -the Italian one in its place. I made the waiter to-day stare (he being a -Frenchman) by calling to him, “Wollen Sie avere la bontà den acete zu -apportaren!” But this, I hope, will soon wear off. - - * * * * * - - I remain, dear aunt, - Your affectionate nephew, - J. F. W. H. - - - FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _Sept. 25, 1824_. - -MY DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -I hardly know how to thank you sufficiently for your valuable letters, -especially for the one dated the 17th of this month, as I am now at last -assured that my eyes shall once more behold the continuation of your -dear father. For the remaining days of my life can only by a few hours’ -conversation with you be made tolerable, by affording me your direction -how to _finish_ a general catalogue of the 2,500 nebulæ, &c., which -would have otherwise caused us both a tedious and vexatious -correspondence in the future. - -I anxiously forbore to express my wishes for seeing you, for fear it -might have had any influence on the direction of your intended tour. But -now all will be well, and I shall only say that we are counting the days -and hours until we shall have the happiness of seeing you, and you will, -on entering Hanover, have only to direct your postilion to the Markt -Strasse, No. 453, where the arms of my brother and sister, as well as -mine, are longing to receive you, and till then - - Believe me, my dearest nephew, - Your faithful and affectionate aunt, - CAR. HERSCHEL. - -P.S.—I beg my respects to ... Blumenbach, and I shall ever remember with -many thanks the visit with which he honoured me when last at Hanover. - -[Sidenote: 1824. _Visit from her Nephew._] - - - FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _Oct. 14, 1824_. - -MY DEAR LADY HERSCHEL,— - -My dear nephew has now been gone a week, and I follow him in idea every -inch he is moving farther from us, and think he must now be near the -water. I am at this moment in the greatest panic imaginable, for we have -had all the week much rain, and now it blows a perfect hurricane. I -shall not send this till I have heard from you that the dear traveller -is safely at home, for it would be cruel to augment your anxiety, which -I know you are feeling till you see him again. - -[Here follows a long history of the younger members of the Griesbach -family, with details of the events of seventy years before.] - -... I have not yet done, my dear Lady Herschel, and shall not be easy -till I have given some little account of my brother’s [Dietrich’s] -family, merely for yours and my dear nephew’s gratification; for, from -his kind inquiries if I wanted anything? if he could do nothing for me? -it seemed as if he thought he could not do enough for us. My answer was -_nothing! nothing!_ and this I could say with truth, as at my age and -situation (which is truly respectable) I should not know what to do with -more without lavishing it on others, where it would only create habits -of luxury and extravagance. The time of our dear nephew’s being here was -too short for much confidential conversation, else I wished to have made -him better acquainted with mine and my brother Dietrich’s sentiments -concerning the noble bequest of our lamented brother, of which Dietrich -had not the most distant hope or expectation (for I believe they never -had any conversation on the subject), as I am sure his way of thinking -is similar to mine, that brothers and sisters (such as we were), each -beginning the world with _nothing_ but health and abilities for getting -our bread, ought to feel shame at taking from the other if he should by -uncommon exertion and perseverance have raised himself to affluence. -According to this notion I refused my dear brother’s proposal (at the -time he resolved to enter the married state) of making me independent, -and desired him to ask the king for a small salary to enable me to -continue his assistant. £50 were granted to me, with which I was -resolved to live without the assistance of my brother; but when nine -quarters were left unpaid I was obliged to apply to him, as he had -charged me not to go to anyone else. In 1803, you and my brother -insisted on my having £10 quarterly added to my income, which I -certainly should not have accepted if I had not been in a panic for my -friends at Hanover, which had just then been taken by the French. - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: 1824. _Life in Hanover._] - - - FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _Nov. 1, 1824_. - -DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -Your welcome letter, dated Slough, Oct. 22nd, had not only the most -beneficial effect on my spirits, but gave the greatest pleasure to the -whole family, for I find Groskopf had been under great apprehension for -your safety from the many reported accidents among the shipping on the -English coasts. Count Münster, it is said, lies dangerously ill in -consequence of the fright he suffered on his passage (his lady and his -children were with him), and Groskopf imagined he must have left Calais -at the same time with you. But, thank God, all is well! All I meet with -lament your leaving us so soon. Gauss has been here, and they say he was -quite inconsolable at having missed you. Hauptmann Müller was charged -with compliments, which he intends to deliver himself if I will give him -leave. To be sure! and Olbers, whom Dr. Mühry saw in Bremen, was sorry -not to have seen you, as you had been so near. The Duke of Cambridge, -whom Dietrich met in the street, asked about you, but we could not trace -you farther than Antwerp. I believe half Hanover would have been -gratified if you could have made a longer stay with us. Dr. Groskopf -will one day come to England I am afraid, and talk you deaf; he is, -however, a very good sort of man, and desires me to tell you that if you -wanted any books you might command him, he would send you anything you -wanted. - -What gives me the most pleasure in reading over your letter, is your -telling me that your dear mother is not in the least altered in her -looks, and that she has been so considerate as to give me in her own -handwriting the assurance that you are _extremely_ well. That I may yet -often hear the same, wishes your most affectionate aunt, - - CAR. HERSCHEL. - -P.S.—[To Lady Herschel].... My knowing so well to what noble purposes an -experimental philosopher may use his fortune, it would make me very -unhappy if my dear nephew was cramped in his. And if I could do any good -by relinquishing my annuity I would leave Hanover and live on my pension -in the country most willingly, and am only sorry that I have no other -means of showing the care and affection I have for my dear nephew. But I -beg no other notice may be taken of all I have written than often—when -my nephew or yourself cannot write—to inform me by the hand of Miss B—— -of all your joys and sorrows, that I may, though at this distance, -sympathise with the same. - -If my nephew cannot be easily supplied with the Berliner Jahrbuch, I beg -he will let me know, for I have got them by me, and can send them by the -messenger in January. - - * * * * * - - - FROM J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - LONDON, _December, 1824_. - -DEAR AUNT,— - -My mother and self received your welcome letter, and so far from -finding, as you seem to fear, the details you enter into tedious, I -assure you we found them highly interesting. The sacrifices you have -individually made for your family are above all praise. It would ill -become me, who am a rich man (I mean in that sense only in which any man -can truly be called rich,—having enough to satisfy all my moderate and -rational wants), to deprive you of any, the smallest part of your -income. On the contrary, it would rather be my duty, were it -insufficient, to add to it, but the account you give of your situation, -corroborated as it is by what I have myself seen of it, sets at rest all -apprehensions on that score. - - * * * * * - -I hope the Catalogue of Nebulæ goes on as you wish. I shall have little -time now for astronomical observations, being become a resident in -London in consequence of taking on myself the duties of Secretary to the -Royal Society. - - * * * * * - -I have sent the lenses you wished for, and also two prints of the king -and queen of the Sandwich Islands, which I would be much obliged to you -if you would transmit to Prof. Blumenbach, with my compliments. They are -the best that have appeared, and are considered striking likenesses. - -[Sidenote: 1825. _Life in Hanover._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _Jan. 14, 1825_. - -MY DEAREST NEPHEW,— - - * * * * * - -I am now writing out the Catalogue of Nebulæ, and am at zone 30°, and -hope to finish it for the Easter messenger; but my health is so wretched -that I often am obliged to lay by for a day or two. Dr. Groskopf desires -his compliments, and I am to tell you that when next you come to Hanover -again he can not only procure you a sight of Leibnitz’s MS., but leave -to take some home with you. I am in quest of a good print of Leibnitz -for you, and hope soon to hear of one, which shall accompany Dr. -Franklin’s, which Dietrich lately found among his music. - -Graf Rapfstein brought me lately the _Moniteur_ of December, containing -the history of your dear father’s life, as read in June, etc., at full -length. It is the only copy of the Court paper coming here at Hanover to -the French Ambassador, and I was obliged to return it to the same; but -Groskopf has promised to procure these copies from Paris, that we may -all have one. Miss Beckedorf read it to me by way of translation, and we -both cried over it, and could not withhold a tear of gratitude to the -author for having so feelingly adhered to truth in the details of your -dear father’s discoveries, etc.... - -But if I have understood Miss B.’s translation right I could point out -three instances where too great a stress is laid on the assistance of -others, which withdraws the attention too much from the difficulties -your father had to surmount. - -(1.) The favours of monarchs ought to have been mentioned, but once -would have been enough. - -(2 & 3.) Of Alexander and me can only be said that we were but tools, -and did as well as we could; but your father was obliged first to turn -us into those tools with which we could work for him; but if too much is -said in one place let it pass; I have, perhaps, deserved it in another -by perseverance and exertions beyond female strength! Well done! - -With compliments to all friends, particularly Mr. and Mrs. Babbage, - - I remain, my dearest nephew, - Yours most affectionately, - CAR. HERSCHEL. - -Poor Sir William Watson! [whose death had lately been announced to her.] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _March 7, 1825_. - -The birthday of my dear nephew! who I wish may enjoy in health and -prosperity many returns of this day. I will drink your health, and on -the 16th of this month you may return the compliment, for then I shall -have completed my seventy-fifth year. - -I received the parcel, not till the last day of February, which -contained your letter of December 4th, with the prints of the King and -Queen, which I delivered to the Regierungsrath B——, to forward to his -father at Göttingen. - -The first part of your letter is filled with expressions of the most -feeling kindness towards me, and I will pass them over without -attempting to describe what I felt on reading the same, and merely for -yours and your dear mother’s satisfaction I will answer as in the way of -business all you wished to know. November 22nd I received the £50 Lady -H. paid over for me to Mr. Goltermann, for which I returned the day -after (23rd) the formal receipt in a letter to your mother, and hope it -may not have been lost (for I generally write what comes uppermost).... -I am ready with the Catalogue of Nebulæ, and have only to write, _not a -Preface_, for I shall write what I have to say at the end.... I wish, in -case you were not on the spot to receive the box from Mr. Goltermann -yourself, you would before you left town beg Mr. G. to keep it _till you -called for it yourself_; for I must confess that from the day I let the -_eight manuscript books and catalogue of Nebulæ, and catalogue of stars_ -drawn out of the eight books of sweeps, go out of my hands, I shall have -no peace till I know they are safe in _your own_, where they ought to -be. If you can think of anything else I can send you, I beg you will let -me know, for a large parcel is no more trouble than a lesser one to put -up. But I shall write again when I have packed up the box, and if you -still wish for relics of your dear father’s hand-writing, I have a great -mind to part with his pocket-book (_to you only_), which he used before -we left Bath. There are only a few pencil memoranda, but they show that -music did not _only_ occupy his thoughts, but that timber for the -erection of the thirty-foot telescope of which the casting of the mirror -was pretty far advanced was thought of. - -But now I must say a few words to your dear mother, but I wish soon to -hear that you have received this, and also a letter I sent from here on -the 14th January. I hope it is not lost. - -I am not very well pleased with my English, but have no time to write -what I have to say over again, but this I hope you will be able to -understand—that - - I am - Ever your most affectionate aunt, - CAR. HERSCHEL. - - - FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _March 8, 1825_. - -MY DEAR LADY HERSCHEL,— - -I received your letter of the 4th December, and it relieved me of much -anxiety I felt from a fear that the subject of my long letter of -November 8th might have injured me in your or my nephew’s opinion, and I -had nothing to console me in this uncertainty, but a line from Mr. -Goltermann that he had seen you in good health and received £50 from -you, which I received the 22nd November here at Hanover, and sent my -thanks and the usual receipt the next day. But still I remained in -uncertainty, till by a letter from Miss B. of 15th December, you kindly -sent me your thanks for the very letters which caused me such fears. - -But it grieves me you should yourself take the trouble of writing to me; -the least kind expression from you dictated to Miss B. is sufficient to -make me happy for many days after. I hope she will not be taken from you -again for a long time, for she is the most cheerful companion in health -and consoling one in sickness you could have about you. - -I was sorry to hear by a letter from Mr. H. Griesbach to my brother that -you had had another attack of the gout, but God grant I may hear soon it -may have been of short duration. Daily we come to hear of the departure -of a friend or some one we know, but at our time of life it cannot be -otherwise, for many of those we knew were older than ourselves, and it -is painful to see when we at last are left to stand (or lie) alone, -which is often the case with a single person; for no attention can equal -or be more cheering than what comes from the heart of an affectionate -child. But no more of this; if we must grieve, there is the comfort we -shall not grieve much longer. - -The death of my eldest nephew I lament sincerely, for he was deserving -to have enjoyed the prosperity of his children some years longer, but by -a letter I had from Miss G. I was gratified to know that they had found -(for the present) so noble a support from the King and from the -excellent Countess of Harcourt. As to the exit of poor F. Griesbach, it -gave me more joy than pain; for nothing but the grave could relieve him -from wretchedness; and nothing but that would rouse his posterity to a -sense of their duty, which is to work for an honest livelihood; even the -youngest is old enough to do so, and I hope to hear that they may awake -from their dreams of commissions in the army and midshipmen in the navy. -The lot of the children of a poor musician and descendants of a menial -servant (even to a king) is not to look too high, but trust to his own -good behaviour and serving faithfully those who can employ them; then -they will not want encouragement. - -This is the way I compose myself, for help I cannot anybody any longer, -and it hurts me, for I am too feeble to think much of these kind of -things. The 4th April goes the messenger, and my nephew will receive my -handy works and a few little publications. I have yet some publications -to make which will take me some time, to go with the catalogue: and then -I shall have nothing to put me in mind of the hours I spent with my dear -brother at the telescopes, and for that reason I keep the five printed -vols. of my brother’s papers, and read them over once more before I send -them to my nephew, and besides, it would be too much at once, for books -are heavy. - -Farewell, my dear Lady H., and remember me to Miss B., who, I hope, will -be good to me and write often to - - Your affectionate sister, - CAR. HERSCHEL. - -P.S.—Mr. H—— is released from his plague, for his wife is dead. - -[Sidenote: 1825. _Catalogue of Nebulæ._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _March 27, 1825_. - -MY DEAR NEPHEW,— - -I hope the MS. Catalogue of Nebulæ and that of the stars, which have -been observed in the series of sweeps along with the eight volumes from -which they have been drawn out, will not unfrequently be of use to you. - -The gauges were brought immediately after observations into a book -called “Register of Star Gauges,” which was kept with the “Register of -Sweeps.” Observations and remarks on various subjects will often be -found as memorandums, made during or at the end of a sweep, to which the -general index may serve as a direction—as for instance under the head of -zodiacal lights—the index points out twelve different sweeps in which -they were observed. - -N.B.—Let it be remembered that the memorandums in the transcript of the -sweeps between ||——|| are mine, and must be confided in accordingly. - -At the end of the Catalogue of Nebulæ I have put a list of memorandums -to the catalogue of omitted stars, and index to Flamsteed’s -Observations, contained in his second vol. They are properly not all to -be called errata, but mem. of errors, which could only be solved by -later observations, &c., &c. - - * * * * * - -All your father’s papers from the Phil. Trans., which are bound in five -volumes, and in which I have carried all corrections (in the Catalogues -of Nebulæ) I could find, I must keep a little longer, but they shall -come safe to your hands—along with Bode’s and Wollaston’s catalogues, -when my eyes have robbed me of the pleasure of reading—for which -misfortune I am in daily fear. - - I am, dear nephew, - Yours affectionately, - C. HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1825. _Life in Hanover._] - - - FROM J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - _April 18, 1825._ - -DEAR AUNT,— - -I received this afternoon your most valuable packet containing your -labours of the last year, which I shall prize, and more than prize—shall -use myself, and make useful to others. A week ago I had the twenty-foot -directed on the nebulæ in Virgo, and determined afresh the right -ascensions and polar distances of thirty-six of them. These curious -objects (having now nearly finished the double stars) I shall now take -into my especial charge—nobody else can see them. I hope very soon (in a -fortnight or three weeks) to be able to transmit to you and to MM. Gauss -and Harding our work (Mr. South’s and my own) on the double stars, in -which you will find some of my father’s most interesting discoveries -placed beyond the reach of doubt. It will contain measures of the -position and distance of 380 double stars. But Mr. South, who is an -industrious astronomer (almost as much so as yourself), has just sent me -complete and accurate measures of 279 more, making in all 659. Among -these we have now verified not less than seventeen connected in binary -systems in the way pointed out by my father, and twenty-eight at least -in which no doubt of a material change having taken place can exist. M. -Struve, at Dorpat, and M. Amici, in Italy, have also taken up the -subject of double stars, and are prosecuting it with vigour. - -I am particularly obliged to you for my father’s letters and -pocket-book—they are to me a real treasure. The style of the _Éloge_ in -the _Moniteur_ is very inferior to what I expected from Fourier; but on -the whole it contains nothing materially untrue. The publications -enclosed were very acceptable. I wish my uncle had not confined himself -to a mere catalogue of insects, but had told us a little of their -habits. Of Leibnitz’s MSS. more hereafter.... - -The _mettwursts_ are excellent. The packets to my mother and Mary shall -be sent.... - - Your affectionate nephew, - J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _May 3, 1825_. - -MY DEAR NEPHEW,— - -I must content myself with only writing a few lines by way of thanking -you for your very interesting letter, which has taken all the care from -my mind which I felt for the fate of the MS. - -Before the box left Hanover, I received a very kind letter from Hofrath -Blumenbach, in which was one enclosed to you; I hope it is come to hand, -though I am still in doubt about your direction, and for that reason -kept the letter near a fortnight before I parted with it. - -You give me hope of receiving some of your and Mr. South’s works for -Gauss and Harding. I know no way of sending them than through Mr. -Goltermann by the quarterly messenger, and that it will be well for you -to make some inquiry beforehand about the time he is likely to leave -England. - -The Duke of Cambridge will, within a month, be in England; perhaps you -will meet with him; he is a great admirer of you. Last Saturday, between -the acts of the concert, he asked me many questions about you. I wish I -had had your letter two days sooner, I should then have known better how -to answer him. He enquired if you were much engaged with astronomy? I -said you were a deep mathematician, which embraced all, &c., ... then he -asked if you studied chemistry? answer, very much! you had built -yourself a laboratorium at Slough, had a house in town for three years, -was secretary of the Royal Society, would probably, in the vacation, be -at Slough, &c., &c., and in return he told me that he heard from -everybody you were a very learned philosopher; and if I tell you that -the Duke of Cambridge is the favourite of all who know him, I think I -have made you acquainted with one another. - -My brother intends soon to write a few words about insects himself, -which is almost the only object with which he _amuses_ himself. It is -well he does not see the word _amuses_, for I suppose it should be -_sublime study_, for whenever he catches a fly with a leg more than -usual, he says it is as good as catching a comet! Do you think so? - -Perhaps I may have soon an opportunity of sending by Mr. Quintain a -German translation of Baron Fourier’s “Forlesung.” I must examine first -if I have the whole or not; it does not seem bad, but as I do not -understand French, which I had only read to me by Miss Beckedorff, I can -be no judge; but I think you will not be displeased with it; but at the -ending they have not mended it, for it also says _I_ had published all -your father’s papers, though nobody will or does believe that; still I -would rather that nothing at all had been said about me than say the -thing which is impossible; and I shall only fare like Bruce when he -pretended to have made the drawings to his publications himself; his -having wrote the book, or even having been in Abyssinia, was -disbelieved. - -I must only add that I am, my dearest nephew, - - Your affectionate aunt, - CAR. HERSCHEL. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO HERR HOFRATH UND RITTER GAUSS. - - HANOVER, _Sept. 8, 1825_. - -SIR, - -I am almost at a loss how to express my thanks sufficiently for the kind -visit with which you honoured me when last in Hanover, for not only the -wish of seeing the man of whom I so often had heard my late brother -speak in the highest terms of admiration has been at last gratified, but -I flatter myself of having found in you, sir, a friend who will do me -the kindness of presenting the works of Flamsteed (published in 1725, -with my Index to the Observations contained in his second volume) to the -Royal Observatory of the Royal Academy of Göttingen. - -The regret I feel at the separation from books which have afforded me so -many days interesting employment will be greatly softened by knowing -that, referring to the memorandums in the margin of the pages in -Flamsteed’s second volume, much time may yet be saved to any astronomer -who wishes to consult former observations, and therefore I hope you will -pardon the trouble I am thus giving you, and, with the greatest esteem, -believe me, - - Sir, - Your most obliged and humble servant, - CAROLINE HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1825. _Declining health of her Brother._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _Sept. 20, 1825_. - - * * * * * - -... I know not how it comes that I am so barren of subjects for filling -up these pages; my spirits are rather depressed at present on account of -my brother’s health, who suffers very frequently much from weakness, so -that to combat against infirmities and peevishness (the usual companions -of old age) depends entirely on my exertion to bear my share without -communication, for unfortunately we are never in the same mind, and with -a nervous person of an irritable temper one can only talk of the weather -or the flavour of a dish, for which I care not a pin about. But I think -I shall do well enough, for I am a subscriber to the plays for two -evenings per week, and Thursdays and Saturdays two ladies with long -titles are _at home_. This is what they _imagine_ (I believe) a learned -society, or blue-stocking club, of which, to make it complete (for all -what I can say), I must make one. I am to have a day too, viz., Tuesday, -and I begin to tremble for the end of October, when we are to start, for -in the morning I cannot work, and if I gad about all the evenings -nothing will be done. But we shall see! one thing I must not forget, -there are no gentlemen of the party to set us right; but luckily not -much is required,—to talk of Walter Scott, Byron, &c., will go a long -way; and I subscribe to an English library, where they have all the -monthly reviews and Edinburgh Quarterly, Scott’s works, and a few other -novels.... - - Believe me yours affectionately, - C. HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1825. _J. F. W. Herschel—Gold Medal._] - - - FROM J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - SLOUGH [_after July_], 1825. - -DEAR AUNT,— - -I have sent by Mr. Goltermann several volumes of Mr. South’s and my -paper on double stars, which form the third part of the Philosophical -Transactions for 1824. You will, I have no doubt, be gratified to hear -that the French Academy of Sciences have thought so well of this work as -to give us the prize of astronomy for the present year (a large and -handsome gold medal to each of us). Our competitors, it is whispered, -were Bessel, Struve, and Pons, the first for his immense catalogue of -stars; the second for his observations, also of double stars; the third -for his discovery of twenty or thirty comets. Will you, on receiving -them, distribute them as follows:—1. Keep the bound copy for yourself; -2. My uncle; 3. M. Harding; 4. M. Gauss; 5. The Royal Society of -Göttingen. The three last, I have no doubt, M. Blumenbach will forward. -I was gratified some time back by a short note from Professor -Blumenbach, from which I find he received the pictures safely. - - * * * * * - -I have already found your Catalogue of Nebulæ in zones, very useful in -my twenty-foot sweeps, and I mean to get it in order for publication by -degrees; but it will take a long time, as it will require a great deal -of calculation to render it available as a work of reference. - -The permission to examine Leibnitz’s MSS. will be very acceptable to me -should I again visit Hanover, but of that I have no immediate prospect. -A very intimate friend of mine, Mr. James Grahame, talks of taking up -his residence at Göttingen for the sake of the library of the -University. He is writing a history of America. I shall give him a -letter to Professor Blumenbach, and shall beg you to introduce him to -his son, Regierungsrath B., and perhaps Dr. Groskopf will make him -acquainted with Dr. Koch, of the Royal Library at Hanover, who may be -able to assist him in his researches.... If there is anything in England -you wish for, or that you cannot get so well in Hanover, pray name it, -and I will make a point of procuring it.... - - - J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - DEVONSHIRE STREET, _Dec. 30, 1825_. - - * * * * * - -I have not been doing much in the astronomical way of late—but, _en -revanche_, Mr. South has been hard at work, and has sent a second paper -of 460 double stars to the Royal Society. He is returned from Paris, and -is now busy erecting an observatory, as he means to stay six months in -England, and cannot be so long without star-gazing. I enclose a little -thing which I published in Schumacher’s _Astronomische Nachrichten_ -which may interest you. Shortly I shall have the pleasure to transmit -you some papers on the longitude of Paris, and on the parallax of the -fixed stars, which I have now in hand. Do not suppose that I pretend to -have discovered parallax, but if it exists to a sensible amount, I think -it cannot long remain undiscovered if anybody can be found to put into -execution the method I am about to propose, and I hope it will be taken -up by astronomers in general. - -I have so far perfected the system of sweeping with the twenty-foot that -I can now make sure of the polar distances of objects to within 1ʹ, and -their right ascensions to certainly within 2ʺ of time. I have -re-observed a great many of the nebulæ, and in the course of the few -sweeps I have made, have discovered many not in your most useful -catalogue. But I am now fixed in town for the winter, and have brought -up the said catalogue to consider of the best mode of preparing it for -publication, if it meets with your approbation. - -Mr. South’s later observations strikingly confirm the results obtained -by us jointly respecting the revolving stars, and afford new and very -remarkable instances in support of my father’s ideas on this subject. Of -one pair (the double star ξ Ursa Majoris) I have no doubt we shall soon -obtain elliptic elements. - -[Sidenote: 1825. _Letter from Professor Gauss._] - - -The following is the answer from Professor Gauss to the letter already -given:— - - -DEAR MADAM,— - -Being returned hither a few days ago from a journey that had kept me -absent during a month, I found your favour of September 8th, together -with your extremely valuable present of Flamsteed’s “Hist. Cœl.,” “Atlas -Cœl.,” and your own catalogue. Be assured that I acknowledge your -kindness with the most sincere gratitude, and that these works, so -precious by themselves, but much more so by the numerous enrichments -from your own hand, shall always be considered as the greatest ornament -of the library of our Observatory. - -I am very sorry that my absence from Göttingen has deprived me of the -pleasure of seeing Mr. Grahame, who was calling upon me the same day I -had set out for my journey. However, I am glad to understand from your -nephew’s letter, which Mr. Grahame has left here, that this gentleman -intends to return to Göttingen in the next year. - -I cannot express how much I feel happy of having made the personal -acquaintance [of one] whose rare zeal and distinguished talents for -science are paralleled by the amiability of her character, and I flatter -myself that in future, if I find once more an opportunity of staying in -Hanover, I shall not be denied the permission to repeat personally the -assurance of the high esteem with which I am, - - Dear Madam, - Your most obliged humble servant, - CHARLES FREDERICK GAUSS. - -GÖTTINGEN, _Sept. 28, 1825_. - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - - LIFE IN HANOVER—_continued_. - -[Sidenote: 1826. _To J. F. W. Herschel._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - _Feb. 1, 1826._ - -MY DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -On the 17th January I received by the same post your letters of December -30th and January 9th. I should have answered your precious communication -of December 30th immediately if I was not in hopes of receiving daily an -answer to what I sent on the 28th December. I cannot express my thanks -sufficiently to you for thinking me worthy of forming any judgment of -your astronomical proceedings, and am only sorry that I cannot recall -the health, eyesight, and _vigor_ I was blessed with twenty or thirty -years ago; for nothing else is wanting (and that is all) for my coming -by the first steamboat to offer you the same assistance (when sweeping) -as, by your father’s instructions, I had been enabled to afford him. For -an observer at your twenty-foot when sweeping wants nothing but a being -that _can_ and _will_ execute his commands with the quickness of -lightning [!], for you will have seen that in many sweeps six or twice -six, &c., objects have been secured and described within the space of -one minute of time. - -I cannot think that any catalogue but the MS. one in zones (which was -only intended for your own use) would facilitate the reviewing of the -Nebulæ, and _you_ are the only one to whom 1885, viz., 2nd and 3rd -class, out of the 2500, can be visible in your twenty-foot. Wollaston, -who knew this, has given in his Catalogue only 1st and 4th, &c. classes -of the first 1000, the second not having been published at that time, -and they are without the yearly variation. - -Bode has given the first and second Catalogues complete, and calculated -the yearly variation to each by de Lambre’s Tables. (See Bode’s preface, -p. iv., line 18.) The last 500 were not published yet in 1800, or rather -1801. I only mention this that if you wanted the variations, and had a -mind to trust to that catalogue of errors, it would save an immense -trouble by copying them. But the more I think of these, the more I doubt -if it would not be injuring the places of objects merely (though -accurately) pointed out, to calculate them in the same manner as stars -repeatedly observed in fixed instruments; and I doubt if your father -noticed Bode’s having done so. - -You will find undoubtedly many more nebulæ which may have been -overlooked for want of time, flying clouds, haziness, &c., especially in -those sweeps which are registered _half sweep_. It is a pity time could -not be found for making, as was often intended, a register in which the -boundaries of the sweeps, with the nebulæ, were all brought to one time, -either to Flamsteed’s or 1790 or 1800. The register in Flamsteed’s time, -which is from 45° to 129°, is for that reason the best mem. At the time -that register was made, the apparatus for sweeping in the zenith was not -completed, and higher than 45° was not used. - -If you should wish in the latter part of the summers (when your father -was generally from home) to fill up the unswept part of the heavens, you -might perhaps discover as many objects as would produce a pretty -numerous catalogue. You will see in the register of Flamsteed’s time a -curved line which denotes that the Milky Way is in those places, and if -you see an _L_ and find a cluster of stars thereabout, I shall claim it -as one of those I mentioned in my last letter to you. It was the -assistant’s business to give notice when such marks or any nebulæ in the -lapping over of the sweep either above or below were within reach, by -making the workman go a few turns higher or lower. (N.B. No more than is -convenient without deranging the present sweep.) But I am forgetting -myself, and fear I am tiring you unnecessarily, and will only add that -if your father wanted at any time to review or to show any of his -planetary or other remarkable nebulæ to his friends, the time and P.D. -was, by the variation of its nearest star in Wollaston’s or Bode’s -catalogue, brought to the intended time of observation, and P.D.—comp. -of latitude, with allowance for refraction, gave the quadrant for -setting the telescope. - -But after all, dear Nephew, I beg you will consider your health. -Encroach not too much on the hours which should be given to sleep. I -know how wretched and feverish one feels after two or three nights -waking, and I fear you have been too eager at your twenty-foot, and your -telling me that you have been unwell for some months, and now only begin -to feel better, makes me very unhappy, and I shall not be comfortable -till I see by your next that you are perfectly well again; I am quite -impatient to see what you have to say about the parallax of the fixed -stars, but on such occasions I am vexed that your father did not live to -know of your grand discoveries. You say something of a paper on the -longitude of Paris; I hope you will think of Gauss when you have -anything new. - -Among the letters from your father’s correspondents in alphabetical -parcels you will find under the letter P. some of Pond’s, who was about -the end of the last century in Lisbon, with an excellent seven-foot -telescope of your father’s, and I remember that several letters passed -between them about a double star in Böotes. - -I am much obliged to you for the sheet of Schumacher’s _Astronom. -Nachrichten_. It is highly interesting to me, and will set many a one -right without offending anyone. On looking in the 2nd Catalogue of -double stars, No. 104, ζ Böotes, VI. Class, November 29th, 1782, and 3rd -Catalogue, No. 114, ζ Böotes, I. Class, April 5th, 1796, I cannot help -thinking on the possibility that in the lapse of thirteen years and a -half the small stars may have come out from behind the large one. But I -beg do not laugh at me for breaking my head about these things, and I -will now begin to talk about what I can comprehend. - -[Sidenote: 1826. _Mr. South._] - -From your mentioning Mr. South in your last letter, I fear he intends -leaving England, at which I should be very sorry on your account, for if -I should not live long enough to know you comfortably married, I could -only console myself by your having always a Babbage, South, or Grahame -to pass your social hours with. If you can meet with a _good-natured, -handsome, and sensible young lady_, pray think of it, and do not wait -till you are old and cross. And let me know in time that I may set hands -to work to make the bridal robe; here are women who work exquisitely, -and at a price within the reach of my purse. - - * * * * * - -P.S.—Dear Nephew, I have spent too much time in gossiping with your dear -mother for saying anything besides, but I am, - - Your most sincere and affectionate aunt, - CAR. HERSCHEL. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _Aug. 8, 1826_. - - * * * * * - -The long continuance of the great heat has had so very bad an effect on -my feeble frame; and considering my advanced age, I ought not to put off -the making a sort of a will, which I would set about with the greatest -pleasure if I had anything to leave for which you would be the better. -But I am sure you will not be disappointed, for you remember I parted -with my little property before I left England (against your good advice) -because I thought at that time I should not live a twelvemonth. - - * * * * * - -From the first moment I set foot on German ground, I found I was alone. -But I could not think of separating myself from him, [her brother -Dietrich] especially as his health is so very precarious, that I often -think he will go before me. At this present moment he is in bed very -ill, suffering from weak nerves. But the above is all by way of showing -you the necessity for begging you to answer to the following questions. - -[Sidenote: 1826. _Making her Will._] - -My sweeper I wish to leave to Miss Beckedorff, and the picture of the -Princess of Gloucester to her mother, for the two ladies have been my -guardian angels for many years. - -Dr. Groskopf is to have the seven-foot reflector, though I know it will -only be a relic to him, but it will not be destroyed or sold for an old -song. My clothing and such articles of furniture as I have been obliged -to purchase, my three nieces may divide themselves in. Your dear -father’s publications in five volumes, Bode’s and Wollaston’s Catalogues -(full of my memorandums), and one of my Indexes, shall be sent to you. -Also a rough copy of the general Index to your father’s observations, -and several articles of that sort with memorandums taken from what I -have called a Day-book, which at leisure you may look over and -afterwards consign to the flames, for I cannot take it in my heart to do -it myself. - -The observations on double stars by you and Mr. South (so handsomely -bound) and the volume sent last, by South, shall I send them to -you?—else I leave them to the Duke of Cambridge!—answer required. - -Taylor’s tables, will they be of use to you for your godson -Babbage?—else they must be only an ornament to Groskopf’s -library!—answer required. - -I am impatient to have your answer to this stuff, which I am almost -ashamed to trouble you with. - - * * * * * - -My next shall be of a more agreeable subject, and I have only to say, - - I am, - Your most affectionate aunt, - C. HERSCHEL. - - - FROM J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - MONTPELLIER, _Sept. 17, 1826_. - -DEAR AUNT,— - -You will think me a strange gad-about, but my last, if you have got it, -will have prepared you to expect a letter from either the north or south -of Europe from me, in short from any country except England. I was then -not decided whether to go to Norway or the south of France, but here I -am at last, and having a letter-writing day before me and yours of the -8th August in my portfolio, I cannot do better than to answer it. - -With regard to the dispositions you mention in your letter, and -respecting which you express a wish for my opinion, they are such as it -is impossible to do otherwise than approve, and such as the good sense -and kindness which marks everything you do has dictated. - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: 1826. _J. F. W. Herschel in Auvergne._] - -I have been rambling over the volcanoes of Auvergne, and propose before -I quit this, to visit an extinct crater which has given off two streams -of lava at Agde, a town about thirty miles south of this place on the -road to the Spanish frontier. Into Spain, however, I do not mean to -go,—having no wish to have my throat cut. I am told, however, that a -regular diligence runs between this and Madrid, and is as regularly -stopped and robbed on the way. - -You say you wish for an answer respecting the vol. of observations on -double stars, sent by Mr. South and myself, but can I do better than -leave such matters to your judgment? At the same time, as having -belonged to you they could not but have a value in my eyes beyond my own -copy; but pray decide yourself. I have several left. - -I regret extremely to hear you feel those little (perhaps not little) -inconveniences we are none of us exempt from, arising from the -imperfections of human nature, both in ourselves and those we live with. -I believe the best receipt for them is endurance and a determination to -show ourselves superior to them. - -I have my rubs now and then too, but I make up my mind to them as quite -inevitable, and arising from causes over which I have no control. I am -very sorry to hear of my uncle’s bad state of health. - -I must be in England in the beginning of October, or at farthest by the -15th. So, you see, I have no time for Hanover on my way back. It is -dreadfully hot here, and I am much disappointed with the place. However, -I hope to get one day of intense sunshine while I remain in this -latitude on account of some observations on solar radiation I have to -make with a new instrument which I made before I left England, and -brought with me. I carried it up the Puy de Dome, and was in hopes to -have used it at the Great St. Bernard, in Switzerland, but that must now -stand over for another year. - -Adieu, dear aunt, and believe me—“where’er I go, whatever realms I see”— - - Your affectionate nephew, - J. F. W. H. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - _Sept. 29, 1826._ - -MY DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -Within this hour only I received your dear letter, dated Montpellier, -Sept. 17th, which I assure you has made quite another (and what is more) -a proud woman of me; for your answers to my few questions are so kindly -expressive of approbation, that I shall in future not fear to follow my -own opinion, which through my whole lifetime I never ventured to do -before. - -I am glad you did not come to Hanover, for I am sure to part from you -once more would finish me before I am quite prepared for going. - -The letter you mention having written me before you left England I have -not received. The fault does not lie here, for the secretary here takes -too much pleasure in sending me my letters. - -I must hasten to get my packet away, but will only beg to let me know -through Miss Baldwin as soon as you get home of your safe arrival, for I -fear you must often be exposed to great dangers by creeping about in -holes and corners among craters of volcanoes, but you know best, and I -hope you found something.... - - I am, - My dear nephew’s affectionate aunt, - C. HERSCHEL. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - _Nov. 1, 1826._ - -MY DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -The 1st vol. of the translation of your dear father’s papers is come -out. I shall have it in a few days from the bookbinder, and in February, -I am told, the next volume will make its appearance. I wish you would -inform me _as soon as possible_ if I shall send you a copy, that I may -write for one in time to have it ready by the end of December, when the -messenger leaves Hanover. It is a pity you cannot have it immediately. -The plates are not with the work, but are to be had bound in a separate -book (I suppose when the whole is finished). - -I long to know that you are arrived safe and in good health in England -again, for by your last, dated Montpellier, Sept. 17th, I see that you -had then another volcanic mountain to visit, besides an observation to -make on solar radiation with your new instrument; the very thought of it -puts me in a fever all over—at this present moment, though we have no -longer to complain of heat; so I beg you will inform me that your health -has not been injured, and that you have not been totally disappointed in -your researches. - -I lead a very idle life, my sole employment consists in keeping myself -in good humour and not be disagreeable to others. - -Groskopf tells me the translation of your father’s papers causes a great -sensation among the learned here in Hanover. - - * * * * * - - Believe me, dearest nephew, - Yours, most affectionately, - C. HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1826. _Accident at Sea._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - _Dec. 5, 1826._ - -MY DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -I received your letter of the 18th November, the day before yesterday, -therefore fifteen days old, which is pretty well considering the time of -year. I hope this will reach you soon, for I have longed very much to -give you an account of the last parcel of papers you sent, which I only -deferred till I had received an account of your safe arrival in England -by your own hands. - -The parcel which you gave to Mr. Goltermann on the 18th August arrived -here by the messenger on the 3rd November, and five days after (which it -took me to dry the copies, for the messenger had met with storm and -accidents at sea, and some of his boxes had been under water), viz., the -18th Nov., I sent to Göttingen, according to direction, with a note, to -Gauss. And those to Bessel and Encke I enclosed with Bode’s copy, and -wrote a letter to the same by way of thanks for some kind enquiries he -had made after me; and now I see that fourteen days after this good man -[Bode] departed this world in his eightieth year, but I have no doubt he -has delivered the papers immediately, for he had no illness, and was at -his last hour at his writing-table employed with writing the _Berliner -Jahrbuch_ for 1830. - -The copies were, after being dried, perfectly clean, no stain remaining, -and that they were so long detained is not the fault of Mr. G., for the -Michaelmas messenger was the first that went after the 18th Aug. In the -parcel I found also the letter you wrote before leaving England, which I -concluded to have been lost, but now all is safe. - -_Sun and Comet._—At Hanover totally cloudy, and by what I can learn from -a certain astronomical gossip, Prof. Wild, it has been so throughout all -Germany, for _he_ has had no account that anything has been seen on the -18th Nov. On the 17th it is mentioned (in the _Zeitungen_, I believe) a -large spot on the sun to have been observed at Frankfort, but the 18th -being cloudy it could not be pursued. - -In your observations with the twenty-foot you mention a Mr. Ramage as -having observed with you; and in another place you speak of his -twenty-five-foot reflector. Pray tell me something about this gentleman, -for I never heard his name before, and if I had not been so fortunate as -to have seen Babbage and South just before I left England, I should not -now have the comfort to know you had so estimable friends to communicate -with; and I shall rejoice to know that the number of valuable men I have -known, and are no more, might be replaced by some who are worthy to be -contemporary with the son of your father! - -You ask, as it were, if I were satisfied with the way in which you have -mentioned me in that paper? If I should answer honestly I should say not -quite, for you set too great a value on what I have done, and by saying -too much is saying too little of my brother, for _he_ did all. I was a -mere tool which _he_ had the trouble of sharpening and to adapt for the -purpose he wanted it, for lack of a better. A little praise is very -comfortable, and I feel confident of having deserved it for my patience -and perseverance, but none for great abilities or knowledge. But of this -you will perhaps be a judge, as I am now gathering from loose -memorandums a little history of my life during the years from 1772 to -1788.... - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: 1826. _Monkey Clock to count Seconds._] - -You mention a monkey-clock, or jack, in your paper. I would only notice -(if you mean the jack in the painted deal case) that Alex made it merely -to take with me on the roof when I was sweeping for comets, that I might -count seconds by it going softly downstairs till I was within hearing of -the beat of the timepiece on the first floor (at that time our -observatory) all doors being open. Your father never used it except when -polishing the forty-foot.... - -In about three weeks the messenger leaves Hanover, and I will send you -the first volume of the translation of your father’s papers; but I shall -not order ten copies as you desired, till you give me further orders, -for I do not think you will be pleased with the work, and it seems there -is not much call for them. Dr. Luthmer says, Pfaff was not the man who -ought to have attempted such a work, it ought to have been a Bessel. - -To your dear mother and Miss B. I beg to be kindly remembered, - - And remain - Yours, most affectionately, - C. HERSCHEL. - - - FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - _Dec. 24, 1826._ - -DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -You will with this receive the only volume of the translation (printed -on _bad_ paper, _without_ the prints, &c., &c.,) which is out at -present, and unless you desire me in your next to send you ten copies, I -shall only take one which can serve us both. - -I certainly will do as you desire, and tell you the amount, if at any -time you should want some expensive publication, as our bookseller here -can get by return of post from Leipsic whatever is ordered. But as to -trifles, I beg you will never think about, as I should be at a loss for -proving that you, my dearest nephew, are daily in my mind, when I am -lavishing _sums_ on nieces and grand-nephews, and nieces who care not -for me, nor I for them. But enough of this; only write me sometimes what -you and your astronomical friends are doing. - -I was much gratified to hear that Mr. South had received the medal. -Groskopf has seen it announced in the papers, where your name was also -honourably mentioned; these are the morsels for me to feed upon, for -here are no astronomers but one, Dr. Luthmer, who observes Jupiter’s -satellites, as you may see by the _Berliner Jahrbuch_, which I suppose -you have, as usual, else I have got them from ’23 to ’29, and could send -them. - -I must write a line yet to your dear mother and Miss B., and will -conclude with wishing you a merry Christmas and a happy New-year (as the -saying is), and with loves and compliments wherever they are due, &c., -&c., - - C. HERSCHEL. - -P.S.—My brother is at present tolerably well, but I hardly ever knew a -man of his age labouring under more infirmities, nor bearing them with -less patience than he does; the rest are well enough![35] - -[Sidenote: 1827. _The first Chapter of her History._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - _April, 1827._ - -DEAREST NEPHEW!— - -I have more than once asked if you would have my history, but my -question has never been answered, and I am (though unwillingly) obliged -to send it off without having received your permission.... - -Perhaps I have told you nothing but what you have known long since; but -as my thoughts are continually fixed on the past, I was, as it were, -conversing with you on paper, not choosing to trust them to any one -about me, for I know none who would understand me, or whom it can -concern, what _my own private opinion_ and remarks have always been -about the transactions that continually passed before my eyes. But there -can be no harm in telling my own dear nephew, that I never felt -satisfied with the support your father received towards his -undertakings, and far less with the ungracious manner in which it was -granted. For the last sum came with a message that more must never be -asked for. (Oh! how degraded I felt even for myself whenever I thought -of it!) And after all it came too late, and was not sufficient; for if -expenses had been out of question, there would not have been so much -time and labour and expense, for twenty-four men were at times by turns -day and night at work, wasted on the first mirror, which had come out -too light in the casting (Alex more than once would have destroyed it -secretly if I had not persuaded him against it), and without two mirrors -you know such an instrument cannot be always ready for observing. - -But what grieved me most was, that to the last, your poor father was -struggling above his strength against difficulties which he well knew -might have been removed, if it had not been attended with too much -expense. The last time the mirror was obliged to be taken from the -polisher on account of some obstacle, I heard him say (in his usual -manner of thinking aloud on such occasions), “It is impossible to make -the machine act as required without a room three times as large as -this.” - -But when all hope for the return of vigour and strength necessary for -resuming the unfinished task was gone, all cheerfulness and spirits had -also forsaken him, and his temper was changed from the sweetest almost -to a pettish one; and for that reason I was obliged to refrain from -troubling him with any questions, though ever so necessary, for fear of -irritating or fatiguing him; else there was work enough cut out for -keeping me employed for several years to come, such as making correct -registers of the sweeps in which all Nebulæ were to be laid down and -numbered, complete Catalogues, &c. But what I most regret is, that I -never could find an opportunity of consulting your father about -collecting the observations made with the 40-foot into a separate book -from the journals, into which they were written down among other -observations made with the other instruments in the same night. I know -besides that many must have been lost, being noted only either on slates -or on loose papers, like those on the first discovery of the Georgian -Satellites. Owing to my not being, as formerly, the last nor the first -at the desk (generally retiring as soon as the mirror was covered), the -memorandums were often mislaid or effaced before I had an opportunity of -booking them. But I ought to remember that suchlike incomplete -observations were made under unfavourable circumstances. For instance, -the P. D. clock disordered by not having been used for some time; the -timepiece not having been regulated, nor _every one_ of the out-door -motions wanting oiling or cleaning; company being present; the night not -perfectly clear; and, in general, the first night the instrument is used -after it has been left at rest for some time, it cannot be expected that -all should go on without interruption or ease without a good mechanical -workman had spent best part of the day in looking over all the motions, -in doing which your father used to find great pleasure. - -But what I most lament is, that between the interval before your coming -to the age of forming a proper opinion of the instrument, it had nearly -fallen into decay almost in all its parts. But we have all had the grief -to see how every nerve of the dear man had been unstrung by -over-exertion; and that a farther attempt at leaving the work complete -became impossible. - -But, by the description of the forty-foot telescope given in the -Philosophical Transactions, May 18, 1795, it may be seen what a noble -instrument had been obtained by all the exertions described in my -narrative; but from that description so briefly given there, no idea can -be formed with what accuracy and nicety each part of the whole had been -executed to make it an instrument fit for the most delicate -observations. - -P.S.—I must say a few words of apology for the good King, and ascribe -the close bargains which were made between him and my brother to the -_shabby, mean-spirited advisers_ who were undoubtedly consulted on such -occasions; but they are dead and gone, and no more of them! Sir J. Banks -remained a sincere well-meaning friend to the last. - - Farewell, my best Nephew! - -[Sidenote: 1827. _Sir William’s Copy of Locke._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - _May 8, 1827._ - -DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -Through the friendly care of Mr. D—— I am enabled to send you the first -and second volumes of Locke, the third volume, I hope, will yet be -found, and I shall send it by another opportunity. I know you will prize -the book when you know that it was one of your father’s earliest -treasures, purchased out of his own little savings, at the age of 18 -years[36]—when, along with his father and eldest brother, he was in -England with the Hanoverian Guard, which you will see by the date and -name, written in his own beautiful handwriting. When in 1758 he again -went to England, it was under such unpleasant circumstances that he was -obliged to leave it to his mother to send his trunk after him to -Hamburg; and she, dear woman, knew no other wants but good linen and -clothing, and your dear father’s books and self-constructed globes, &c., -were left behind, and served us little ones for playthings till they -were destroyed; but no more of this. You must excuse an old woman, -especially such a one as your old aunt, who can only think of what is -past, and is for ever forgetting the present.... - - * * * * * - -Now, there is gone a Herr von Münighausen, who had asked the same -favour, [that of being allowed to take a parcel to England] for they are -all very desirous of knowing J. H., and would have called on me, and -perhaps I might have had my hand kissed once more. I assure you it is no -trifle here at Hanover to have one’s hand kissed, if one cannot count -one’s forefathers for sixteen generations back as ennobled; but, alas! -he was obliged to go at a moment’s warning; but Dr. Gr. gave him your -address, and I hope you will receive him kindly. - - Farewell, dear Nephew, &c., &c., - C. HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1827. _Her Nephew’s receipt of her History._] - - - J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - _Between 4th and 11th May, 1827._ - -MY DEAR AUNT,— - -I received yesterday your packet by Mr. Goltermann, containing the ten -copies of the first vol. of Pfaff’s translation of my father’s -works—with _the plates_, which are really abominable. However, there is -no help for it. I shall destroy those of the Nebulæ. A much more -interesting part of its contents is your account of your own history, -for which I cannot enough thank you, and it is really one of the most -precious documents you could have sent me; every line of it affected me -deeply. The point of view in which it places my father’s character is -truly noble. You underrate both the value and the merit of your own -services in his cause, but the world does you more justice, and his son -feels them a great deal more than he knows how to express. I shall -preserve this as the most precious thing, and you will add to the -obligation you have conferred on me by sending the papers you refer to -under the title of No. I. - -The Journals and the _mettwursts_ also came safely; the Journals contain -some very curious matter not known in England, and which comes very -opportunely here, where, I am sorry to say, science is going to sleep. - -I have just completed a second Catalogue of double stars, which will be -read at the Astronomical Society (of which I now have the honour to be -President) on Friday (May 11th) next (if I can get it fairly copied in -time). My work in the Review of Nebulæ advances slowly, as I can very -seldom get a night or two at proper times of the moon and year to sweep. -But I find your Catalogue most useful. I always draw out from it a -regular _working list_ for the night’s sweep, and by that means have -often been able to take as many as thirty or forty nebulæ in a sweep. I -have now secured such a degree of precision in taking the places of -objects in the telescope, that the settling stars (which I prepare a -list of each night and arrange them in order of R. A. in the working -list) cross the wire often on the very beat of the chronometer when they -were expected, and not unusually enter the field of view bisected by the -horizontal wire of the eye-piece. In short, I reckon my average error in -R. A. in determining the place of a new object by a single observation, -not to exceed one second of time, and in Polar distance a quarter of a -minute. This you will easily perceive to be a considerable improvement -in respect of precision, which is more my aim than it was my father’s, -whose object was only discovery. I have found a great many nebulæ not in -your Catalogue, and which, therefore, I suppose are new. But I won’t -plague you any more with this at present. - - * * * * * - - Believe me, dear Aunt, - Your affectionate Nephew, - J. F. W. H. - -[Sidenote: 1827. _Her English Bed._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _July 10, 1827_. - -MY DEAR LADY HERSCHEL,— - - * * * * * - -It makes my heart overflow with gratitude when I see so many worthy -people remember me with kindness, and I particularly rejoice that Mrs. -Morsom has borne her misfortunes with such resignation so as to be still -able to participate in the society of her friends; of which I am, alas! -through the great distance, entirely cast out, and am obliged to trust -alone to myself for keeping up my spirits, and to bear pain and -sickness, or feel pleasure without having anybody to participate in my -feelings. Out of my family connections, however, I can boast to possess -the esteem and love of all who are great and good in Hanover, but to a -lonely old woman, who is seldom able to go into or receive company, this -does not compensate for the want of sympathising relations. - -But I have now, by change of apartments, made myself quite independent -of anybody. As long as I can do something for myself this will do very -well; but I must not meet troubles at a distance. I may, perhaps, be -spared a long confinement before I leave this world, else such a thing -as a trusty servant is, I believe, hardly to be met with in this city, -which, along with the people in it, are so altered since the French -occupation and the return of the military with their extravagant and -dissipated notions, imbibed when in Spain and England, with their great -pensions, which they draw from the latter country, that it is quite a -new world, peopled with new beings, to what I left it in 1772. Added to -this comes the fear of having my new little English bed (which on my -removal I made with my own hands) burnt before I am aware; for, figure -to yourself what danger one continually must be exposed to, when, in the -house where I live, seven families (besides the floor my sister-in-law -and I occupy) with their servants and children, are living, and their -firing wood and turf is all carried over our heads. About a month before -Easter a great brewery, very near us, burnt down, with many surrounding -houses, to the ground. I looked out of the window, and the burning -flakes fell on my forehead; besides this, I have had four times the -fright of fires at some greater distance. - - * * * * * - - Your most affectionate Sister, - C. HERSCHEL. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - _Aug. 16, 1827._ - -MY DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -On the 9th I received the papers with your short but sweet letter, and -according to your direction they are by this time at their destined -places, all but Struve’s and Bessel’s; the latter, I was obliged to -leave to the care of Encke, and Struve’s to Schumacher. I am -particularly obliged to you for your second Catalogue of double and -treble stars, which on reading it once over, makes me long for the time -when I shall be perfectly at ease to take it up again; for, by the -manner in which you gentlemen now attack the starry heavens, it seems -that there will soon remain nothing to be discovered. - -You mention that Mr. Baily intends to bring Flamsteed’s omitted stars -into a Catalogue; I send you a few errata, as I am not sure of having -carried them into the copy I left with the three volumes of Flamsteed’s -works. And in the list of your father’s MS. papers, in the packet -“Auxiliary Article,” is a Catalogue of omitted stars arranged in order -of R. A. (a copy of one which I gave to Dr. Maskelyne in 1789). This, -may perhaps save some trouble to Mr. B. in arranging them. - -Some time ago Count Kupfstein sent me a copy of Littrow’s observations -to look at (Part VII. of forty-three sheets large folio), which he -publishes at the order and expense of the Emperor. The copy was for the -University of Göttingen; but I could only admire the fine paper and -beautiful print, as I do not understand the manner in which observations -are made with the new invented instruments, for at the time I made a -fortnight’s visit to Greenwich, in 1798, they had only the mural -quadrant and the meridian passage instruments. - -I must conclude for want of time; and, to say the truth, I am fatigued, -for I cannot sit up for any length of time, till eight or nine o’clock -in the evening, when I find myself always the most fit for society, or a -little business. The weather has been too warm for me, and I have done -nothing but sleep in the mornings and afternoon, and the worst is that -everybody goes to bed between nine and ten, and then I have no society -but those I can meet with in a novel. The few, few stars that I can get -at out of my window only cause me vexation, for to look for the small -ones on the globe my eyes will not serve me any longer. - -Tell your dear mother she must not give me the slip, for I will and -cannot mourn for anyone more that I love. - - I remain, &c., &c., - C. HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1827. _Continuation of her History._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - _Sept. 25, 1827._ - -DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -Herewith you will receive what I have called No. 1, which was never -intended to have met your eye as it is; but, as contrary to my -expectation, my No. 2 was so cordially received by you, I had intended -to send you only an abridgment of it, because it contains many things -which must be very uninteresting and almost unintelligible to you on -account of your being unacquainted with the (then) manners and customs -of this country, besides requiring to remember that my father and mother -were born and educated some hundred and twenty years back. But I must -send it as it is, or destroy it immediately, for I feel I shall _now_ -never get well enough for making any alteration further than running my -eye over it and adding a note here and there where necessary. But I wish -not to leave my memorandums any longer to the chance of falling into the -hands of officious would-be learned ignorance, to furnish a paragraph in -some newspaper or journal. - -I will, however, save you and myself the trouble of further apologising -for sending you these papers, but just explain my reason for taking a -copy of them with me. - -When I took my leave of the contents of your father’s library, it was -parting from _all_ with which my heart and soul had been engaged for the -best part of my life, and I could not withstand the temptation of -carrying away with me an index for assisting my memory when in my -reveries I should imagine myself to be on the spot where I took leave of -all that had been most dear to me. - -What is contained in No. 1 I had intended for an everlasting pleasing -melancholy subject for conversation with my brother Dietrich, if I -should go back again to the place where I first drew my breath, and -where the first twenty-two years of my life (from my eighth year on) had -been sacrificed to the service of my family under the utmost -self-privation without the least prospect or hope of future reward. Or -in case I had died in England, it was to have been sent to D., for I -wished him to get a more correct idea of our father than what I thought -he had formed of that excellent being. - -[Sidenote: 1827. _Letter to her Nephew._] - -He never recollected the eight years’ care and attention he had received -from his father, but for ever murmured at having received too scanty an -education, though he had the same schooling we all of us had had before -him. - -I ought to remember here, I suppose it was in the year 1818, or perhaps -earlier, your father wished to draw up the biographical memorandum you -have in your possession. But finding himself much at a loss for the -dates of the month, or even the year when he first arrived in England -with his brother Jacob, I offered to bring some events to his -recollection by telling what I remembered having passed at home during -the two years his brother was with him, with the proviso not to -criticize on telling my story in my own way. But not being very positive -about the exact date when my eldest brother returned, I wrote to my -brother D. for the date when Jacob entered the orchestra, and found not -to have been much out in my reckoning. And from that time on, your -father became more settled, and could have recourse to the heads of his -compositions, &c., &c., for the dates he wanted for his purpose. - -Of all that follows I do not remember to have shown him a single line. -But as I had once begun the subject I did not know how or where to leave -off, and went on, thinking my brother D. might some time or other profit -by getting better acquainted with what had passed in our family before -his time, and during his infancy, till the death of his father, which -happened when D. was in his twelfth year, of which, from the -conversation I had with him during the four years between 1809 and 1813, -when last in England, I found he had not the least notion, or had -purposely formed a very erroneous one. - -But in the last hope of finding in Dietrich a brother to whom I might -communicate all my thoughts of past, present, and future, I saw myself -disappointed the very first day of our travelling on land. For let me -touch on what topic I would, he maintained the contrary, which I soon -saw was done merely because he would allow no one to know anything but -himself.... Of course, about these papers I could never have any -conversation with him nor anybody else, and I send them to you for your -perusal, because I do not wish to keep them any longer, and you may put -them in the fire after having read them over. - - Adieu, dear Nephew, believe me ever, - Your most affectionate Aunt, - CAR. HERSCHEL. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - _Dec. 22, 1827._ - - * * * * * - -... Of Dr. Olbers, I hear frequently through a sister and niece here at -Hanover; the last was that he was lamenting at Captain Müller not having -brought the paper you had intended for him; the poor man, I hear, is -grown corpulent and short-breathed, so that he cannot mount up to his -observatory without difficulty. - -I heard from Capt. Müller (what I had been thinking before) that poor -Encke has not changed his situation for the better. I do not mean with -regard to income, for I believe his salary is four or five thousand -thalers per year, which is equal, or even more, than that of a Prime -Minister; but he has no instruments. Much is promised, but he gets -nothing; and besides, his family is settled in Götha. It is a pity such -a man should be obliged to be idle. - -In my last to your dear mother I wrote nearly all I had to say about -myself, except what concerns my health, of which I could not give a very -good account. Lately I was obliged to consult an oculist, but I suppose -he cannot help me, for he has not ordered me anything. I cannot, after -having been asleep, get my eyes open again for a considerable time, this -is attended with a violent headache and giddiness—but no more of this. - -Once you were asking me if I wanted a few of my Indexes; if it is not -too late (as you have given up the secretaryship), I would be glad of a -couple. N.B.—A hundred copies were promised me as a present, and were -not half of them received. The one I have by me, which is intended for -you, with my corrections in it, is spoilt in the binding; and I should -like to give one to the Duke of Cambridge, to put him in mind of the -little old woman who has so frequently been cheered by his kind -attentions. - - I remain your most affectionate Aunt, - CAR. HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1828. _Her Annuity._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - _May 9th, 1828._ - -MY DEAR LADY HERSCHEL, - -This is to be a letter of thanks, but I cannot determine to whom I am to -allot the greatest portion of my thanks, to you or Miss Baldwin, for her -agreeable letter of April 15th, in which so many interesting friends and -acquaintances of mine are remembered. For, believe me, my dear Lady H., -it is ever with great reluctance I am yearly drawing on you for so -considerable a sum, which in the end must some time or other be felt by -my dear nephew; but who would have thought it, that I should last so -long? but now I am losing strength daily, and I cannot expect to be long -for this world. I only say this by way of putting you in mind that I -received my annuity at the beginning of the first half-year, and -therefore when you hear of my death all your care on my account must be -at an end, for I leave a sufficient sum to defray all possible expenses -attending a funeral, &c. - -But there is nothing grieves me more than that, at my leaving England, I -gave myself, with all I was worth, to this branch of my family, -believing them (from what my brother D. and their letters told me) as -many noble-hearted and perfect beings as there were individuals. But -though I am disappointed, I should not like to take back my promise, -which could not be done without creating ill-will, and I am too feeble -to bear up against any altercation. - -I see I have not left room for all the loves and compliments, but I beg -you will give them to whoever is kind enough to remember, - - My dear Lady Herschel, - Your most affectionate Sister, - C. HERSCHEL. - - -In February, 1828, Miss Herschel’s services to the Science of Astronomy -were recognized by the presentation to her of the Gold Medal of the -Royal Astronomical Society. - - - FROM J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - _May 5, 1828._ - -DEAR AUNT,— - -Herewith you will receive the medal, of whose award you will have read -in the printed notice I enclosed you some ten days ago. My mother also -begs your acceptance of a pair of bracelets, and begs me to thank you -for your kind and beautiful present of needlework (which even I could -admire), and for the _mettwursts_ (which I fully comprehended, and part -of which I still comprehend, having regaled on one for breakfast). My -mother and cousin are quite well, and desire their best love. Slough -stands where it did, and star-gazing goes on well. I have just erected a -new instrument (Mr. South’s _ci-devant_ large equatorial), and you shall -hear from time to time what is doing.... - - Your affectionate Nephew, - J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - -The presentation of the medal is the natural duty of the president of -the society, but as Mr. Herschel held that office on this occasion, and -had with characteristic modesty “resisted,” as he confesses, the -proposed honour, the following supplemental address was delivered by Mr. -South, the vice-president, who presented the medal to Miss Herschel -through her nephew. It is an eloquent and not unworthy tribute, and an -interesting memorial of the esteem in which she was held by the most -distinguished body of scientific men in the kingdom. - -[Sidenote: 1828. _Gold Medal of Astronomical Society._] - - -_Address to the Astronomical Society, by J. South, Esq., on presenting - the Honorary Medal to Miss C. Herschel, at its Eighth General Meeting, - February 8th, 1828._ - -GENTLEMEN,— - -Our excellent president, in his address, has informed you of the -appropriation of two of your gold medals since our last anniversary:—a -third, however, has been decreed by your council; and when it is known -that Miss Caroline Herschel is the individual to whom it stands -adjudged, it is not difficult to determine why the president has avoided -the slightest allusion to it. - -But that your Council has not selected one from the many of its members -infinitely more competent to do justice to the transcendent merits of -that illustrious lady is most assuredly matter of regret. I must -therefore throw myself upon your indulgence, hoping that the goodness of -the cause may in some measure compensate for the inability of its -advocate. - -The labours of Miss Herschel are so intimately connected with, and are -generally so dependent upon, those of her illustrious brother, that an -investigation of the latter is absolutely necessary ere we can form the -most remote idea of the extent of the former. But when it is considered -that Sir W. Herschel’s contributions to astronomical science occupy -sixty-seven memoirs, communicated from time to time to the Royal -Society, and embrace a period of forty years, it will not be expected -that I should enter into their discussion. To the Philosophical -Transactions I must refer you, and shall content myself with the hasty -mention of some of her more immediate claims to the distinction now -conferred. To deliver an eulogy (however deserved) upon _his_ memory is -not the purpose for which I am placed here. - -His first catalogue of new nebulæ and clusters of stars, amounting in -number to one thousand, was made from observations with the twenty-foot -reflector in the years 1783, 1784, and 1785. A second thousand was -furnished by means of the same instrument in 1785, 1786, 1787, and 1788; -while the places of 500 others were discovered between 1788 and 1802. -But when we have thus enumerated the results obtained in the course of -_sweeps_ with this instrument, and taken into consideration the extent -and variety of the other observations which were at the same time in -progress, a most important part yet remains untold. Who participated in -his toils? Who braved with him the inclemency of the weather? Who shared -his privations? A female. Who was she? His sister. Miss Herschel it was -who by _night_ acted as his amanuensis: she it was whose pen conveyed to -paper his observations as they issued from his lips; she it was who -noted the right ascensions and polar distances of the objects observed; -she it was who, having passed the night near the instrument, took the -rough manuscripts to her cottage at the dawn of day and produced a fair -copy of the night’s work on the following morning; she it was who -planned the labour of each succeeding night; she it was who reduced -every observation, made every calculation; she it was who arranged -everything in systematic order; and she it was who helped him to obtain -his imperishable name. - -[Sidenote: 1828. _Her Astronomical Labours._] - -But her claims to our gratitude end not here; as an original observer -she demands, and I am sure she has, our unfeigned thanks. Occasionally -her immediate attendance during the observations could be dispensed -with. Did she pass the night in repose? No such thing: wherever her -brother was, there you were sure to find her. A sweeper planted on the -lawn became her object of amusement; but her amusements were of the -higher order, and to them we stand indebted for the discovery of the -comet of 1786, of the comet of 1788, of the comet of 1791, of the comet -of 1793, and of the comet of 1795, since rendered familiar to us by the -remarkable discovery of Encke. Many also of the nebulæ contained in Sir -W. Herschel’s catalogues were detected by her during these hours of -enjoyment. Indeed, in looking at the joint labours of these -extraordinary personages, we scarcely know whether most to admire the -intellectual power of the brother, or the unconquerable industry of the -sister. - -In the year 1797 she presented to the Royal Society a Catalogue of 560 -stars taken from Flamsteed’s observations, and not inserted in the -British Catalogue, together with a collection of errata that should be -noticed in the same volume. - -Shortly after the death of her brother, Miss Herschel returned to -Hanover. Unwilling, however, to relinquish her astronomical labours -whilst anything useful presented itself, she undertook and completed the -laborious reduction of the places of 2,500 nebulæ, to the 1st of -January, 1800, presenting in one view the results of all Sir William -Herschel’s observations on those bodies, thus bringing to a close half a -century spent in astronomical labour. - -For this more immediately, and to mark their estimation of services -rendered during a whole life to astronomy, your Council resolved to -confer on her the distinction of a medal of this Society. The -peculiarity of our President’s situation, however, and the earnest -manner in which the feelings naturally arising from it were urged when -the subject was first brought forward, caused your Council to pause,—and -waive on that occasion the actual passing their proposed vote. The -discussion was, however, renewed on Monday last, and, although there was -every disposition to meet the President’s wishes, still under a -conviction that the actual doing so would have been a dereliction of -public duty, it was - -Resolved unanimously, “That a Gold Medal of this Society be given to -Miss Caroline Herschel, for her recent reduction, to January, 1800, of -the Nebulæ discovered by her illustrious brother, which may be -considered as the completion of a series of exertions probably -unparalleled either in magnitude or importance in the annals of -astronomical labour.” This vote I am sure every one whom I have the -honour to address will most heartily confirm. - -Mr. Herschel, in the name of the Astronomical Society of London, I -present this medal to your illustrious aunt. In transmitting it to her, -assure her that since the foundation of this Society, no one has been -adjudged which has been earned by services such as hers. Convey to her -our unfeigned regret that she is not resident amongst us; and join to it -our wishes, nay our prayers, that as her former days have been glorious, -so her future may be happy.[37] - - -Extract from the Report of the Council of the Astronomical Society to -the Annual Meeting, Feb. 13, 1835.[38] - - -“Your Council has no small pleasure in recommending that the names of -two ladies, distinguished in different walks of astronomy, be placed on -the list of honorary members. On the propriety of such a step, in an -astronomical point of view, there can be but one voice; and your Council -is of opinion that the time is gone by when either feeling or prejudice, -by whichever name it may be proper to call it, should be allowed to -interfere with the payment of a well-earned tribute of respect. Your -Council has hitherto felt that, whatever might be its own sentiment on -the subject, or however able and willing it might be to defend such a -measure, it had no right to place the name of a lady in a position the -propriety of which might be contested, though upon what it might -consider narrow grounds and false principles. But your Council has no -fear that such a difference could now take place between any men whose -opinion could avail to guide that of society at large; and, abandoning -compliment on the one hand, and false delicacy on the other, submits, -that while the tests of astronomical merit should in no case be applied -to the works of a woman less severely than to those of a man, the sex of -the former should no longer be an obstacle to her receiving any -acknowledgment which might be held due to the latter. And your Council -therefore recommends this meeting to add to the list of honorary members -the names of Miss Caroline Herschel and Mrs. Somerville, of whose -astronomical knowledge, and of the utility of the ends to which it has -been applied, it is not necessary to recount the proofs....”[39] - -[Sidenote: 1828. _An Hon. Member of the R. A. Society._] - - - _May 28th, 1828._ - -DEAR AUNT,— - -... Before this reaches you, you will have got it [the medal]. Pray let -me be well understood on one point. It was none of my doings. I resisted -strenuously. Indeed, being in the situation I actually hold,[40] I could -do no otherwise. The Society have done _well_. I think they might have -done _better_, but my voice was neither asked nor listened to. - -I ought to mention that it became a matter of discussion at the _Royal_ -Society whether one of the Royal medals for the year should not be -adjudged to you, but the rule limiting the time within which those -medals must be granted being precise, it could not be done without a -violation of principle. - -I have sent by Mr. G. a few copies of a work of mine on Light, for you -to distribute. I shall by the next opportunity (_possibly by this_) send -some copies of a third catalogue of double stars, completing the first -1,000. The nebulæ are advancing rapidly; I have got about 1,500 -re-observed. - - Your affectionate nephew, - J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - _June 3, 1828._ - -MY DEAREST NEPHEW,— - - * * * * * - -And I must once more repeat my thanks to you (and perhaps to Mr. South) -for thinking so well of me as to exert yourselves for having the great -and undeserved and unexpected honour of a medal bestowed on me.... - -Here I was interrupted, and all along of the medal; for my friends are -all coming to congratulate me, and leave me no time to think of what to -say of myself; but I will soon write again, and for the present will -only beg that you (or Miss Baldwin, for I dare say she knows,) will give -me the history of the medal, such as whose head it is which is on the -one side? (I know who it is like very well) and if the impression is to -be permanent? - -Next, I wish to know if you, or the Royal Society, or the Observatory at -Greenwich (the latter I think must be) are in communication with the -Imperial astronomer Littrow? If you have seen any of the publications -which are yearly printed at the expense of the Emperor, I could wish, if -it is not too much trouble to you, to know what you think of the work; -because Count Rupfstein, Chargé d’Affaires, sent me the copy (which was -to go to Göttingen) to look at, and since then he wants my opinion about -it. And I know no more about it than that it is a book printed on fine -paper, large folio, of 195 pages, with seven plates of the New -Observatory made out of the old one, built at the top of the seventh -story of the University at Vienna, a description of the store of -instruments, thirty-five articles including rules, two spirit-levels and -a case of drawing instruments; tables of precession, aberration, and -nutation of ninety-four of the principal stars for the beginning of the -year 1835; but I forgot the rest; but so much I remember, that the whole -book is filled with these ninety-four stars, of which I cannot -comprehend the use, but I say nothing about it, and _hum_ and _ha_ when -the good man begins to talk about it. Dear nephew, adieu! - - I am, your affectionate aunt, - CAR. HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1828. _Thanks for Bracelets._] - -I have but just time to thank my dear Lady Herschel, in the first place -of giving me the great pleasure of seeing her own handwriting once more, -which to me continues much plainer than all the beautiful new-fashioned -Italian hands. Secondly, I return my best thanks for the beautiful -bracelets; I am going to let them be admired this evening, as I am -obliged (though very unwell) to go to a tea-party, and it will be no -small trouble to me to make myself fine enough for not disgracing your -present. - -When next I write I hope I shall not be hurried so, and be able to tell -you how it goes here at Hanover. Last week I heard five songs by Madame -Catalani at the theatre here; but of this, more in my next. - - With many compliments to Miss B., - Believe me, your most affectionate sister, - C. HERSCHEL. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - _June 23, 1828._ - -DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -I have but just time to write a few lines to accompany the Journals Nos. -II. and III., therefore I must beg you to excuse the unconnected manner -in which I am writing, for it must require some time before I, and many -a one beside me, will recover from the fright we were put in on the -21st, at three o’clock in the afternoon, by a thunderstorm, accompanied -with a shower of hail of such an uncommon size as weighing three -quarters of a pound; some speak of still larger. I, of course, could -only judge of them at a distance by the look, as my carpet was covered -by them of all sizes and shapes; I noticed one in particular of the form -of a bottle of india-rubber (as it looks before the neck is cut off), -but was at the time incapable of going near enough, for I was obliged to -keep out of the direction where they entered, forcing the fragments of -glass to my sofa (where I was just going to take my solitary dinner) at -the opposite end of the room, which is twenty-one feet distant from the -window. The houses look deplorable, and the streets are still glittering -with powdered glass. Expresses were sent instantly by the magistrates in -all directions to the neighbouring towns and glass-houses for workmen -and materials. I have been fortunate enough to get my lodging-room -mended after lying only two nights without anything but a shutter. - -Our gardens and country houses about Hanover have had the same fate. -This happened the day before a _Volks Fest_, which the Hanoverian -Bürgers keep for three days yearly, and for which all preparations were -made, and is now by many kept with a heavy heart. - -But I must not lose this opportunity of mentioning what I forgot in my -last, which is to beg you will (when I am no more) take my medal under -your protection, and give it a place among those you have of your -father’s and your own. I will take care that it shall be delivered to -you along with those books which I keep yet as companions, though it is -seldom I can look into them, for most of my time I am obliged to waste -in lying on the sofa, where I try to forget myself by reading nonsense, -over which I soon go to sleep. - -I have the two dullest months before me, for the plays and concerts do -not begin again till autumn; all families are either gone to the baths -or at their villas, &c. My friends are all some dozen years younger than -myself, and I cannot always, or but seldom, accept their invitations. -Hauptmann Müller took twice tea with me since Christmas. He heard from -Encke that a great astronomical meeting was to take place at Berlin, to -which Mr. South had been invited; if there should be any truth in this, -and that you and Mr. South were _inseparables_, I might hope to see you -once more; but I must not think of anything at the distance, agitations -I cannot bear any longer, I only exist by attempting to be indifferent -about all human events, and hardly anything can yet give me pleasure but -to hear that you, my dear nephew, and those who are dear to you, are -well and happy. - - Yours very affectionately, - C. HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1828. _About the Medal._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - _Aug. 21, 1828._ - -MY DEAR NEPHEW,— - - * * * * * - -What you tell me in the short note dated May 24th, which accompanied the -three copies of my Index, concerning the medal, has completely put me -out of humour with the same; for to say the truth, I felt from the first -more shocked than gratified by that singular distinction, for I know too -well how dangerous it is for women to draw too much notice on -themselves. And the little pleasure I felt at the receipt of the few -lines by your hands, was entirely owing to the belief that what was done -was both with your approbation and according to your recommendation. -Throughout my long-spent life I have not been used or had any desire of -having public honours bestowed on me; and now I have but one wish, that -I may take _your_ good opinion with me into my grave. - -I have no time or inclination to think much on this subject, else I -could say a great deal about the _clumsy speech_ of the V. P. Whoever -says _too much of me_ says _too little of your father_! and only can -cause me uneasiness. - -Mr. South I have seen only twice, or perhaps three times, and that was -in yours and your dear father’s presence, and to all conversation -between you and Mr. South I could only be a listener, and, seeing you so -well agree together I congratulated myself on your having found a friend -possessing much knowledge of what passes in common life, of which a -young and deep mathematician and philosopher has had no time of laying -in a great stock. - -I heard you would make a visit to Struve at Dorpat this summer together, -and I concluded I should then have had a call on the way home. But on -that account I feel now relieved from the painful prospect of a final -parting from you once more, though it will cost me many melancholy hours -to bring that to paper which I yet wish for you to know. But I am too -much destroyed at present to explain myself any further, and will only -say that by the Michaelmas messenger I will send every scrap of paper -which I have yet kept solely for my amusement and for assisting my -memory. You may look them over at some leisure [time] and then destroy -them; for I go not one night to bed but thinking it may be the last of -my life.... I have a numerous and valuable acquaintance, but I keep all -my difficulties to myself, for I was ever careful not to injure a -relation, or one with whom I am connected, in the opinion of others, by -saying what I think of them. - -I must prepare to pay a visit at the villa of a friend of mine where I -have twice this summer refused an invitation. - -So, God bless you, my dearest nephew, and be assured of my affectionate -regard. - - C. HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1828. _On her Diary._] - - - FROM J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - LONDON, _Dec. 9, 1828_. - -MY DEAR AUNT,— - -I received your most valuable diary and all the papers you sent me by -Mr. Goltermann quite safe, and I most sincerely thank you for them. You -speak of “exposing yourself” by presenting them to me, but I am so far -from considering it in that light, that I feel proud to possess them, -and if anything could increase the regard and esteem I entertain for -their writer, it would have been their perusal. Your promised Christmas -“scraps and lucubrations” will not be less welcome. - -The Journals also came safe and well to hand, but in the _series_ you -have sent me I cannot find that for December, 1827, which prevents my -binding up the set. If you can procure this and enclose it with the -next, I shall be very glad. - -I trust to my cousin Mary for telling you all the news of family -matters. Astronomy goes on pretty well. My sweeps accumulate. I am very -sorry that anything I said should have put you out of humour with the -medal, which was a well-merited distinction, and so far as the -Astronomical Society is concerned, most honourably conferred. All voices -are agreed on that, and on the propriety of the thing, so pray don’t -suffer yourself to be put out of conceit with it by my nonsense, which -after all only went to the manner, not the matter. Our friend S. means -well, but wants discretion. - - * * * * * - - - J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - 26, LOWER PHILLIMORE PLACE, - _Jan. 14, 1829_. - -MY DEAR AUNT,— - -I received your two letters at once, and I cannot enough thank you for -the kind consideration which prompted your offer, for I will not yet -call it your gift, as I cannot really consent to such a robbery. If you -are bent on giving me something truly valuable—infinitely more so than -money, which (though I am not rich, and am now less so by some annual -hundreds than I was, and am about _voluntarily_[41] to incur a still -further diminution of income) yet, thank God, I am in want of nothing -and would rather spare to you than let you spare to me. But if you want -to give me what I shall really prize highly, let it be your portrait in -oils of the size of my father’s. Let me send back the money, and employ -part of it in engaging a good Hanoverian artist to paint it. You often -tell me your time hangs heavy, so here I am furnishing you with a refuge -from _ennui_, and when you know how much pleasure it will give me to see -your likeness hanging by my father’s, and that you can without -inconvenience or difficulty (and _now_ without expense) do it, I entreat -you not to refuse. I know what you will urge against it, but you -undervalue yourself and your own merits so much that I will not allow it -any weight. - -My mother is ill with the gout, but I hope it is not going to be a -severe fit, as she is already on the mend. - - Your affectionate nephew, - J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1829. _On her Nephew’s marriage._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - _March 3, 1829._ - -MY DEAR LADY HERSCHEL,— - -I long to congratulate you on the happy occasion of seeing your dear son -so happily settled, but am almost afraid your late illness ... may have -prevented you from being present at the performance of the ceremony on -which the future happiness of my dear nephew is so much depending. - -I must beg you will thank Miss B. for sparing me so much of her time by -her circumstantial accounts of the interesting event, and hope she will -continue to write, though I am not able to answer punctually, for I am -not free from pain for one hour out of the twenty-four, and so it has -been for a long time past with me. N.B.—She mentions my nephew having -written me a letter informing me of his future happiness, but such I -have not received, and perhaps he may only have intended it, or it is -lost.... - -The following hint is only to you as a dear sister, for as such I now -know you:— - -All I am possessed of is looked upon as their own, when I am gone; the -disposal of my brother’s picture is even denied me—it hangs in Mrs. H.’s -drawing-room, where a set of old women play cards under it on her club -day.... - -I have no great matters to leave, a few articles of furniture which I -had the trouble to provide myself with (though I paid for furnished -lodgings), would not produce a capital if sold. It is only pictures, -books, telescopes, globes, &c., I regret should come into hands of those -who know not the value of them; but Miss Beckedorff will take my sweeper -under her protection; but enough of this.... I hope, above all, to have -soon the pleasure to hear that you will hold out with me now that we are -entering on our eightieth year. - -But as long as God pleases I shall remain - - Your most affectionate sister, - C. HERSCHEL. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL, ESQ. - - _March 3, 1829._ - -MY DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -I have spent four days in vain endeavours to gain composure enough to -give you an idea of the joyful sensation Miss B.’s (and your P.S.) -letter of February 5th has caused me. But I can at this present moment -find no words which would better express my happiness than those which -escaped in exclamation from my lips, according to Simeon. See St. Luke, -cap. ii., v. 29: “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace!” - -I have now some hopes of passing the few remainder of my days in as much -comfort as the separation from the land where I spent the greatest -portion of my life, and from all those which are most dear to me, can -admit. For from the description Miss B. has given me of the dear young -lady of your choice, I am confident my dear nephew’s future happiness is -now established. - -I beg you will give my love to your dear lady, and best regards to all -your new connections where they are due in the best terms you can think -of, for I am at present too unwell for writing all I could wish to say. - -I have suffered much during this severe winter, and have not been able -to leave my habitation above three or four times for the last three -months, and feel, moreover, much fatigued by sitting eight times within -the last ten days to Professor Tielemann for having my picture taken, -which he did at my apartment, and now he has taken it home to finish. -You will receive it with the Easter messenger, but I must send it -without frame.... I must conclude, for I wish to say a few words to your -dear mother. It is now between eleven and twelve, and perhaps you are at -this very moment receiving the blessing of Dr. Jennings, in which I most -fervently join by saying, “God bless you both!” - - Your happy and affectionate aunt, - CAR. HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1829. _Her Portrait._] - - - TO THE SAME. - - _March 30, 1829._ - -DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -I have received my picture; by the enclosed card you will see the name -of the artist.... Whatever you may think about my looking so young, I -cannot help; for two of the days I was sitting to him, I received the -agreeable news from England—one day Lady H.’s likeness was thrown in my -lap (Mr. Tielemann taking it out of the box), and four days after, the -account of your approaching happiness arrived. No wonder I became a -dozen years younger all at once. I was sitting about seven hours in so -many days in my own apartments; but there is but one voice, that the -picture looks life itself. - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: 1829. _Letters._] - - - TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - _Nov. 16, 1829._ - - * * * * * - -I was unwilling to be troublesome with a repetition of the detail of my -infirmities, to which I have of late to add cramps and rheumatic -complaints, which rob me of many hours’ sleep and the usual nimbleness -in walking, which has hitherto gained me the admiration of all who know -me; but the good folks are not aware of the arts I make use of, which -consist in never leaving my rooms in the daytime, except I am able to -trip it along as if nothing were the matter. - -I am glad you are removed again to Kensington, where you are within a -few hours’ reach of all who are dear to you (a blessing I never enjoyed -throughout all the years of my long life). But I must get in another -strain; only when I am writing to you (in particular) I cannot help -comparing the country in which I have lived so long, with this in which -I must end my days, and which is totally changed since I left it, and -not one alive that I knew formerly, except my dear Mrs. Beckedorff; -through her means I have, however, been introduced to many valuable -ladies of rank and amiable qualities, but to keep up their acquaintance -I am obliged to sacrifice my ease and required quiet, which I have still -vanity enough to do sometimes. - -A fortnight ago I paid my respects to the Landgräfin of Hesse-Homburg -(who looks younger and handsomer than when we saw her as a bride at -Slough the day before she left Windsor); it was by her desire I made the -visit, and I was honoured with a salute at parting, by way of showing we -were friends (as she was pleased to say), and a desire to repeat my -visit soon. - -... I wish also to know on what subject the late Alex. Stewart may have -wrote, for that he was an author I know, but I never saw any of his -works and might most likely not have understood them, for you know I had -no time to read anything for my improvement, but was obliged to be -poring for ever over astronomical tables and catalogues, &c. - -Another thing I wish Miss B. to inform me of. The 30th November the -Royal Society opens with choosing their President and Council; I wish -for a list of their names, and likewise of the next change of the -Astronomical Society of London. But do not wonder at my being so -inquisitive about these things. I cannot think of anything else which -could interest me more than to see the names of learned men on paper, -especially when I see any of those I have known among them. Besides, as -in December our concerts begin, where the Duke of Cambridge, on seeing -me, generally makes some inquiry after my nephew and family, and what is -going on in the philosophical world, one does not always like to stand -with one’s mouth open, or to say I cannot tell!... - -Mrs. and Miss Beckedorff send their kind love.... - -Mr. Q., 63, he owns himself, marries a young lady in her teens, but she -owns 23; she could not withstand his pretty equipage. He is grown very -old and nasty, and good for nothing but to injure his children and -grand-children. - - God be with you, my dear Lady H. - Believe me your most affectionate sister, - C. HERSCHEL. - - - TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL, ESQ. - - HANOVER, _January 11, 1830_. - -MY DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -I am sorry it was not in my power to send a letter by way of announcing -the Journals, &c., which you will, I hope, receive soon by the messenger -who left Hanover the 27th of December. I have been very ill and confined -to my room now three weeks, but it seems _der Würg Engel[42] ist noch -einmal vorüber gegangen_, at which I am very glad, because I wish to be -a little better prepared for making my exit than I am at present. - -I intend to amuse myself between this and Easter with collecting and -packing up those books which were to be sent to you after my death, and -perhaps if I have withstood this _terrible_ winter I may have the -pleasure of hearing that you have received them safe, and live in the -enjoyment of a few months more, in which I hope to hear of the happy -increase to your family, and prosperity in general. - -So I am to be godmother! with all my heart! I am now so enured to -receiving honours in my old age, that I take them all upon me without -blushing.... - -_Jan. 12th._—No letter for me yet! and no news, except that the -Landgräfin of Hesse-Homburg sent me yesterday a very handsome fur mantle -to wear when I go to the play, with a message that if I did not put it -on, by way of saving it, the next thing she sent me would be a rod. I am -accused of having been clothed too thin, for which I have been suffering -these last three weeks.... I will give my opinion, and in style of a -critic, and you will find yourself not to come off quite free from -blame. You have represented me as a goddess, whereas I have done nothing -but what I believe to be right; and wherever I did wrong, it was because -I knew no better! - -[Sidenote: 1830. _A Box of Gifts._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL, ESQ. - - HANOVER, _June 18, 1830_. - -MY DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -This letter will go by to-day’s post, which I believe is the last before -the messenger leaves Hanover, and Legations Rath Haase has promised to -direct the box for me, so that it is to be called for at Mr. -Goltermann’s either by yourself, or somebody who will look to it, that -it may come safely to your hands. And I will give you here a list of the -contents of the box, by which you will see that I must be very anxious -till I know that it is safely come to hand, especially as I was obliged -to have the box made very slight on account of saving size and weight. - - _Contents_:— - Wollaston’s Catalogue. - Bode’s Catalogue. - My Index to Flamsteed’s Observations. - Herschel’s and South’s Observations, bound in red morocco. - Logarithmic Tables by Taylor. - Seventy-two Papers of your father’s, in five volumes. - -The parcel directed for my niece contains ornaments which I am afraid -will soon be wanted for a general mourning, but I am told they may be -worn at any time. Miss Beckedorff chose them for me; my direction was -they should be pretty, and not of English manufacture, and not larger -than what might be put in the space which I showed her. I am only sorry -I could not find anything that might please your dear mother, for, to -judge by myself, we want now only ease, quiet, and patience to bear the -pains and infirmities attendant on our age; and we are too far asunder -for doing more than wishing one another the above-mentioned qualities. - - * * * * * - -I had intended to have sent my medal along with the books, but since you -have presented me with the handsome miniature of your dear Margaretta, -from which I cannot part as long as I live, I have mentioned already to -Dr. Groskopf that the medal, miniature, and my gold watch (the gift of -her grandfather in 1774), are to be sent to my grand-niece and namesake, -C. H. - - * * * * * - -I do not like to send empty paper, but I must. Time falls short, and I -am tired already with the thought of the long walk I have to take to -carry this letter, for I must see Haase once more, and it is attended -with great difficulty to get so heavy a box over at present. - - God bless you, dear nephew, - Says your affectionate aunt, - CAR. HERSCHEL. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL, ESQ. - - HANOVER, _Oct. 27, 1830_. - -MY DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -I see by my memorandum-book that I sent a letter to your dear mother on -the 20th August, partly in answer to one of Miss Baldwin’s, which -contained the melancholy account of Miss Isabella [Stewart’s] dangerous -state of health. I have ever since been very uneasy, and wishing for -more cheering information, because I know what a drawback it would be on -the happiness of all your dear connection if you should lose her, -besides the interruption it must cause in the hitherto cheerful -correspondence in which even my dear niece took the pen to join in -affording me the only comfort I am yet capable of receiving.... - -Tell your dear Margaret that the very day on which the letter arrived, -in which she requested some hair, I sent for the hair-dresser and made -him cut off all which was useless to me, leaving plenty for a toupee and -a little curl in the poll. But I repented not having kept a few out of -the plait, which I might have sent in a letter, as I understand it is -designed for a talisman against the evils of this hurly-burlying world. -But I consoled myself with the thoughts that no harm could possibly -assail the dear little creature as long as she is under the care of her -affectionate and excellent mother, leaving a loving father out of the -account. - -Dr. Groskopf has been _zum Ritter ernannt_ by his present Majesty. So -was Dr. Mühry last week. If all is betitled in England and Germany, why -is not my nephew, J. H., a lord, or a wycount at least (query)? General -Komarzewsky used to say to your father, Why does not he (meaning King -George III.) make you Duke of Slough? - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: 1830-1831. _Her Nephew’s Book._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL, ESQ. - - _March, 1831._ - -MY DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -If it was not high time to congratulate you on your birthday—of which I -most heartily wish you may enjoy many returns in uninterrupted and -increasing happiness—I might have still deferred to thank you for your -kind letter and the valuable present of _your book_. I intend to follow -your mother’s example to read it “from end to end,” which I was hitherto -not able to do on account of my dim eyes; but now the days are getting -longer I think I see better, and to judge by the few pages I have read, -that so far from making me go to sleep, it will be an antidote against a -propensity for doing so in the daytime. - -I much regret my inability to acknowledge my dear niece’s letter in such -a manner as might encourage a correspondence with me, but it is -difficult to write in a cheerful strain when one is continually in the -dismals. I do all I can to keep up my spirits under a daily increase of -my infirmities, and have been best part of the winter confined to my -rooms. My complaint is incurable, for it is a _decay_ of nature, and -nine days after your birthday I am eighty-one. What a shocking idea it -is to be decaying! _decaying!_ But never mind—if I am decaying here, -there will be, as Mrs. Maskelyne once was comforting me (on observing my -growing lean), “the less corruption in my grave!” - -_22nd._—Some weeks ago I wrote as above, which I intended as a preface -to my dying speech, with intention to give you a few hints concerning -——, and indeed I may say of all my German relations, except the Knipping -family. If I did not fear that some of them would, after my decease, -introduce themselves as troublesome correspondents to you, I would -rather write about something else just now, and indeed I had better drop -the subject, for you will know, I suppose, how to rid yourself of a -pestering fool by answering coolly, or not at all. - -_23rd, afternoon._—Yesterday I was interrupted again, and the whole -morning of the present, which I had intended to spend with you at -Slough, has again been taken up with gabbling with my radical servant. -But the day after Easter I get another, and I hope I shall have better -luck; but till then I am not mistress of my time, therefore will hasten -to inform you that Mrs. Beckedorff is packing up a parcel for me, which -is going from here the day after Easter.... The packet contains a -tablecloth, with twelve napkins (the cloth is eight yards long, Mrs. B. -says), which I hope my dear niece will do me the pleasure to accept as a -remembrance of her old aunt. - -Your book[43] I have read as far as page 150, and met with nothing but -what I clearly can comprehend, and promise myself much pleasure in -reading the rest, which hitherto I have been prevented to do by being -continually interrupted, and besides not being able to read many pages -at a time before the lines run one into another. - -My dear niece said in her letter to me your book would cause a -sensation, and so it has, as I hear from all quarters. I am told it has -been translated into German from a French translation, and much [all in -admiration] is appearing in Gelehrten Anzeigen, which I have not yet -been able to get a sight of.... I must give over and defer writing till -I am provided with pen, ink, and paper. The first thing my radical -servant did when she came to me was to break the bottle [containing] the -ink of my own making, which was to have lasted me all my life-time.... -First and foremost, give my love to your dear mother, and believe me, -ever your most affectionate aunt, - - C. HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1831. _Letter to her Niece._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO MRS. HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _May 14, 1831_. - -O! my dearest niece, where shall I find words which can express my -thanks to you for writing me such an interesting letter, at a moment -when you were suffering from indisposition! - - * * * * * - -_May 18th._—Dear niece, how are you now? I hope so far well enough to -read what I think necessary to say in answer to yours of May 2nd. I was -glad to see that you think the table-linen pretty, but I tremble on -seeing that you puzzle yourself about sending me anything in return. -Nothing would distress me more than receiving anything from England -besides such dear letters as I have hitherto been blessed with, for I am -provided with even more than is necessary to appear in the best circle -of society, whenever my feebleness will permit me to go from home, and I -feel no small regret at leaving so many good things among those who do -not want it, or ever cared for me. Now, this is once for all! and you -have nothing to do but to go by what dear Herschel says—he knows me, I -see, better than I thought he did. - -I have something to remark about what you call my letters, which were to -be deposited in the letter case. I was in hopes you would have thrown -away such incoherent stuff, as I generally write in a hurry at those -moments when I am sick for want of knowing how it looks at home, and not -to let it rise in judgment against my, perhaps, bad grammar, bad -spelling, &c., for to the very last I must feel myself walking on -uncertain grounds, having been obliged to learn too much without any one -thing thoroughly; for my dear brother William was my only teacher, and -we began generally with what we should have ended; he, supposing I knew -all that went before. Perhaps I might have done so once, but my memory -he used to compare with sand, in which everything could be inscribed -with ease, but as easily effaced. Some time hence you will see a -book[44] in which I transcribed such lessons as my brother was obliged -to give me at such times when I was to set about some calculations of -which I knew not much about. I shall this summer collect every scrap of -that kind—some written by my brother, and some penned down as they -flowed from his lips, and some even incomplete, which were intended to -be given more correct when at leisure. I bought a very handsome -portfolio for this purpose, and had my nephew’s new seal engraved upon -the lock. - -I should not have thought of troubling my dear nephew or you with -looking over these fragments, but I cannot part with remembrances of -times long gone by, so long as life is in me; but for fear I should not -have at the last moment the power of burning them, I will keep them -ready for being sent off to Slough, for nothing of the kind shall be -seen by unhallowed eyes.... - -[Sidenote: 1831. _Her Grave.—Paganini._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _June 4, 1831_. - -MY DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -Just now I received yours of May 22nd, and the next post will not go -from here till the 7th, and I wish the wind may be favourable that you -may be soon made easy about the £50, for which I beg you will, according -to custom, give the above receipt to your dear mother. And you may as -well add my heartfelt thanks; for what good can it do troubling her with -my letters, knowing the weakness in her hands will not permit her -answering them.... - -... I have laid apart for every possible expense which can occur at my -exit. Six years ago I had a vault built in the spot where my parents -rest. The ground is mine auf ewig (for ever). - -You have made me completely happy for some time with the account you -sent me of the double stars; but it vexes me more and more that in this -abominable city there is no one who is capable of partaking in the joy I -feel on this revival of your father’s name. His observations on double -stars were from first to last the most interesting subject; he never -lost sight of it in his papers on the construction of the heavens, &c. -And I cannot help lamenting that he could not take to his grave with him -the satisfaction I feel at present at seeing his _son_ doing him so -ample justice by endeavouring to perfect what he could only begin.... - - - TO MRS. HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _August 11, 1831_. - -... I wish Paganini may make some stay yet in England, that you, or my -nephew at least, may hear him. The English cannot be more frantic about -him than the Hanoverians were. He filled our play-house twice at double -price, and though some part of the orchestra had been thrown into -parquet, still gentlemen were scattered among the lamps and squeezed in -among the performers on the stage. You will think me the maddest of the -mad when I tell you that, after spending three parts of each day in pain -and misery, I make one of the audience twice a week, if possibly I can -hold up my head; for then I am lulled into forgetfulness of my severed -situation from all what _was_ or _is_ still dear to me, and amuse myself -sometimes with having my vanity tickled by the notice which is taken of -my being or not being present. In _The Sun_ of July 13 is a description -of Paganini’s face and looks, which I could not have given better myself -after having had some conversation with him (through an interpreter); on -coming one evening at the end of a play out of my box, I found some -gentlemen waiting to introduce him to me, which I believe was partly -done to give the people an opportunity to see him. - -I am reading all the Parliamentary speeches as given in _The Sun_, and -there I meet with some excellent ones by a Sir James Mackintosh; pray is -he any connexion of your family? In the paper of July 6th I saw a -quotation (by a speaker, Mr. E. Lytton Bulwer,) from a celebrated -philosopher (meaning our _own_ J. Herschel) who had felicitously -observed that “the greatest discoverer in science can do no more than -accelerate the progress of discovery.”... - - I remain, my dear niece, - Your most affectionate - CAR. HERSCHEL. - - -The following letter, from the celebrated Encke, is one of the few -preserved which belong to this period, and gives graceful expression to -the high esteem in which she was held:— - -[Sidenote: 1831. _Letter from Prof. Encke._] - - - FROM PROFESSOR ENCKE TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - BERLIN, _Aug. 17, 1831_. - -MADAME,— - -I feel great pleasure in informing you that the parcel which has been -forwarded to me through your kindness is safely arrived here, and has -been delivered to Professor Mitscherlich, according to the directions -given by your celebrated nephew, J. Herschel. - -I hardly know, madame, how to return you my thanks for the trouble you -have so kindly taken in transmitting the parcel to me. It would, indeed, -have been an irretrievable loss to have been deprived of the excellent -treatise written by your eminent nephew, had it not reached its -destination. - -Allow me, madame, to avail myself of this opportunity to pay my respects -to a lady, whose name is so intimately connected with the most brilliant -astronomical discoveries of the age, and whose claims to the gratitude -of every astronomer will be as conspicuous as your own exertions for -extending the boundaries of our knowledge, and for assisting to develope -the discoveries by which the name of your great brother has been -rendered so famous throughout the literary world. - - I am, with great esteem and regard, madame, - Your most obedient, humble servant, - T. F. ENCKE. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _Oct. 25, 1831_. - -MY DEAR SIR JOHN,— - -But mind, you are still my dear nephew, and will be so good as to give -the above to your dear mother. With this last sum, I have actually -received since I am here a thousand pounds; a sum which I had no idea -(nor I am sure your father neither) you would have been burdened with so -long, for when I left England I thought my life was not worth a -farthing. But no more of this for the present.... - -You promised me another Catalogue of double stars, but I suppose you -have had no time to arrange them. But do not observe too much in cold -weather. Write rather books to make folks stare at your profound -knowledge.... - -Loves and compliments to all whom _we_ love, and God bless my dear -nephew, says - - Your affectionate aunt, - CAR. HERSCHEL. - -P.S.—I received Miss B.’s letter on the 16th. It gave me infinite -pleasure to see that Babbage and Brewster have also been honoured with -notice. As for the news of my dear nephew’s appointment, she came too -late, for on the 9th I was honoured by a note written by the Duke of -Cambridge’s own hands, informing me of it. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR JOHN HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _December 25, 1831_. - -DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -More than two months are elapsed since I was made happy by your dear -letter of October 15th.... I hope that perhaps some good account is on -its passage and may reach me before the rivers are frozen up, as at this -time of the year the posts are often interrupted. - -I have of late been very little from home, except two evenings in the -week to the play, for I cannot walk the streets without being led, as I -cannot trust my eyes to avoid obstacles, besides a total loss of -strength; so that the chief connection I keep up with this world depends -on what I by imperfect glimpses can gather from the newspaper and a -little talk sometimes with Mrs. Beckedorff. But a few weeks ago I -exerted myself, fearing if I delayed much longer I might not be able at -all to pay my respects to our good Duchess of Cambridge, and I wished to -make good a blunder I had committed two years ago, when I was conversing -with her at the Landgräfin’s for half an hour together, taking her all -the while to be an officer’s lady, as she came accompanied by her -brother, the Prince of Hesse, who wore a moustache. It is the case in -general, that I do not know my most intimate friends except by their -voices. I was, however, very much gratified by my visit. A lady, who is -in the habit of going to Court, left my name along with her own with the -lady-in-waiting, and the next Sunday we were appointed to be there at -half-past one (a very inconvenient hour for me, for I only begin to be -alive when other folks go to sleep). But no reception could be more -friendly. I was made take my place by her on the sofa, and after some -conversation, the little Princess Augusta was called to tell me that she -had seen you at Slough; you had shown her the telescope and described -how it was moved by the handle round about. I asked her if she had seen -the little girls. The Duchess explained that her call had been -unexpected, and regretted that she had not had an opportunity of coming -to Slough herself. Then the Princess was sent to call her father, whom I -presented with your book, and he went to fetch his spectacles, and was -much pleased with the subject, saying, “I shall read it, for I like such -things.” After I had read the whole book myself—mind, I say _the whole_, -though you recommended me to read only the first and last chapters—and -knowing no one who is worthy to look into it, I had it handsomely bound -and wrote in the top margin “To His Royal Highness, the Duke of -Cambridge.” At the side of Sir Francis Bacon stands “_from_” and in the -margin at the bottom, “Caroline Herschel, aunt of the author.” By this -means, I know it secured from contamination in the Duke’s library, where -anybody who is desirous of reading it will find it. - -[Sidenote: 1832. _Last Illness of Lady Herschel._] - - - _December 26th._ - -MY DEAREST NIECE,— - -So far I wrote last night, thinking to fill this page to-day, with such -news as I should like to communicate to my nephew if he was present; but -now all is fled from my memory, for my dear sister is ill, and perhaps -still in danger, and my only trust is in your goodness of sending me a -speedy account, which may confirm the hope you seem to entertain of her -recovery. For there is nothing I so ardently desire as to be spared the -pain of mourning for a single individual of those friends I have in -England, and how much more it would affect me to lose one so nearly -connected, and within a few months of my own age, it may be easily -imagined.... Next to listening to the conversation of learned men, I -like to hear about them, but I find myself, unfortunately, among beings -who like nothing but smoking, big talk on politics, wars, and such like -things. Of our German astronomers, I have lately heard nothing; but -that, perhaps, is owing to Encke having had the cholera, but of which he -soon recovered. Gauss has been long unhappily situated by losing his -second wife, who had been long lingering.... - -... I beg once more for an early assurance of my dear sister’s recovery. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR JOHN HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _Jan. 20, 1832_. - -MY DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -My dear niece’s and your letter of January 3rd, have indeed answered -your kind intentions, for the painful communication of your last found -me prepared, and enabled me to break the black seal with tolerable -composure, and I found no small consolation from your description of the -easy ending of your dear departed parent. - -At this moment, I am incapable of saying anything of myself. I know it -cannot be long before I shall follow the dear departed, and my pen would -trace nothing but lamentations at the prospect that my remains will not -be joined in rest by the side of those with whom I lived so long. - -But I beg and trust you will continue to bless me with your good opinion -and approbation, until the close, for that I have hitherto been in -possession of the same, I conclude from the kind letters I receive from -your own hands.... - -[Sidenote: 1832. _Enters her eighty-third year._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _March 14, 1832_. - -MY DEAREST NIECE,— - -Your precious letter, which I received this morning, has relieved my -mind from the fear that some ill might have befallen my dear friends, -because in my solitude the time between January 7th and March 14th, -seems to be an age; besides, the last melancholy letters required some -soothing subject to think on, for I do nothing else but think of the -spot where I once was and never can be again. - -But now all is well; your dear letter will make me happy for some time -to come, and in my next I will more fully reply to it, when I hope to be -more composed than I am just now, as the day after to-morrow will be my -birthday, when I, _perhaps_, enter on my eighty-third year. I am always -at the return of that day what one may call “hipt,” and therefore must -destroy my thoughts any how as well as I can. - -I kept my dear nephew’s birthday last week, the 7th of March, by -thinking of you throughout the whole day. When I was at dinner, I made -my maid stand opposite to me, and pouring her out a glass of wine, made -her say, Sir John Herschel, lebe hoch! (for ever). - -But I must hasten to say that which I wish you to know as soon as -possible, which is, to beg of all things not to send the parcel the good -Miss B. intended for me. I suppose it may consist of some dress of my -dear departed sister.... I beg your acceptance of it for a remembrance -of us both; it would vex me to add anything I set store on, only to -leave it to those I cannot esteem. - - * * * * * - -I am much obliged to my dear nephew for sending the few pages announcing -the publications of the Royal Society. It is only such morsels as these -which keep up a desire for living any longer. But the premium of the -King of Denmark’s medal, for the discovery of telescopic comets, -provokes me beyond all endurance, for it is of no use to me. One of my -eyes is nearly dark, and I can hardly find the line again I have just -been tracing by feeling on paper. - -Pray do not forget me when my nephew’s recension of Mrs. Somerville’s -works makes its appearance.... - - - TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _April 20, 1832_. - -MY DEAREST NEPHEW,— - - * * * * * - -My dear niece has promised me your article[45] on the writings of Mrs. -Somerville. I hope she will not forget it, nor you the Catalogue of -double stars. Such things make me very happy, but of any expensive -publications I would not wish you to throw away upon me _now_; it makes -me only grudge to think of having to leave them in the hands of -blockheads. But if you have anything for Göttingen, Encke, or Bessel, it -amuses me to forward it. Olbers has been dangerously ill for some time; -they tell me he is too fat, and lives too well. - -I only write this by way of announcing the parcel, that you may inquire -for it should it not come to hand in due time, else I am very tired, and -must yet make up the parcel, and I want to show myself once more -to-morrow evening at the Oratorio, as it is for the poor, and will be -the last performance this season.... - -[Sidenote: 1832. _Letter from Hanover._] - - - EXTRACT FROM A LETTER OF SIR JOHN HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _June 19, 1832_. - -... I found my aunt wonderfully well and very nicely and comfortably -lodged, and we have since been on the full trot. She runs about the town -with me and skips up her two flights of stairs as light and fresh at -least as _some folks_ I could name who are not a fourth part of her -age.... In the morning till eleven or twelve she is dull and weary, but -as the day advances she gains life, and is quite “fresh and funny” at -ten or eleven, p.m., and sings old rhymes, nay, even dances! to the -great delight of all who see her.... It was only this evening that, -escaping from a party at Mrs. Beckedorff’s, I was able to indulge in -what my soul has been yearning for ever since I came here—a solitary -ramble out of town, among the meadows which border the Leine-strom, from -which the old, tall, sombre-looking Markt-thurm and the three beautiful -lanthorn-steeples of Hanover are seen as in the little picture I have -often looked at with a sort of mysterious wonder when a boy as that -strange place in foreign parts that my father and uncle used to talk so -much about, and so familiarly. The _likeness_ is correct, and I soon -found the point of view. - -Yesterday, being the anniversary of Waterloo, there was a great military -_spectacle_ here in a large esplanade, where there is erected a tall and -very pretty column, with a bronze “Victory” at the top, hopping on one -leg. A few guns were fired, a sermon preached, the veil of the statue -(shown for the first time) pulled off by the Duke of Cambridge, and a -good dinner eaten by 350 personages, of which number I had the honour to -be one unit, in a vast saloon in the Herrenhauser Palace, about the -length, breadth, and height of St. George’s Hall, at Windsor, the Duke -presiding and giving the toasts, &c., in honour of the Waterloo heroes. -The saloon was ornamented most curiously with guns, swords, and pikes, -arranged in patterns, and with Waterloo trophies, and a panoramic view -of the field of Waterloo in compartments. No ladies were admitted to the -table, and (what say you to the gallantry of the Hanoverian military?) -there was no ball in the evening, nor _any_ the _slightest_ provision -for the amusement or participation of the fair. So Mars and Venus, I -suppose, have had a “tiff!” Adieu. - -[Sidenote: 1832-1833. _Her Life in Hanover._] - - - TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _Dec. 4, 1832_. - -MY DEAREST NIECE,— - -I shall in future, when I have anything to say to my dear nephew address -myself to you, well knowing his time is too precious for spending even -on reading.... Thank him most heartily for the “Edinburgh Review,” and -the description of the wonderful machine.... But here is the -_grievance_—I cannot possibly read the Review, my sight is almost lost, -and I must wait till Miss Beckedorff or somebody can read to me.... Dr. -Tias, who travelled through Hanover, called on me to-day. He talked -strangely about my nephew’s intention of going to the Cape of Good Hope. -Mr. Hausmann told me some weeks ago that the _Times_ contained the same -report, to which I replied, “It is a lie!” but what I heard from Dr. -Tias to-day makes me almost believe it possible. Ja! if I was thirty or -forty years younger, and could go too? in Gottes nahmen! But I will not -think about it till you yourself tell me more of it, for I have enough -to think of my cramps, blindness, sleepless nights, &c. - - - TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _March 30, 1833_. - -MY DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -Ever since the 6th of March, the day on which I received my dear niece’s -of the 26th of February, I have been enabled to dispel by its -comfortable contents the gloomy reflections with which I am on the -return of your and my birthdays assailed. But being obliged to spend -such days alone, at a distance from all who are dear to us; or, what -would be worse, in the presence of beings of uncongenial feelings, one -is apt to fall again into the dismals, which the return of the late snow -and frosty weather prevented my taking recourse to my usual remedy, -which is to turn all grievances into a joke. Your birthday I celebrated -exactly like that of 1832, viz., after dinner I jingled glasses with -Betty, and made her say, “Es lebe Sir John! hoch![46] hurrah!” She went -in the kitchen to wash the dishes, and I with a book (a silly novel) in -my hand on the sofa asleep!... - -I begin to be confused, and had rather say nothing of the thousand -things which are running in my head, and which all must be said within -the next six months. As yet I can follow your steps and proceedings, for -I read the papers—the _Globe_—and saw that in June is the meeting in -Cambridge.... From these papers I also see how all my valuable -acquaintances drop off one after another. Captain Kater has lost his -wife, the fine singer; Mrs. Parry; Lady Harcourt; your dear mother, are -gone—the latter three of my own age, and I must hold out! - - - TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _August 1, 1833_. - - * * * * * - -I have now the pleasure of thanking my nephew for his valuable book of -astronomy, having actually received it by yesterday’s post, and by a -kind letter from Professor Schumacher. I learn that I may yet hope to -see the promised Catalogue of nebulæ and double stars, to the perusal of -which I look forward as a solace during the time you will be on your way -_far, far_ from us. But these treasures cause me no little thinking -about in whose hands I shall leave them when I cannot see them any -longer, but cannot think of anyone I should like to leave them in -preference to the Duke of Cambridge. - -I cannot find words which would express sufficient thanks to my dear -nephew for his last letter, every line of which conveys a comfort. - - * * * * * - -P.S.—Dear Nephew, as soon as your instrument is erected I wish you would -see if there was not something remarkable in the lower part of the -Scorpion to be found, for I remember your father returned several nights -and years to the same spot, but could not satisfy himself about the -uncommon appearance of that part of the heavens. It was something more -than a total absence of stars (I believe). But you will have seen by the -register that those lower parts could only be marked _half swept_. I -wish you health and good success to all you undertake, and a happy -return to a peaceful home in old England. God bless you all! - -[Sidenote: 1833. _Retrospection._] - - - TO THE SAME. - - _Sept. 6, 1833._ - -MY DEAR NIECE,— - -Eight days are already gone since the arrival of your dear letter of -August 21st, and I can hardly muster up composure enough at this moment -to reply to it, because my ideas are still, what they ever have been, -more occupied with future or past events than what passes immediately -about me. At present my thoughts are wholly fixed on the busy scenes -with which you are at present surrounded, and regretting that I am not -with you to afford you any assistance, or to take charge of my nephew’s -workshops, as I used to do of his father’s when absent; or that it is -not possible to shake off some thirty years from my shoulders that I -might accompany you on your voyage. - -In answer to your query about my nephew’s building a grotto of coals I -must plead ignorance, but have no doubt many an edifice of that kind has -daily been erected and erased without my being present, for my dear -nephew was only in his sixth year when I came to be detached from the -family circle. But this did not hinder _John_ and _I_ from remaining the -most affectionate friends, and many a half or whole holiday he was -allowed to spend with me, was dedicated to making experiments in -chemistry, where generally all boxes, tops of tea-canisters, -pepper-boxes, teacups, &c., served for the necessary vessels, and the -sand-tub furnished the matter to be analysed. I only had to take care to -exclude water, which would have produced havoc on my carpet. And for his -first notion of building I believe he is indebted to me, for it was on -his second or third birthday when I lifted him in the trenches to lay -the south corner-stone of the building which was added to the original -house at Slough. It must have been the second year of his age, for I -remember I was obliged to use a deal of coaxing to make him part with -the money he was to lay on the brick. - -About the same time, when one day I was sitting beside him, listening to -his prattle, my attention was drawn by his hammering to see what he -might be about, and found that it was the continuation of many days’ -labour, and that the ground about the corner of the house was -undermined, the corner-stone entirely away, and he was hard at work -going on with the next. I gave the alarm, and old John Wiltshire, a -favourite carpenter, came running, crying out, “God bless the boy, if he -is not going to pull the house down!” (Our John was this man’s pet, he -taught him to handle the tools). A bricklayer came directly with brick -and mortar to mend the damage. - -I was called to my solitary dinner just when I was going to give you a -few specimens of my nephew’s poetry; I have some by me, composed when -about eight or nine years old, in a most shocking handwriting; but -generally about this time I am so sleepy that I think it will be best to -give you the continuation in a posthumous letter from C. H. to Lady M. -B. Herschel, to be delivered to her on her return from the Cape.... - -If I only live long enough to have the assurance of your _all_ being -well and safely got to the Cape, I will lay down my head in peace. - -My paper is not filled, but there is not time for writing more, nor do I -like to think about the present; but about a month ago I began a -day-book again, which I was in the habit of keeping when in England, and -with the contents of that I intend to fill my posthumous letter to you. - -God bless you, my dear niece ... and with my love to my dear nephew and -yourself, - - I remain, - Your most affectionate aunt, - CAR. HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1833. _To Professor Schumacher._] - - - TO PROFESSOR SCHUMACHER. - - _Dec. 11, 1833._ - -DEAR SIR,— - -By recollecting your former obliging kindness to me, I am encouraged -once more to intrude on your valuable time by transcribing part of my -nephew’s last letter, dated from Portsmouth, November 10th:—“The last -proof sheet of my nebulæ paper left my hands the night I left London, -and yesterday I got twelve copies to take to the Cape. One will be -forwarded to you to-morrow by Lieut. Stratford, R.N., superintendent of -the “Nautical Almanac,” who will send it to Prof. Schumacher, to whom, -if you do not soon get it, pray write. I have also ordered a duplicate -to be sent you by Mr. Hudson, assistant secretary of the Royal Society, -and librarian, who will henceforward send you all my papers (in -duplicate). My observations on the satellites of Uranus, which confirm -my brother’s results, were sent to be put in course of publication last -night.” - -I have no doubt but that you, Sir, are in correspondence with the above -named, but to me unknown, gentlemen, and that those two copies intended -for me are only enclosed in a packet with many for yourself. - -I long much to see the observations on the Georgian satellites, but -doubt their being ready to come with the paper on nebulæ. I beg you will -order them to be forwarded to me as soon as you see them yourselves, for -I do not flatter myself with the hopes of being much longer for this -world, but will be thankful if life is spared me till the end of April, -when I hope to receive the assurance of my nephew’s safe arrival with -his dear family at the Cape. - -Excuse my troubling you so far, and believe me with great regard, dear -Sir, - - Your much obliged and humble servant, - C. HERSCHEL. - - - - - CHAPTER VII. - - SIR JOHN HERSCHEL AT THE CAPE. - - - CAPE TOWN, _Jan. 21, 1834_. - -MY DEAR AUNT,— - -Here we are safely landed and comfortably housed at the far end of -Africa, and having secured the landing and final stowage of all the -telescopes and other matters, as far as I can see, without the slightest -injury, I lose no time in reporting to you our good success _so far_. M. -and the children are, thank God, quite well; though, for fear you should -think her too good a sailor, I ought to add that she continued sea-sick, -at intervals, during the whole passage. We were nine weeks and two days -at sea, during which period we experienced only one day of contrary -wind. We had a brisk breeze “right aft” all the way from the Bay of -Biscay (which we never entered) to the “calm latitudes,” that is to say, -to the space about five or six degrees broad near the equator, where the -trade winds cease, and where it is no unusual thing for a ship to lie -becalmed for a month or six weeks, frying under a vertical sun. Such, -however, was not our fate. We were detained only three or four days by -the calms usual in that zone, but never _quite_ still, or driven out of -our course, and immediately on crossing “the line,” got a good breeze -(the south-east trade wind), which carried us round Trinidad, then -exchanged it for a north-west wind, which, with the exception of one -day’s squall from the south-east, carried us straight into Table Bay. On -the night of the 14th we were told to prepare to see the Table Mountain. -Next morning (N.B., we had not seen land before since leaving England), -at dawn the welcome word “land” was heard, and there stood this -magnificent hill, with all its attendant mountain range down to the -farthest point of South Africa, full in view, with a clear blue -ghost-like outline, and that night we cast anchor within the Bay. Next -morning early we landed under escort of Dr. Stewart, M.’s brother, and -you may imagine the meeting. We took up our quarters at a most -comfortable lodging-house (Miss Rabe’s), and I proceeded, without loss -of time, to unship the instruments. This was no trifling operation, as -they filled (with the rest of our luggage) fifteen large boats; and, -owing to the difficulty of getting them up from the “hold” of the ship, -required several days to complete the landing. During the whole time -(and indeed up to this moment) not a single south-east gale, the summer -torment of this harbour, has occurred. This is a thing almost unheard of -here, and has indeed been most fortunate, since otherwise it is not at -all unlikely that some of the boats, laden as they were to the water’s -edge, might have been lost, and the whole business crippled. - -[Sidenote: 1834. _Sir John Herschel at the Cape._] - -For the last two or three days we have been looking at houses, and have -all but agreed for one, a most beautiful place within four or five miles -out of town, called “The Grove.” In point of situation, it is a perfect -paradise, in rich and magnificent mountain scenery, and sheltered from -all winds, even the fierce south-easter, by thick surrounding woods. I -must reserve for my next all description of the gorgeous display of -flowers which adorns this splendid country, as well as of the -astonishing brilliancy of the constellations, which the calm, clear -nights show off to great advantage; and wishing we had you here to see -them, must conclude with best loves from M. and the children. - - Your affectionate nephew, - J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - BRAUNSCHWEIGER STRASSE, No. 376, _May 1, 1834_. - -MY DEAR NEPHEW,— - -Your precious letter relieved me on the 14th from a whole twelvemonth’s -anxiety, for it was in April last year when, by your few brief lines on -business, I saw that you were seriously preparing for leaving Europe, -and from that time I became in idea a vagrant accompanying you through -all the fatigues of preparing for such a momentous undertaking. And if -it had not been for the consoling letter of your brother [in law] James, -and one from Miss B. giving me an account of the carefully arranged -accommodation with which they saw you depart, I should not have known -how to support myself till I saw your dear letter, which brought me even -more comfort than I could hope you would have found time to think of.... - -Both yourself and my dear niece urged me to write often, and to write -always twice; but alas! I could not overcome the reluctance I felt of -telling you that it is over with me, for getting up at eight or nine -o’clock, dressing myself, eating my dinner alone without an appetite, -falling asleep over a novel (I am obliged to lay down to recover the -fatigue of the morning’s exertions) awaking with nothing but the -prospect of the trouble of getting to bed, where very seldom I get above -two hours’ sleep. It is enough to make a parson swear! To this I must -add I found full employment for the few moments, when I could rouse -myself from a melancholy lethargy, to spend in looking over my store of -astronomical and other memorandums of upwards of fifty years collecting, -and destroying all what might produce nonsense when coming through the -hands of a Block-kopff in the Zeitungen. - -[Sidenote: 1834. _Arrival at the Cape._] - -My dear friends, Mrs. and Miss Beckedorff, are assisting me in my final -preparations for going to that bourn from whence none ever returned, but -let me hope that you, my dear nephew, with my dear niece and the whole -of your young family, will return to your dear relatives and friends -after having seen all your wishes and expectations crowned with success. -Though, if I may not be among those who will greet your return, I can -assure you their number will be _great_, judging from the sensation the -account of your safe arrival at the Cape has caused among all our -friends; and (as Dr. M—— will have it) “the whole intelligent and -scientific world in general are participating in our feeling.” Poor Mrs. -Beckedorff, to whom I read your letter, sat trembling and crying for -joy; for I now find that my friends had not been without fear for your -safety on account of the storms (and their sad consequences) which -prevailed for a long time immediately after your departure, and the same -evening a note was despatched to her Royal Highness the Landgräfin to -communicate the news; for from the Duke’s and her Royal Highness’s -constant inquiries when I expected to hear from you, I knew the account -of your safe arrival would give pleasure. - - * * * * * - -The feelings of joy I experienced the first few days after the arrival -of your letter are nearly evaporated, and I begin to feel already that -the essential information required for making me reconciled to the -immense space which divides me from you is still wanting; which is, that -I cannot now, as formerly, receive so frequent accounts concerning the -health of my dear niece and the children, not even from Miss B., who -used to describe their little ways so prettily, for she, too, cannot now -observe them. I look with impatience for the next account ... of the -health of my dear niece, yours, and the dear little beings. Caroline and -Isabella and I are old friends, but is William Herschel the second -likely to live (if not beyond) at least to the age of his grandfather? - -Perhaps you will receive the “Göttingsche Gelehrte Anzeigen” of 16th and -19th December, 1833, containing what is said of your book on Natural -Philosophy (by Gauss they say). - - God bless you _all_, and believe, my dear nephew, - Ever your most affectionate aunt, - CAR. HERSCHEL. - - - FROM J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - FELDHAUSEN, _June 6, 1834_. - -MY DEAR AUNT,— - -The twenty-foot has been in activity ever since the end of February, -and, as I have now got the polishing apparatus erected and three mirrors -(one of which I mean to keep constantly polishing) the sweeping gets on -rapidly. I had hardly begun regular sweeping, when I discovered two -beautiful planetary nebulæ, exactly like planets, and one of a fine blue -colour. I have not been unmindful of your hint about Scorpio, I am now -_rummaging_ the recesses of that constellation and find it full of -beautiful globular clusters. A few evenings ago I lighted on a strange -nebula, of which here is a figure! and since I am about it I shall add a -figure of one of the resolvable nebulæ in the greater magellanic cloud. -The equatorial is at last erected, and the revolving roof (upon a plan -of my own) works perfectly well, but I am sorry to say that the nights -in which it can be used to advantage are rare, even rarer than in -England, as, in spite of the clearness of the sky, the stars are -ill-defined and excessively tremulous. But a truce to astronomical -details! though from time to time I shall continue to plague you with -them.... Farewell; M. desires to add her kindest regards to those of - - Your affectionate nephew, - J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1834. _The Landgravine of Hesse._] - - -The following letters from the Princesses of Hesse and Dessau afford a -pleasing memorial of the kind and affectionate interest which they lost -no opportunity of expressing in Miss Herschel and her family. - - - HANOVER, _June 10, 1834_. - -I yesterday received the enclosed note from my niece, the Dowager -Duchess of Anhalt Dessau, but felt too unwell to send it as I could not -write, which I wished to do, to thank you also for your great kindness -about the book. My niece writes in _extasies_ with your good nature. I -am glad to learn from our dear Sophy Beckedorff that you are pretty -well. I trust to be well enough soon to see you, but I am still weak and -unlike myself. It gave me very great pleasure to learn that you have had -fresh accounts of your nephew, who, I pray God, may be prosperous in all -his very interesting and valuable undertakings. - -I am happy of having this opportunity of assuring you of the sincerity -of my regard. - - ELISE, - The Dowager Landgravine of Hesse, - born Princess of England. - -TO MISS CAROLINE HERSCHEL. - - - [_Enclosure._] - - DESSAU, _June 6, 1834_. - -Miss Caroline Herschel finds here the expressions of my utmost gratitude -for the great kindness to give me the so very interesting work of her -nephew, the worthy follower of a celebrated father. - -The gentleman here, a Mr. Schwabe, to whom it was destined, looks with -eager curiosity on the discoveries Mr. Herschel will make in the new -regions of heaven he is now examining, and if she would be inclined, -after receiving any interesting news, to make communication of it, it -would always be accepted with the best thanks of - - FREDRICA, - Duchess of Anhalt Dessau. - -MISS CAROLINE HERSCHEL. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - _Sept. 11, 1834._ - -MY DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -Your welcome letter of June 6 I received on the 19th August ... and I -know not how to thank you sufficiently for the cheering account you give -of the climate agreeing so well with you and all who are so dear to me, -and that you find all about you so agreeable and comfortable, ... so -that I have nothing left to wish for but a continuation of the same, and -that I may only live to see the handwriting of your dear Caroline, -though I have my doubts about lasting till then, for the thermometer -standing 80° and 90° for upwards of two months, day and night, in my -rooms (to which I am mostly confined) has made great havoc in my brittle -constitution. I beg you will look to it that she learns to make her -figures as you will find them in your father’s MSS., such as he taught -me to make. The daughter of a mathematician must write plain figures. - -My little grand-nephew making alliance with your workmen shews that he -is taking after his papa. I see you now in idea (memory?) running about -in petticoats among your father’s carpenters, working with little tools -of your own, and John Wiltshire (one of Pitt’s men, whom you may perhaps -remember), crying out, “Dang the boy, if he can’t drive in a nail as -well as I can!” but pray take care that he does not come to harm, and in -your next tell me something of our little Isabella, too. - -[Sidenote: 1834. _A Hole in the Sky._] - -I thank you for the astronomical portion of your letter, and for your -promise of future accounts of uncommon objects. It is not _clusters of -stars_ I want you to discover in the body of the Scorpion (or -thereabout), for that does not answer my expectation, remembering having -once heard your father, after a long awful silence, exclaim, “Hier ist -wahrhaftig ein Loch im Himmel!”[47] and, as I said before, stopping -afterwards at the same spot, but leaving it unsatisfied, &c.... - -About two months ago I was, for the last time, unfortunately, at the -theatre, when Professor Schumacher and the Chevalier Kessel, of -Danneburg, called on me. As soon as I came home I sent a note of -invitation for the next evening, but had one returned informing me of -their leaving Hanover next morning, and a promise of coming perhaps next -summer. But I hear Struve is coming, and I hope I shall get a sight of -him. The Emperor of Russia and the King of Denmark are cramming their -observatories with astronomical instruments, &c., of all descriptions, -made, I believe, some of them by Hohenbaum.... - - * * * * * - -To my dear niece I beg you to give my best love and thanks for the kind -arrangement to indemnify me for the loss of her dear letters, by -charging her brothers to inform me of all they know, &c., which, thank -God, is hitherto of the most comforting nature. - -With the most heartfelt wishes for the continuance of the health of you -all, - - I remain, &c., &c., - C. HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1835. _Sir John Herschel at the Cape._] - - - FROM J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - FELDHAUSEN, C. G. H., _Feb. 22, 1835_. - - * * * * * - -For my own part I never enjoyed such good health in England as I have -done since I came here. The first coming on of the hot season affected -me a little (odd enough with colds and rheumatisms), but it soon went -off. - -The stars continue to be propitious, and the nights which follow a -shower, or a “black south-easter,” are the most observing nights it is -possible to imagine. I have swept well over Scorpio, and have many -entries in my sweeping books of the kind you describe, viz., blank space -in the heavens _without the smallest star_. For example:— - - R.A. 16^h 15^m—N.P.D. 113° 56ʹ—a field without the smallest star. - R.A. 16 19 N.P.D. 116 3—_Antares_ (α Scorpii.) - R.A. 16 23 N.P.D. 114 25 to 214° 5ʹ—fields entirely void of stars. - R.A. 16 26 N.P.D. 114 14 not a star 16^m—Nothing! - R.A. 16 27 N.P.D. 114 0 not a star as far as 114° 10ʹ. - -and so on. Then come on the globular clusters, then more blank fields, -then suddenly the Milky Way comes on as here described (from my sweep -474, July 29, 1834):— - -“17^h 28^m, 114° 27ʹ.—The Milky Way comes on in large milky nebulous -irregular patches and banks, with few stars of visible magnitude, after -a succession of black fields and extremely rare stars above 18th -magnitude. I do not remember ever to have seen the Milky Way so -decidedly nebulous, or, indeed, at all so, before.” - -Altogether the constitution of the Milky Way in its whole extent, from -Scorpio to Argo Navis, is extremely curious and interesting. I have -already collected a pretty large catalogue of southern nebulæ, for the -most part hitherto unobserved, but my most remarkable object is a fine -planetary nebula of a beautiful greenish-blue colour, a full and intense -tint (not as when one says Lyra is a _bluish_ star, &c.), but a positive -and evident blue, between indigo-blue and verditer green. It is about -12ʺ in diameter, exactly round, or a _very_ little elliptic, and quite -as sharply defined as a planet. Its place is 11^h 42^m R.A., and 146° -14ʹ N.P.D. My review for double stars goes on in moonlight nights, and -among them I may mention γ Lupi and ε Chameleontis as among the closest -and most interesting. - -I have been hunting for Halley’s comet by Rümker’s Ephemeris in Taurus, -but without success, though in the finest sky, quite dark, and with a -newly-polished mirror. (By the way, I should mention that I have not had -the least difficulty in my polishing work, and my mirrors are now more -perfect than at any former time since I have used them.) My last comet -hunt was Feb. 18. I shall, however, continue to look out for it. Pray -mention this to Schumacher, who is Rümker’s next-door neighbour. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO A. DE MORGAN, ESQ., SECRETARY OF - ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY. - - _March 9, 1835._ - -SIR,— - -I return you many thanks for your communication of being chosen an -Honorary Member of the Royal Astronomical Society, and beg you will do -me the favour to convey my most heartfelt thanks to the honourable -gentlemen of the Council for conferring so great an honour on me; and -only regret that at the feeble age of 85 I have no hope of making myself -deserving of the great honour of seeing my name joined with that of the -much distinguished Mrs. Somerville. - -I beg you will believe me to remain, with great regard, - - Sir, your most respectful and - obliged humble servant, - CAROLINE HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1835. _Catalogues of Stars._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO F. BAILY, ESQ. - - HANOVER, _April 2, 1835_. - -DEAR SIR,— - -I feel very great gratification at recollecting that some twenty years -ago I had the pleasure of being present when you were conversing at -Slough with my dear brother, for it encourages me to address you now as -an old friend, and I might almost say my only one, for death has not -spared me one of those valuable men of the last century in whose society -I had an opportunity of spending many happy hours, when they came to -pass an astronomical night at Bath, Datchet, Clay Hall, and Slough. And -I should now in the absence of my nephew (who would in my name have -properly answered your kind letter for me) been much at a loss how to -reply to yours of March 17. But I hope, dear Sir, you will have the -goodness to return my sincere thanks to the Council of the Society for -voting me a complete copy of their Memoirs. But, considering my advanced -age and declining health, I think it best not to have them sent over to -me, for it would cause me much uneasiness to leave them in the hands of -those who could neither read nor understand them. - -I suppose my nephew must have himself a complete copy of the Memoirs; -but, if not, I beg you will give them to him, along with my love, as a -keepsake from his affectionate and grateful aunt, the first opportunity -you have to see him on his return. - -Your kind information of the work with which you are at present engaged, -touches a string which it has caused me no small trouble to silence; for -whenever my thoughts return to those two or three years of which every -moment that could be spared from other immediate astronomical business -was, by my brother’s desire, allotted for comparing each star of the -British Catalogue with their observations in that _incorrect edition_ of -1725, I feel always sorry that want of time, and, perhaps, want of -ability too, must have been the cause of leaving many incorrections -unnoticed. The work, however, was solely intended for the use of my -brother, who valued Flamsteed as an observer too much to have made use -of any other but the British Catalogue for determining the places of his -newly-discovered objects. N.B. We ought to remember that till the year -1790 and 1800, when Wollaston’s and Bode’s Catalogues appeared, we had -no other to go by, for those of Piazzi and several other excellent -observers were then not generally known. - -But, dear Sir, I ought to take leave of this to me interesting subject; -for finding, about eight years since, that, on account of the failure of -my eyes and wretched health in general, I should be unable to make -further use of Flamsteed’s works, I gave the three volumes, along with -the Atlas, Catalogue of Omitted Stars, &c., to the Observatory of -Göttingen, all marked throughout with what corrections I knew of at that -time; thinking they might be of use to the observer there, and relieve -me besides from the fear of leaving them where they could not be -appreciated, or an attempt be made to comment on them, and perhaps have -made bad worse. - -I wish (but almost fear life will not be spared me so long) to see your -new edition of the British Catalogue, therefore beg you will favour me -with a copy as early as possible. I never knew that there was a -Biography of Flamsteed’s existing, and trust you will favour me with the -same as soon as you can. - -Any small parcels of astronomical papers will come to me by favour of -Herr Schumacher in Altona, who is so kind as to send me his _Astronom. -Nachrichten_ regularly for my amusement. And if you could send me the -names of the President and of the gentlemen of the present Council, it -would greatly oblige me. - -I hope you will pardon my having intruded so long on your time, but it -has ever been my fault to be tedious in expressing my thoughts on paper; -but will now only add that, with great esteem and regard, - - I remain, my dear Sir, - Your humble servant, - CAROLINE HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1835. _Letters._] - - - FROM MRS. SOMERVILLE TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - ROYAL HOSPITAL, CHELSEA, - _April 16, 1835_. - -DEAR MADAM,— - -I have sincere pleasure in availing myself of the opportunity of writing -to you which the Astronomical Society of London has afforded me, by -placing my name in the number of Honorary Members, and greatly adding to -the value of that distinction by associating my name with yours, to -which I have looked up with so much admiration. - -My object in writing is to request that you will accept of a copy of my -book on the Connexion of the Physical Sciences, which is offered with -great deference, having been written for a very different class of -readers. - -I am proud of the friendship of your nephew, the worthy son of such a -father, who is succeeding so well in his glorious undertaking at the -Cape. I have seen a letter of the 27th January, when they were all well -and prospering. - - I remain, dear Madam, - With sincere esteem, - Very truly yours, - MARY SOMERVILLE. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - _April 23, 1835._ - -MY DEAREST NIECE,— - - * * * * * - -Your own dear letter arrived containing such a volume of joyful news, -conveyed in the most kindest expressions, as if chosen for the purpose -to cheer the heart of feeble age. - -I was then not able (nor am I so now) to thank you as I could wish for -your sparing so much of your valuable time and strength for the purpose -of making me a partaker of your domestic happiness. - - * * * * * - -I have now received in all five letters, two by your own hands, and -three by my nephew. Each time after having read them over again they are -put by, under thanksgiving to the Almighty, with a prayer for future -protection. - -... Writing to my absent friends is one of the most laborious -employments I could fly to when under bodily and, of course, mental -sickness, for it is not impossible I might, instead of making inquiry -about my little precious grand-nephew and the young _ladies_ who play, -sing, and sew so prettily, write, “O! my back. O! I have the cramp here, -there, &c.” - -I had intended to keep a day-book to note down how and where I spent my -time, and what was passing about me, which was to have served for yours -and my nephew’s amusement some day or other. But this I have given up -long since, for seeing nothing but lapses of weeks and months where I -could have given no better account of myself than that, after the -fatigue of getting up and dressing, I fell asleep on the sofa, with a -newspaper or other uninteresting subject in my hands, this would only -have put me in mind of the useless life I am leading now. - -But within the last two months I have been obliged to exert myself once -more to answer two letters, one to Mr. De Morgan, the Secretary of the -Royal Astronomical Society, the other to Mr. Baily (who I suppose is -President), for they have been pleased to choose me, along with Mrs. -Somerville, to be a member (God knows what for) of their Society. This, -and receiving visits of congratulation (for congratulate they must about -all they find—what they call _promotion_—in the _Zeitungen_) has really -somewhat disturbed me, though Captain Müller and Mr. Hausmann I am -always glad to see; with them I can talk about my nephew, for they know -him personally, and admire him. The winter else has passed away rather -heavily, because the Landgräfin not being here, I had no other -opportunity for seeing anything to put me in mind of England, but going -to eight or ten concerts, and those, ill or well, I never missed, for -there I was always sure to be noticed by the Duke of Cambridge as his -countrywoman (and that is what I want, I will be no Hanoverian!), and -then inquiries are made about my nephew and his family; even the little -princess, twelve years old, who sometimes when there, comes to give me -her hand, asking if I have had any letters from the Cape; but now I have -seen the last of them, for the family go to England, and will be absent -for many months, and where may I be when they return? But Sunday night I -sat a full hour on the sofa with the Duke at Mrs. Beckedorff’s, where I -go Sundays from seven to nine, where there is nobody but the female part -of Mrs. B.’s family, and another old lady, who was absent on account of -being not well. Of this our meeting the good Duke knew all along, and -good-naturedly came to join our gossip. - -[Sidenote: 1835. _Newton and Flamsteed._] - -Here I have filled my paper with talking of nothing but myself, because -I know that my nephew corresponds with _all_ scientific men in Europe, -for I hear frequently of extracts having appeared in the papers (of his -communications) by Struve, Littrow, &c., and should suppose he will also -know what is done at _our Society, of which I now am a fellow_! and is -of course acquainted with what Mr. Baily mentioned in his letter to me, -that at the public expense a new edition of Flamsteed’s work is now in -print, and that papers have been found at the Royal Society containing a -biography by Flamsteed’s own hands, which—but here I transcribe what Mr. -B. writes:—“I lament very much, in common with every friend of science, -that Newton’s name is mixed up with transactions that show him in a -different light from that in which we have generally received his -character. But justice to Flamsteed’s memory would not allow me to -suppress any portion of his autobiography.” - -Now we talk of biographies, I have no less than nine of my poor brother, -and heard of two more, one by Zach, which I shall try to get sight of. -There is but one or two which are bordering on truth, the rest being -stuff, not worth while to fret about. The best is accompanied with a -miniature of Reberg’s _bad_ copy; but I have ordered a lithograph copy -to be taken from the portrait by Artaud; if it turns out correct I will -send two copies as soon as they come out. - -God bless you both, and the dear children, my best niece. - - Ever your most affectionate aunt, - CAR. HERSCHEL. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO P. STEWART, ESQ.[48] - - _May 25, 1835._ - - * * * * * - -Let the time come whenever it may please God, I leave cash enough behind -to clear me from _all_ and _any_ obligations to all who _here_ do know -me. Even the expenses of a respectable funeral lie ready to enable my -friend Mrs. Beckedorff, and one of my nieces (the widow of Amptmann -Knipping,[49] who lately came to settle at Hanover) to fulfil my -directions. - -I hope you will pardon my troubling you with such doleful subjects, but -I wish to show you that my income is by one third more than I have the -power to spend, for by a twelve years’ trial I find that I cannot get -rid of more than 600 thl. = £100 per year, without making myself -ridiculous. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _August 6, 1835_. - -MY DEAREST NIECE,— - -I dare not wait any longer for a return of better spirits, _such_ as in -which I should like to reply to my nephew’s dated February 22nd, and -yours of May 19th, for I fear if I do not at least acknowledge the -receipt of them, I shall not be gladdened again by such delightful -descriptions of your health and healthful situation, and my nephew’s -contentment with the successful progress he is making in his intended -observations. - -At first, on reading them, I could turn wild, but this is only a flash, -for soon I fall in a reverie of what my dear nephew’s father would have -felt if such letters could have been directed to him, and cannot -suppress my wish that _his_ life instead of _mine_ had been spared until -this present moment; for what immense and wonderful discoveries have not -been made within these thirteen years, chiefly by his own son, or son’s -suggestion! - -[Sidenote: 1835. _Present of Constantia._] - -But I must stop here and turn to more earthly and indifferent subjects -(though they ought not to be called indifferent neither), for in the -first place I have to return my thanks for no less than three dozen of -Constantia wine, but this I shall do but with a very bad grace, for ever -since the 11th of May, when I received my nephew’s letter, I have been -in the fidgets about the trouble he and his friends must have had before -such a thing could reach me.... I feel more reconciled after unburdening -myself of some of this weighty concern by making presents to all who -love and esteem you so truly, and after setting apart a portion, -according to Captain Müller’s advice, with which you may be treated when -at your return you may perhaps visit Hanover again, there remains more -than ever I can get through with, for I am very desirous to spin out the -thread of my life till you return home. And I know it is a mistaken -notion that old folks want more of what they call comfort than young -ones. It is not very easy to find out what will convey comfort in -general.... I, for instance, know of no other comforts like those I -derive from yours and my dear niece’s letters. Her last leaves me -nothing to wish for.... - - * * * * * - -You compliment me on having a steady hand, but if you were to see the -blotting I make before I can make it hang together (when I am -_composing_, as it were, a letter) you would not say so, and, after all, -it will cause you some trouble to understand me, for the letter begins -to my dear niece, and soon after I find myself talking to you.... - - - SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - FELLHAUSEN, _Oct. 24, 1835_. - -DEAR AUNT,— - -The last accounts we have of you are that you are elected a member of -the Astronomical Society, and that to keep you in countenance, and -prevent your being the only lady among so many gentlemen, you have for a -colleague and sister member, Mrs. Somerville. Now this is well imagined, -and we were not a little pleased to hear it. May you long enjoy your -well-earned laurels! - -As I presume our news will interest you more than comments upon what -goes on in Europe, in the first place be it known to you, that we are -all well and, thank Heaven, happy. The children, one and all, thrive -uncommonly.... The stars go on very well, though for the last two months -the weather has been chiefly cloudy, which has hitherto prevented me -seeing Halley’s comet. Encke’s (_yours_) escaped me, owing to trees and -the Table Mountain, though I cut away a good gap in our principal oak -avenue to get at it. However, Maclear, at the Observatory, succeeded in -getting three views of it with the fourteen-foot Newtonian of my -father’s (the Glasgow telescope) on the 14th, 19th, and (?) 24th of -September. If you have an opportunity of letting this become known to -Encke, pray do so—(I shall write to him shortly myself). It was _in_ or -_near_ the calculated place, but no measures could be got. - -I have now very nearly gone over the whole southern heavens, and over -much of it often. So that after another season of reviewing, verifying, -and making up accounts (reducing and bringing in order the observations) -we shall be looking homewards. In short, I have, to use a homely phrase, -broken the neck of the work, and my main object now is to _secure_ and -perfect what is done, and get all ready to begin printing the moment we -arrive in England; or, if that is not possible, at least to have no more -calculation to do.... - -[Sidenote: 1835. _Duke of Cambridge._] - - - FROM H.R.H. THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE. - - HANOVER, _Nov. 19, 1835_. - -The Duke of Cambridge hastens to acknowledge the receipt of Miss -Herschel’s very obliging note, and to return his many thanks for her -attention in sending him some of the Constantia she has lately received -from her nephew. He seizes this opportunity of assuring her of the -satisfaction he felt at hearing that Mr. Herschel and his family were in -good health, and he sincerely hopes that the climate of the Cape will -agree with them. - - - FRANCIS BAILY TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - 37, TAVISTOCK PLACE, LONDON, - _Jan. 29, 1836_. - -MY DEAR MADAM,— - -I forwarded some time since, to Professor Schumacher, a copy of my -“Account of Flamsteed,” to be sent to you; and which he says was duly -transmitted. I am anxious to know whether it has arrived safe, for, as -only a limited number of copies were printed (which are _all_ -distributed) it cannot be purchased. - -I have been the more desirous that _you_ should have a copy, because -there is no one that has taken so much pains to elucidate and explain -the works of Flamsteed as yourself, and therefore I am bound in -gratitude to see that you are put in possession of a copy of the work. - -I shall take this opportunity of stating that I hear occasionally from -your nephew at the Cape of Good Hope, and that the last accounts -confirmed his continuance in good health, and his enjoyment of the -pleasures of the fine climate in which he is placed. - -I remain, my dear madam, with the assurance of my best respects, and my -best wishes for your health and happiness, - - Your very obedient servant, - FRANCIS BAILY. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO F. BAILY, ESQ. - - HANOVER, _Feb. 15, 1836_. - -DEAR SIR,— - -I am quite at a loss for terms in which to apologize for having -neglected to acknowledge the receiving of your valuable Catalogue and -biography of our dear ill-used Flamsteed, which was forwarded to me by -the usual kindness and punctuality of Prof. Schumacher on the 9th -October last. The same packet also contained Mrs. Somerville’s second -edition “On the Connexion,” &c., accompanied by a kind note, dated as -far back as April 16th, which, to my sorrow, is also still left -unanswered on account of illness, and in the hope that when the days are -somewhat longer (my eyes fail me), and that with the return of spring I -might perhaps regain some small portion of strength—but I doubt. - -The parcel also contained duplicates of my nephew’s second series, and -on the satellites of Uranus, and I must trust that on his return he will -convey my grateful thanks to you, sir, and the gentlemen, for all the -kind attention conferred on me during his absence. My last letter from -the Cape is dated October 24th, and I am much gratified by your kindness -in having informed my nephew of the wish I have that the volumes of the -Royal Astronomical Society’s publications voted to me might be kept for -him, and he seems much pleased with the arrangement. I therefore would -recommend them to your obliging care till his return. The volume of your -“Account of Flamsteed” must be my companion to the last, but I will take -care it shall be safely delivered to my nephew. - -If I will not lose another post I must conclude with the assurance of -ever remaining with great regard, - - My dear Sir, - Your much obliged and humble servant, - C. HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1836. _Southern Stars._] - - - SIR JOHN HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - _March 8, 1836._ - -DEAR AUNT,— - -Maggie desires me to finish this for her, but she has not left me room -to write at length. So I will only devote this space to one point in -your last letter which requires reply. I have not got Gauss’s apparatus, -and I am not sufficiently acquainted with his method of observing to -construct one for myself. Besides which it is quite out of my power to -undertake any extensive series of observations, being anxious to get -home, and having still so much to do, both in observation and reduction, -that I really shall hardly be able to accomplish all I have already in -hand. This comet [Halley’s] has been a great interruption to my sweeps, -and I _hope_ and _fear_ it may yet be visible another month. Unluckily -when I sailed from England I left all my volumes of Poggendorff and the -_Nachrichten_ behind me, and none of the former and very few of the -latter have reached me here. I fear it is now too late to send home for -anything, and I have two series of observations, viz., of the -comparative brightness of the southern stars, and of the photometric -estimation of their magnitudes—the former just commencing, the latter -not yet begun, which I _must_ do. Pray explain this to Gauss.... -Astronomical news I have little, but one thing very remarkable I must -tell you, γ Virginis is now _a single star_ in both the twenty-foot and -the seven-foot equatorial!!! - - Your affectionate nephew, - J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _June 29, 1836_. - -MY DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -I do not know where to begin, for I see it is nearly a twelvemonth since -I gave some account of myself, and in all that time never returned my -thanks for the three letters I received.... I have a great deal to say, -and will begin with accounting for my long silence, by confessing that I -have throughout the whole winter been too ill to do anything besides -nursing myself, and putting myself in a condition to appear before -strangers, which I am not able to do till after twelve or one at noon, -and the time which I wanted to rest after my exertion and getting my -breakfast was generally taken up by pacifying the _gulls_ about the -foolish paragraphs they had been reading the night before in the Clubs. -I never read, or would read, any of them, but when I heard of anything -appearing rational concerning you, I copied or procured the paper for -myself, and then I found among the rest a letter of yours to Professor -Plana, in Turin, dated December 28th, 1834. And not being able to do -anything of use to you myself, I begged Capt. Müller to cause those -observations of June 21st, &c., to be made by somebody here in Hanover, -and the enclosed letter will, I hope, meet with a gracious reception.... -I believe Dr. Heere will not fail the next equinox to be at his post, -and you may hear more of him. - -[Sidenote: 1836. _Her Brother’s Portrait._] - -Capt. Müller is at present with Gauss, and will deliver all your -messages personally, for you must know I beware of corresponding with -all those _known ones_ if I can possibly help it, and have through his -hands sent copies of your father’s likeness to Struve, Schumacher, -Gauss, Bessel, Encke, Olbers, &c. Gauss sent me word it was hung up in -his library. Encke sent me a very pretty letter of thanks. - -... That sending is an ugly thing. Mrs. Somerville sent me her book with -a letter dated April 16th, which I received October 9th, coming along -with Mr. Baily’s publication, _presented by the Lords Commissioners of -the Admiralty to Miss Herschel_. You cannot think how agitated I feel on -such occasions, coming to _me_ with such things!—an old poor sick -creature in her dotage.... I was going to say something yet of Mr. -Baily’s labours, but the paper is at an end; but I hope you will now -soon read in your own library at Slough what the “Quarterly Review,” No. -CIX., says, and what your Cambridge friend Whewell and others have -said—in short, Newton remains Newton! God bless my dear nephew and -niece!... My heart is too full—I can say no more than that - - I am your affectionate aunt, - CAR. HERSCHEL. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _October 20, 1836_. - -MY DEAREST NIECE,— - -From June 14 to October the 1st, and not _any the least account_, was -rather too much for me to bear, especially during the months when those -few friends who sometimes cheer me by a friendly call had all left the -town to make summer excursions.... - -I have a few memorandums for my nephew, and will for the present take -leave of my dear niece with my most heartfelt wishes that every future -account with which I may yet be blessed from her dear hand may be like -the last. - - * * * * * - -... I have four complete years of the _Astronom. Nachrichten_ ready -bound for you.... I wished to give you the number of the paper (but -cannot find it again) where Bessel speaks of Saturn’s satellites, but my -eyes are so dim, and I am too unwell for doing anything. I will -therefore only say he has seen the 6th but not the 7th, the ring being -in the way. In No. 293, two of Bessel’s assistants, Beer and Mädler, say -a great deal about the observations of your father, but that goes all -for nothing. I will only say in general that he did in one season more -than any one else could have done, and would have resumed the _hunt_ the -next fifteen years if nothing had interfered. And the Georgium Sidus was -followed as long as anything could be obtained from that planet, and it -will yet be some twenty years before he will be in that favourable -situation in the ecliptic where he was at the time when the satellites -were discovered. - -I have seen Struve’s Catalogue of Double Stars, wherein I find he agrees -with your and your father’s observations.... Do not think, my dear -nephew, that I would expose myself so as to say a word about these -things to anybody else, but to you I cannot help letting it out when I -am nettled. - -I must leave off gossiping, else I shall not get this letter away, in -which you will find Dr. H.’s barometrical observations, which I received -a few days ago.... - -[Sidenote: 1836-1837. _Spots in the Sun._] - - - SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, _Jan. 10, 1837_. - -MY DEAR AUNT,— - - * * * * * - -I am now at work on the spots in the sun, and the general subject of -solar radiation, which you know occupied a large portion of my father’s -attention. The present is an admirable opportunity for studying these -things, as the sun is infested now with spots to a greater degree than -ever I knew it, and they are arranged over its surface in a manner -singularly interesting and instructive. The sky here is so pure and -clear in our summer that it would be a shame to neglect such an -opportunity of making experiments on heat, and accordingly I have been -occupied in the December solstice in determining the constant of solar -radiation, that is to say, the absolute quantity of heat sent down to -the earth’s surface from the sun at noon, or at a vertical incidence. - -I do not think I have ever mentioned to you a remarkable and splendid -instance of liberality on the part of His Grace of Northumberland, who -has taken upon himself to defray the expenses of publishing my -observations at the Cape, and that in a manner the most delicate and -considerate imaginable. In consequence “my book” will appear, when it -does appear, under his auspices, and I hope it will not do discredit to -his munificence. This is not the only, nor the most remarkable, instance -however, of his attachment to the cause of science, and his disposition -to promote and support it. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - _March 30, 1837._ - - * * * * * - -... I have for the last five months been in continued fear of losing -Mrs. Beckedorff (to whom I could confide all my grievances). She is worn -out with a cough and breaking up of constitution, and we but seldom can -come together, which is when I am able to cross the street to go to -her.... I experience a daily increase of pain and feebleness, so that I -am (at least during this severe weather) totally confined to my solitary -home; and what is worse, my eyes will not serve me to amuse myself with -reading. But what business had I to live so very long? - -[Sidenote: 1837. _Saturn._] - - - FROM SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - FELDHAUSEN, _May 7, 1837_. - -[Illustration: _Fig. 1._] - -[Illustration: Saturn] - -... I will try to entertain you with some celestial affairs in which it -is delightful to find you still taking so much interest. As you allude -to Saturn’s satellites in your letter of October 20, I must tell you -that I have _at last_ got decisive observations of the sixth satellite -(the farthest of my father’s new ones). I had all but given the search -up in despair, when no longer ago than _last Thursday_ (May 4th inst.), -being occupied in taking measures of the angles of position of the five -old satellites with the twenty-foot and a polished new mirror, behold, -there stood Mr. Sixth! a little short of its preceding elongation. I -have kept it well in sight from 14^h 26^m Sid. T. till 16^h 35^m, in -which time it had advanced visibly in its orbit from _below_ the line of -the ansæ (as in figure) _to above_. In this interval the planet had -moved over fully one diameter of the body towards the preceding side, -and, therefore, had it been a star, must have passed over it, whereas it -preserved the same apparent distance all the while from the edge of the -ring. (N.B. Saturn not very far from the zenith on merid.) - -Next night, _Friday, May 5_, Saturn most gloriously seen: quite as sharp -as any copper-plate engraving, with power 240 and full aperture. All the -five old satellites seen and measured, being now on the opposite side. -Now considerably short of its greatest _following_ elongation; distance -just as before; and, as on Thursday, it was kept in view long enough for -Saturn to have left it behind by its own motion had it been a star. The -change of situation agrees perfectly with the period 1^d 9^h, which is -also the reason why it was not seen May 5th, being on that night near -its inferior conjunction. So this is _at last_ a thing made out. As for -No. Seven I have no hope of ever seeing it. - -[Illustration: _Fig. 2._] - -If your eyesight will not suffer from it, do write to Bessel. I am sure -he will be interested by this observation, as he is the only astronomer -who troubles himself about the system of Saturn. I shall myself write to -him shortly about it, but should like to have a few more observations. - -So now farewell once more, and, with many kind remembrances to all -Hanoverian friends, - - Believe me, your affectionate nephew, - J. HERSCHEL. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR JOHN HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _June 11, 1837_. - - * * * * * - -... From Mr. Schumacher I receive each paper as it comes from the press, -but always with a feeling of uneasiness, because I am not one of those -who can contribute anything to their valuable communications, nor even -understand all which my defective eyes allow me to read. But they -interest me exceedingly when I think what you will say. For instance, to -a paper of twenty-two quarto pages, by Bessel, “_Über den Einfluss der -Unregelmässigkeiten der Erde, auf geodetische Arbeiten und ihre -Vergleichung mit den astronomischen Bestimmungen_.”[50] Perhaps you may -have received these papers before this reaches you, but if any are lost -by the way, I collect them for you; but I fear I shall not see the day -of all the wonders coming to light when _you_ return with your -budget.... - -... I must conclude, for writing at any time makes me sad; and since I -began this letter the notice of the death of our King has arrived, and -the Duke of Cumberland has been this day proclaimed King of Hanover. It -makes me feel as if I was doubly separated from England, for your King -is now no longer my King. And we lose the Duke of Cambridge, who was -ever so kind to me wherever he saw me. Last winter he introduced me to -his brother, then Duke of Cumberland, who was here on a visit, at the -concert, who spoke to me of you first as my son, but recollected himself -that I was only aunt.... - - * * * * * - -I had illuminated my front rooms with twenty candles (snuffed them all -myself, for Betty was out to see the show) on the evening of the King’s -arrival, and so I shall again next Saturday or Sunday, when the Queen is -expected. More I cannot do!... - -... My head becomes crowded with melancholy forebodings of my not -lasting so long as to hear of your safe return to your home and the -friends which I think are only to be found in happy England; so, instead -of tracing my gloomy imaginations on paper, I go to sleep till Betty -rouses me with a cup of coffee.... But all I hear of you is told in a -tone of admiration, &c., &c., and it is felt by me like a drop of oil -supplying my expiring lamp. - -[Sidenote: 1837. _Sir John Herschel’s Return._] - - - J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, - _Sept. 7, 1837_. - -MY DEAR AUNT,— - - * * * * * - -I need hardly say how much we are rejoiced to see your handwriting once -more, though that joy is damped by your complaints of winter -indisposition. And such a winter! by all accounts. May this prove a -better! and may we hope to find you in no worse health and spirits when -we come to see you _next summer_ in Hanover. For so, if it please God to -lead us safe home, according to our present _altered_ plans, we most -assuredly propose to do. - -I say our _altered_ plans, for you know our intention was to have -embarked next March for Rio Janeiro, and there to have spent two or -three months, after which to have taken passage in the Brazilian packet -for England, which would have probably detained us till October, and -have rendered a visit to Hanover that season impracticable. But by -striking off this Brazilian trip, and taking our course directly -homewards, so much time will be saved, and all the rest of our domestic -arrangements become so much simplified that it seems like finding a -treasure, as a fund of time will thereby be placed at our disposal, the -first fruits of which, as in all love and duty bound, we have determined -to devote to you; or rather, I should say, that, when in talking over -with Margaret all the _pro’s_ and _con’s_ of the question, whether to -return home direct, or _viâ_ Brazil?—_this_ consideration at once -decided it in favour of the direct course, her desire to see you -outweighing every consideration of amusement or temporary gratification -which a visit to Rio could offer. So now be sure, dear aunty, and keep -yourself well, and let us find you in your best looks and spirits; and, -although what you say respecting our good Mrs. Beckedorff’s health is -somewhat deplorable, yet I will indulge the hope that she too will -perform a part in the _dramatis personæ_ of that happy meeting. -Meanwhile, as the time of our departure hence approaches, we shall take -care and apprise you of all our movements, respecting which it is -impossible at present to speak more precisely. - - - FROM H.R.H. THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE. - - CAMBRIDGE HOUSE, _May 18, 1838_. - -MY DEAR MADAM,— - -Having just been informed by the newspapers that your nephew is safely -landed in this country, I hasten to write you a few lines by this -night’s mail to congratulate you most sincerely on this event, which I -know will give you pleasure. - -I am unable to send you any further details about him or his family, as -I am not aware if he is arrived as yet in town, and should this not be -the case, my letter will perhaps be the first to give you this welcome -news, which I shall certainly be delighted at. - -I trust you continue enjoying your health; and with best wishes, &c., -&c., - - Yours most sincerely, - ADOLPHUS. - -[Sidenote: 1838. _Return of Sir John Herschel._] - - - SIR JOHN HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - LONDON, _May 20, 1838_. - -Here we are, my dear aunt, at last, safely landed and housed, all in -good health and, as you may suppose, in good spirits at our return. We -ourselves and our six little ones were very comfortable during our nine -weeks’ voyage in the good ship _Windsor_, which is lying snug and sound -in the river at Blackwall, with all our things on board, telescopes and -all (as well as the astronomical results of our expedition). We left our -ship, however, at the entrance of the Channel, and got to London in a -steamer under the flag of King Leopold, of Belgium, which, having been -to Glasgow to take in her machinery, was returning without passengers, -not yet being fitted up for their reception. This was a most opportune -and unexpected piece of good fortune, as I assure you we found most -sensibly, by the non-arrival of the ship till this morning, having been -four days longer at sea, beating about against contrary winds. I have -more particulars to tell than would fill this paper, which I must -reserve till our meeting, which will not now be longer delayed than is -indispensable for getting our baggage on shore, and passing it through -the Custom House, and transporting it by a barge to Windsor, and so to -Slough. I hope and trust to find you as well in health as your two -letters to John Stewart and Mary Baldwin allow us to suppose.... - - -The visit promised in the foregoing letter was paid in July, when Sir -John Herschel, accompanied by his little son, spent a few days with his -aunt, whose intense anxiety as to the proper treatment of her little -grand-nephew—his sleep, his food, his playthings—kept her in a constant -state of alarm on his account. “I,” she writes, “rather suffered him to -hunger than would let him eat anything hurtful; indeed, I would not let -him eat anything at all without his papa was present.” Great as was the -joy of the dear venerable lady to rest her aged eyes once more on almost -the only living being upon whom she poured some of that wealth of -affection with which her heart never ceased to overflow, it is on the -disappointments and shortcomings of those few precious days that she -dwells; and, if she could have felt resentment towards her nephew, it -would have been roused by the abrupt termination of his visit. Her -lamentations are piteous. Solely with the intention of sparing her -feelings, her nephew went away without letting her know the exact time -beforehand of his departure, and made no formal leave-taking, when he -bade her good-night to return to his inn. To her infinite dismay and -distress, she found that he and his son had quitted Hanover at four -o’clock on the following morning. It was kindly intended, but it was a -mistake that gave intense pain. Her introduction to her little -grand-nephew is described as follows by his father:— - -[Sidenote: 1838. _Visit from her Grand-nephew._] - - -... “Now let me tell you how things fell out. Dr. Groskopff took Willie -with him to aunty, but without saying who he was. Says she, ‘What little -boy is that?’ Says he, ‘The son of a friend of mine. Ask him his name.’ -However, Willie would not tell his name. ‘Where do you come from, little -fellow?’ ‘From the Cape of Good Hope,’ says Willie. ‘What is that he -says?’ ‘He says he comes from the Cape of Good Hope.’ ‘Ay? and who is -he? What is his name?’ ‘His name is Herschel.’ ‘Yes,’ says Willie, -‘William James Herschel.’ ‘_Ach, mein Gott! das ist nicht möglich; ist -dieser meines Neffen’s Sohn?_’ And so it all came out, and when I came -to her all was understood, and we sat down and talked as quietly as if -we had parted but yesterday.... - -“Groskopff, by the way, was recounting a strange feat which, to give you -some notion of the _sort of person_ (_par rapport au physique_), she -performed, not longer than half a year ago. Remember it is a person of -eighty-eight or eighty-nine of whom we are speaking. Well! what do you -say of such a person being able to put her foot behind her back and -scratch her ear, in imitation of a dog, with it, in one of her merry -moods?” - - -The “Day-Book,” as already stated, had been recommenced in the year -1833. The first volume of the new Day-Book concludes in May, 1837, with -comments on Baily’s account of Flamsteed, and recollections of days -spent at Greenwich in 1799, when she had seen and wondered at the piles -of manuscripts accumulated there. “Dr. Maskelyne was not indifferent to -the stores of observations of his predecessor, for he even attempted to -make _me_ undertake the examination of some of Halley’s scribblings on -fragments of waste paper [to see if they] might not belong to some star -or other. But such things cannot be done in a moment, and the parcel was -restored to its dusty shelf. Poor Dr. Maskelyne had but one assistant, -with a salary of £70 a-year, whom I once heard lament that all the -planets happened to pass the meridian in the night-time!” - -The entries are chiefly of the numerous visitors she received, but there -are frequent intervals of several months when illness or disinclination -to write prevented her continuing her Journal regularly. The English -Quarterly and Monthly Reviews and newspapers, and James’s novels, -supplied her with constant reading, and every allusion to her brother’s -or her nephew’s labours is carefully noted. It is evident that she still -was in the habit of taking ample notes of any book that interested her, -in spite of complaints of the growing failure of sight, and that, when -tolerably well, no day was considered altogether satisfactory which was -passed in solitude. It was in May, 1833, that she moved to No. 376, -Braunschweiger Strasse, and here she continued to dwell for the -remainder of her days. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _July 30, 1838_. - -MY DEAREST NIECE,— - -I hope that when you receive this my dear nephew, with his precious -charge (little William), will be safely restored to your longing arms, -and that he may have found you, with all the little family, in perfect -health. I wish to be assured by a few lines from your dear hands as soon -as possible, for I cannot divest myself of a fear that the botheration -and intrusion of some of the stupid Hanoverians must have been very -inconvenient to him. To which may be added the change of weather from -excessive heat to very cold and wet, to which at this present moment (as -far as I know) they are still exposed, for I think they must be now in -Hamburg.... - -[Sidenote: 1838. _Sir J. Herschel at Home again._] - - - SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - LONDON, _Aug. 6, 1838_. - -MY DEAR AUNT,— - -Willie and I arrived in London safe and hearty on Friday night about -eight o’clock, and I am happy to say we found all here quite well—both -mamma and all the little folks, who, as you may easily imagine, were in -great joy, and full of enquiries about you and about all our adventures -in foreign parts. Grandmamma Stewart, and all her circle also, with -exception of poor James S. (who is, however, much better, and we hope -permanently), are well, and join us in kind enquiries after you. I found -here my cousin, Thomas Baldwin, and his excellent and most amiable wife. -Cousin Mary had left us, and was returned to Anstey. - -I found Dr. Olbers well, and have to thank you, in his name, for the -Cape wine, a bottle of which was produced at dinner the day I dined -there. I assure you it was drank in good company, being associated (_not -mixed_) with Hock of 240 years of age!! Dr. O. is weak and corpulent, -but is otherwise in the full enjoyment of his mental faculties, and in -good spirits. - -I could not persuade myself to encounter a regular parting with you, -and, in fact, I found the distance to Bremen so much greater, on -enquiry, than I had fancied it, that it was necessary to leave Hanover -at four a.m., which, of course, prevented all further meeting. We shall -be most anxious to hear from you. M. will write in a day or two (and so -will the children) to thank you for all your kind remembrances of them, -and for the many pretty and valuable things you have sent; and till -then, believe me, - - My dear aunt, - Ever your affectionate nephew, - J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _Aug. 21, 1838_. - -MY DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -By the arrival of your letter of the 6th I was relieved from my fears -for the safety of you and your dear little fellow-traveller, almost a -week sooner than I had reason to hope. - - * * * * * - -... I had so longed for a few hours of confidential conversation with -you which would have spared me the unpleasant task of writing about -earthly matters.... My good neighbours came to wish me joy, and -congratulate me on having seen my glorious nephew and his son (who has -left no few admirers behind, I can tell you). - -Dr. Mühry has lost a sister, a solitary old maid, like myself, whom they -could not leave till she was buried. But she was in some respects better -off than I, for I found it necessary to order all these matters myself. -Miss Beckedorff and Mde. Knipping will at my death have to deliver a -sealed packet to Dr. Groskopff, my executor, in which, on his opening in -their presence, he will find the means requisite for discharging all the -items specified in an enclosed memorandum of directions. Such matters I -had wished to talk over with you, thinking it not unnecessary you should -know a little about the way in which I have always managed my affairs. -As soon as I was left to myself, in the year 1788, I kept a book -strictly accounting for my expenses, which was to serve as a voucher of -the orderly life I led. But being frequently under the necessity of -assisting one or other of my, as I thought, poor (but say extravagant) -relations, I began to keep a spare box, by way of showing to what extent -I have thus robbed myself.... I am sorry to trouble you with such -details, but I find myself so unwell at present that I cannot rest till -I have cautioned you not to ask any question about me of any one, for -nobody knows anything about me—my confidence in Mrs. Beckedorff, even, -can only be partial, as we can only see each other so seldom. - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: 1838. _Letter to Lady Herschel._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _Sept. 24, 1838_. - - * * * * * - -I see by the postscripts you directed my nephew to add to your letter -that you know exactly what will make his poor old aunt happy; and I must -beg you to make my peace with my dear little William, for I fear the -angry looks I gave him when seeing him climbing too high on an open -window two stories above the pavement, can have left no favourable -impression on his recollection. Unfortunately we could not converse -together: he talked too soft and quick for me (I do not hear so well as -formerly), and my mixture of German and English was not intelligible to -him.... Had the knitting with beads been known forty years sooner, it -would have been one of the accomplishments with which I came, at the age -of twenty-two, into England in 1772, for there was no kind of ornamental -needlework, knotting, plaiting hair, stringing beads and bugles, &c., of -which I did not make samples by way of mastering the art. But as it was -my lot to be the Cinderella of the family (being the only girl) I could -never find time for improving myself in many things I knew, and which, -after all, proved of no use to me afterwards, except what little I knew -of music, being just able to play the second violin of an overture or -easy quartette, which my father took a pleasure in teaching me. N.B. -When my mother was not at home. Amen. I must think no more of those -times, only just say I came to Bath with a mind eager to learn and to -work, and never changed my mind till I came here again, but now I can no -more.... One thing I must tell my nephew, which is, that I hope I have -found a deserving protector of my sweeper in Director Hausmann, and I -hope either himself or his son will find us a few comets with it yet. He -is a constant visitor of mine. - - - SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - SLOUGH, _Nov. 26, 1838_. - -MY DEAR AUNT,— - -I have received a letter from Sir Wm. Hamilton, Astronomer Royal, -Dublin, informing me that the Royal Irish Academy have elected you an -honorary member of that body. The diploma is by this time on its way to -my care, and I will, so soon as I receive it, take the very first secure -opportunity of transmitting it to you. - -Yesterday I received your most welcome letter and Mr. Boguslawski’s in -one. I wrote to him some time ago relative to Halley’s comet. He seems a -very diligent observer, and I am glad you have seen him. - -Your letter of September 24th, with its numerous dates, was like a -little diary, and almost made us fancy ourselves with you in Hanover.... - -I am sorry to see, on looking at my banker’s account, that you have -_not_ (as you promised to do) drawn on Cohen for the £50 of this half -year. Pray do, and that soon, or I shall be sadly disappointed. - -We have got a most excellent president for the Royal Society in the -Marquis of Northampton. He presided at the anniversary dinner on the -30th, and did the honours with great credit. - -A Copley Medal was awarded to Gauss for his researches, theoretical and -practical, on the subject of terrestrial magnetism. - -[Sidenote: 1838. _Elected Hon. Member of the R. A. I. S._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _Dec. 17, 1838_. - -MY DEAR NEPHEW,— - -First and foremost let me dispatch what may be called business. In the -first place, I thank you for your kind letter and communication of -having so great an honour conferred on me as to be admitted an honorary -member of the Royal Irish Academy. I cannot help crying out aloud to -myself, every now and then, _What is_ THAT _for_? Next I must beg you to -return my thanks in what words you think proper I should express them, -and if you will only send me a copy of the diploma, and keep the -original along with my other trophies, allowing them perhaps a corner in -some such box as that your dear mother had for suchlike things, for I -have no other desire but to be remembered by you and Lady H., and your -children, for yet awhile.... - -... It is a long while since you asked me if I wanted any of my Indexes -to Flamsteed’s Catalogue of omitted stars. If there should yet be any -left, I could wish to have one or two; for you hinted to me I might -leave Baily’s work to the “Archives” here, which I intend to do, and -then I should like to give an Index along with it. - - * * * * * - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR JOHN HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _Jan. 7, 1839_. - -I see, to my sorrow, that my letter was not come to hand at the time -when you directed the parcel with the diploma, which was sent me on the -2nd of January, accompanied by a note from the President, which I beg -you will answer for me, and for that purpose transcribe here the same:— - - OBSERVATORY, DUBLIN, - _Dec. 4, 1838_. - -“MADAM,— - -“In transmitting to you the accompanying Diploma from the Royal Irish -Academy, I wish to be allowed to add, as I thus do, the expression of my -own high sense of your services to Astronomy, and of the eminent degree -in which you have deserved the present testimonial. - - “I have the honour to be, Madam, &c., &c., - “WILLIAM ROWAN HAMILTON, - “P.R.I.A.” - -[Sidenote: 1839. _Life in Hanover._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR JOHN HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _Dec. 1, 1839_. - -DEAR NEPHEW,— - -Do not you think I have been very good to let the most dismal month in -the year pass without troubling you for accounts of the progress my dear -niece is making in her recovery? - -My dear niece said once, I should write often, and in few lines inform -her how I go on, so I must say—I get up as usual every day, change my -clothing, eat, drink, and go to sleep again on the sofa, except I am -roused by visitors; then I talk till I can no more—nineteen to the -dozen! N.B. I don’t tell _fibs_, though they may not always like what I -say. - -I have been twice at the concert, and each time been honoured with a wie -gehts?[51] by His Majesty, and the notice of many acquaintances whom I -have no opportunity of seeing elsewhere, the public concerts being the -only place where I can go with the least trouble to myself or others. -You say when I talk of the _Gelehrten_ then all goes well, but I know -nothing about them.... - -But one piece of news I must tell you, which is, that a fortnight after -Dr. Mädler had been the conductor of Mde. Witte (the Moon) and her -daughter to the meeting at Pyrmont, I received two cards, the one, -“Professor Dr. Mädler,” under it, “Minna Witte-_Verlobt_.[52]” The -reason Madame Witte gives for this hasty courtship is, that it is Dr. -M.’s first love, and that he would not wait, so the lady said yes! As -you have seen this lady, I would give you this piece of news. - - * * * * * - -I beg you will give a true account of my dear niece’s and the children’s -health, not forgetting the babe and how she will be named, that I may -enter the same in my biographical account. - - I remain, my dear nephew, - Your most affectionate aunt, - CAR. HERSCHEL. - - -The second Day-Book concludes in July, 1839, and is in all respects like -the preceding one, but contains here and there touches and sentiments of -which her own words can only do justice. - - -_Aug. 3rd._—I went to buy some clothing for wearing at home, and went to -my mantua-maker to give directions. I had to climb up to the third -story, and I was of course quite knocked up when I came home, but it is -my intention to continue to take some exercise as long as the weather -and the length of the afternoon will permit. - -[Sidenote: 1839-1840. _Her Day-Book._] - -_Aug. 26th._—My niece Knipping came in the afternoon to assist me in -some needlework—we did not do much! - -_Sept. 25th._—To-day I was made happy by a visit of Alexander Humboldt; -which, though it was extended to the utmost limit of the time which this -interesting man could spare me, was too short for all I wished to hear -and had to say, which, as the theme of our conversation was my nephew, -may be easily imagined. - -_Oct. 5th_ & _6th_.—Mr. Hohenbaum and the carpenter were with me to pack -up the seven-foot telescope. I assisted as well as I could, being very -ill all the while. - -_Oct. 7th._—Dr. G. called for a moment, but nobody else! - -_Dec. 10th._—I went in the evening to the concert, where I exposed -myself most sadly by falling a-crying when the King most kindly came to -me to inquire after my health. I do not think I shall have the courage -to show myself there again in a hurry. - -_Jan. 27th._—This is the first day since the 30th December that the ice -is detached from my sitting-room window. - -_Jan. 31st._—Mr. Hausmann brought me some Journals, and talked for an -hour of old times with me, as he ever does, good man! - -_Feb. 7th._—A letter from my niece came this morning by the Hamburger -post, which will make me happy for some time, and make me bear my -painful solitude more patiently. - -_March 17th._—Thank God the 7th and 16th March are got over, and I begin -to recollect that I have much else to do than bewail myself at being -obliged to spend such days severed from all that _are_, or _were, so -dear_!... I found my poor friend [Mrs. Beckedorff] very much altered, -but before I left her I thought she looked a twelvemonth younger for our -two hours’ chat. But we both were obliged to part, for we could no more. -Yesterday she sent me some fine flowers, as usual on my birthday. Dr. -Mühry left a card; two of my nieces called, and Hofräthin Ubelode -brought me some flowers. They left me fatigued to death, to spend the -long evening in solitude. - -_June 18th._—Yesterday Mr. Hausmann came to see me, and brought the -Philosophical Magazine for June, in which I had the pleasure to see that -Dr. Lamont has observed three of the Georgium Sidus satellites. - -_July 3rd._—Dr. G. brought me an extract from _The Sun_ that my nephew -has been created a baronet on the occasion of the coronation. - -_July 9th._—My nephew arrived in Hanover in the evening. - -_July 10th._—In the afternoon I saw him and my little grand-nephew for a -few hours. - -_July 25th._—My nephew and his son took tea with me, and we soon parted, -without taking leave, and next morning I am told they left Hanover at -four in the morning. More I cannot say! - -_Oct. 24th._—Mr. Hausmann came in the forenoon and took the box with the -mirror of my sweeper with him, and in the evening he came to receive the -stand. I am glad my poor sweeper is now in good hands! - -_Oct. 29th._—Mrs. Knipping spent an hour with me in the dusk of the -evening, and read an act of a play. - -_Dec. 30th._—In the afternoon Fraulein S. came to see me, but she is -deaf. I talked with her for a couple of hours without either of us being -the wiser. - -_Jan. 5th._—Went in the evening to the concert; had some talk with the -Levies, who delighted the company with their performance, especially the -youngest son, eight years of age, who gave several pieces on the French -horn. Conversed with several persons besides the Prince Solms. - -_Jan. 20th._—I have been to the concert last night to hear the wonderful -violinist, Ole Bull. It was very crowded for the confined room, though -the largest in Hanover next the play-house. By the help of Miss B. and -the M.’s I got safely through the crowd to my chair. But I was somewhat -disappointed, for, by the report of those who had heard Ole Bull before, -I expected to hear a virtuoso on the violin who would have given us an -idea of the manner of performance of a Jordine, Kramer, Jacob Herschel, -and Dietrich too; but it is more like conjuration than playing on a -violin. - -_Feb. 12th._—Dr. Lissing paid me a visit. He wished me to subscribe to a -work on Magnetism, but I think it would look only like affectation to -let my name appear among the learned subscribers on a subject of which I -know so little. - -_March 16th._—Mrs. Beckedorff sent me two beautiful flowers, accompanied -by her good wishes, which she never forgets to do on my birthday. Mde. -Knipping, and others, came to wish me to live many more years,—but what -can I say? - -_March 23rd._—I was at the last subscription concert. His Majesty was -there, and asked me how I did? I said, tolerably! This was all our -conversation. - -_July 16th._—The whole of yesterday I had no other prospect but that it -would have been the last of the days of sorrow, trouble, and -disappointment I have spent from the moment I had any recollection of my -existence, which is from between my third and fourth year.... In the -night I fell out of one fainting fit into another, and when I came to my -recollection, between six and seven in the morning, I found Dr. G. -sitting before me talking loud in his usual nonsensical way. Him had -Betty called in her fright, for his wife (who is of use to nobody) is -gone to spend the summer months in the country. Mde. Knipping also is -away. - -[Sidenote: 1839. _End of Day-Book._] - -_July 25th_.—Mr. Hausmann, junior, and Mr. Hohenbaum called to look at -the photographical drawing. I am told it is the only specimen of the -kind in Hanover. - -This Day-book, No. 2, is now full, and I shall not be easy till it is -deposited in a portfolio, in which will also be found the Mem.-book -9.... It often enables me to contradict erroneous impertinent notions -concerning my brother William’s disinterested character. - -I am _now_ not able even to look over, much less to correct, what I have -scribbled, but it must go as it is. Perhaps my dear niece may look into -them at some leisure moment, and she will see what a solitary and -useless life I have led these seventeen years, all owing to not finding -Hanover, nor _anyone_ in it, like what I left, when the best of brothers -took me with him to England in August, 1772! - - - SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - SLOUGH, _Oct. 23, 1839_. - -DEAR AUNT,— - -... Now let me reply to your two letters of August 26 and October 10, -the last of which, being so entirety in your old style, made us very -happy. I now go so little to London, and then only on the business of -the Royal Society respecting this magnetic expedition, that it has not -yet been practicable for me to call on Dr. Küper, whom I well remember, -however, at Cumberland Lodge, and since. - -As to sending either of our boys to Germany, it is time enough, as W. is -yet only six years old, and I assure you he is now learning German very -fast. - -M. desires me to tell you, in answer to your question whether she -preserves your letters, that she does so, most carefully. She is sorry -she omitted saying so in her last in which she replied to everything -else. So do I, you may be sure. - -The Fables arrived safe, and W. must thank you for them himself, as well -as for your care of him in Hanover. - -I had the honour to meet at dinner, at Sir Gore Ouseley’s, the other -day, H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge. He was very particular in his -enquiries after you. He is quite well, and his affable and agreeable -manners make him generally beloved. - -Your letter of October 10th relieved us of much uneasiness, after the -alarming account with which the former one was filled. When you once -more begin to write about _die Gelehrten_, &c., I know all is well. So -God bless you, and believe me, - - Dear Aunt, your affectionate nephew, - J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1840. _Anecdote of the Old Telescope._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - _Jan. 10, 1840_. - -MY DEAREST NIECE,— - - * * * * * - -Perhaps you may have heard that in the early part of its [the forty-foot -telescope’s] existence, “God save the King” was sung in it by the whole -company, who got up from dinner and went into the tube, among the rest -two Misses Stows, the one a famous pianoforte player, some of the -Griesbachs, who accompanied on the oboe, or any instrument they could -get hold of, and I, you will easily imagine, was one of the nimblest and -foremost to get in and out of the tube. But now!—lack-a-day!—I can -hardly cross the room without help. But what of that? Dorcas, in the -_Beggar’s Opera_, says, “One cannot eat one’s cake and have it too!”... -I will only thank you once more for your charming letter, and beg to be -kindly remembered to all who are dear to you, and to give an embrace -extraordinary to the dear little ones around you, and not forgetting to -include my _dear_ nephew in the general hug! and believe me, - - My dearest niece, - Yours and his most affectionate aunt, - CAR. HERSCHEL. - -P.S.—One anecdote of the old tube (if you have not heard it) I must give -you. Before the optical parts were finished, many visitors had the -curiosity to walk through it, among the rest King George III., and the -Archbishop of Canterbury, following the King, and finding it difficult -to proceed, the King turned to give him the hand, saying, “Come, my Lord -Bishop, I will show you the way to Heaven!” - -This was in the year 1787, August 17th, when the King and Queen, the -Duke of York and some of the Princesses were of the company. - -I hope the book where the visitors were noted, has been preserved? Some -time after it was kept by other hands; but before I parted with it, I -copied some pages which put me sometimes in mind of persons who were -interesting to me. - -These scribblings will come to you among the rest of my scraps. -Good-bye! - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _Jan. 10, 1840_. - -MY DEAREST NIECE,— - - * * * * * - -... For the last month past I have been so much disturbed and fatigued -by visitors who came to wish me a happy New-year, &c., for I have of -late gained the acquaintance of half a dozen ladies, added to two who -were in the habit of visiting me between the hours of twelve at noon and -six or seven in the evening; (for the first two or three hours, after -having passed a sleepless night, I am obliged to spend in the manner as -perhaps you may have seen Lord Ogleby did in _The Clandestine -Marriage_). - -But now, from seven to eight till between eleven and twelve, I am left -to amuse myself as well as I may, but it is no easy task to turn books -into companions by one who has no eyes left; but there is no help for -it. There is neither man, woman, nor child in Hanover to be found but -they must spend the evening at balls, plays, routs, clubs, &c., and not -a month goes over one’s head without a jubilee being celebrated at -enormous expense to someone who has fifty years enjoyed title and -salaries for doing his duty (anyhow, perhaps). - -But what a contrast between a jubilee _auf der Börse_[53] at Hanover and -the one at Slough,[54] described in your letter with which I was made -happy January 4th. The company so select—for I figure to myself none but -angels from above were listening to, and joining their kindred in the -chorus below!... Before I take leave of this jubilee I must beg the -excellent poet of the song to accept my hearty thanks for remembering me -so kindly in verse 4, and for not letting the poor forty-foot -telescope[55] depart in silence. - -[Sidenote: 1840. _Misfortunes of Friends._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - _April 5, 1840._ - -MY DEAREST NIECE!— - -Your delightful letter of March 8th, which I received about a week after -that of my dear nephew, could never have come at a more needful time for -chasing away the melancholy impressions my friends’ losses and -misfortunes have had on my spirits. On the 7th of March Dr. Mühry came -to wish me joy on my nephew’s birthday. Nine days after, when they all -used to come and bring me flowers, &c., the whole family were thrown -into despair by the death of Dr. C. M., who died by his own hands -(thirty-four years old). About a week before I had spent an evening with -him at his grandmother’s, when he begged me to thank my nephew once more -for giving him a letter of introduction to Dr. ——, at Oxford. This poor -man was spoiled by being made too much of from his infancy. As a boy of -seven or eight, he was brought to England to visit his grandmother and -aunt, and was loaded with costly presents by the Princesses, and fed -with nothing but dainties, till, when grown up, nothing but what was -most extravagant would satisfy him. The 30th of March our friend P—— was -buried, eighty-three years old. On my birthday a circular letter came by -post, announcing Dr. Olbers’s death. So, I must say once more, my -nephew’s and your dear letter came very seasonably to turn my thoughts -to something more cheering.... - -Now I am in two minds whether I shall turn to my dear niece or have done -with you first. But out with it! I would, if you have no objection, draw -on Mr. Drummond for £52, - - * * * * * - -and if I should (as it seems) live to the age of Methuselah, come again -for the same sum after the 10th of October next. For this is quite -enough for me to live with credit, and more would only be a trouble to -me. - -I am tired, and can write no more just now, but for our amusement I -will, some time or other, give you the history of the few days you were -in Hanover, in July, 1838. For all that past was like Sheridan’s -_Chapter of Accidents_. If I could only have had a few hours of private -conversation with you then, much trouble would since have been spared -me. - -I hope to have soon some account of how your new situation agrees both -with papa, mamma, and the little bodies. How many English miles is it -from London? - -... My sweeper, which I should have been so happy to put in the hands of -my little grand-nephew, and teach him to catch comets till he could do -something better (O! why did I leave England!) is now in the hands of -the good, honest creature, Director Hausmann, and the seven-foot -telescope is also saved from being sold for an old song.... - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL, BART. - - _July 6, 1840._ - - * * * * * - -But at another time, when perhaps I may find myself a little better, I -will amuse my dear niece with introducing some of my acquaintances to -her notice. Some of the family of General Halkett,[56] at least, she -will not be displeased at knowing personally. Last night the sister of -the general, Mrs. W. Clarke,[57] a widow, sat an hour with me, and said -she would next summer visit her late husband’s relations in England, and -then she would not fail of seeing you. You must love her for my sake, -for she really takes some pains to give me pleasure, bringing me -flowers, taking me an airing in her fine English equipage, &c. I must -not forget the general’s lady, a second wife, of course a stepmother of -my young friend. She is Scotch (a Graham), and brought me little -Christmas pies in her reticule on New-year’s Day, of the young lady’s -making—the only good kind I have tasted in Hanover, and they were as -good as my nephew’s mamma ever made. - -[Sidenote: 1840. _Her Seven-foot Telescope._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - _August 3, 1840._ - -MY DEAREST NIECE,— - -... But first and foremost, I must beg you will give my best thanks to -my dear niece Caroline for her very sensible and very clever letter, and -I only wish I may be often favoured by her fair hands with such -favourable accounts of all your health and contentment with your new -situation. - -I am not able to write long letters, and must content myself with -saying, in as few words as possible, that if my nephew thought the -seven-foot telescope worth the acceptance of the Royal Astronomical -Society, it is well!... (Mem.—Its only being painted deal was, because -it should look like the one with which the Georgium Sidus was -discovered.) - -I have also the Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy to thank you for, -twenty pages. I suppose I have nothing to do but to accept them. But I -think almost it is mocking me to look upon me as a Member of an Academy; -I that have lived these eighteen years (against my will and intention) -without finding as much as a single comet. But no more of these terrible -eighteen years just now.... - -My dear nephew, if I did not feel myself seriously declining very fast, -I would not incommode you at present (when your time must be so -precious) with such letters as my two or three last have been. - -But going many nights to bed without the hope of seeing another day, I -think it my duty to guard you against putting any trust or confidence in -——. He and the whole family have never been of the least use to me; and -for all the good I have lavished on them, they never came to look after -me, but when they had some design upon me. - -In short, I find that all along I have been taken for an idiot, or that -at least I am now reckoned to be in my dotage, and therefore ought not -to be mistress of my own actions. But, thank God, I have yet sense -enough left to caution you against being imposed upon by a stupid being -who would make you believe I died under obligations to any of the -family. I know he has already, without asking my leave, passed himself -off for my guardian, and is vexed at my being able to do without him. -But I could not live without that little business of keeping my -accounts; and by my last book of expenses and receipts may be seen, that -I owe nothing to anybody, but to my dear nephew many many thanks for -fulfilling his father’s wishes, by paying for so many years the _ample_ -annuity he left me. - - - SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - _August 10, 1840._ - -... The telescopes are now, I trust, properly disposed of. Mr. Hausmann -(who will value it) has the sweeper. The five-foot Newtonian reflector -is in the hands of the Royal Astronomical Society, and will be preserved -by it as the little telescope of Newton is by the Royal Society, long -after I and all the little ones are dead and gone. - - - SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - _August 10, 1840._ - -... Did I ever tell you that I had lately brought together the -observations of four or five years, proving beyond all doubt α Orionis -to be both a variable and a periodical star, and one of the most -remarkable among them? Its period is about a year, and it changes in -that time from a lustre superior on some occasions even to Rigel, to a -degree of brightness nearly on a par with Aldebaran. - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR JOHN HERSCHEL. - - _Sept. 1, 1840._ - -... I owe you many thanks for relieving me two whole days sooner from -the anxiety of having been misunderstood by you, and now I am happy, and -_all is well_! But there are times when I should like to have some talk -with you or my dear niece, to put you in mind of many past events, but -if you will excuse the style and the spelling, &c., &c., on account of -my eyesight being so uncertain, I will at times try to amuse you with -what passed in old times, for my memory is as good as ever [this is in -her ninety-first year]. (N.B.—Year of the past.) Writing this, puts me -in mind that I never could remember the multiplication table, but was -obliged to carry always a copy of it about me. - -[Sidenote: 1840. _Christmas in Hanover._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - _Dec. 27, 1840._ - -... There is another circumstance on which account I feel not very easy, -which is that by leaving Slough you are separated from all your usual -friends, &c., doctors and all; but pray keep up your spirits, for the -days are already a cock’s stride longer, and my windows have now been -covered with ice for the last three weeks, which is long enough in -conscience; therefore I hope to see a change every morning when I can -get my eyes open, which is never the case till near eleven o’clock. - -There have been some English gentlemen with Mrs. Beckedorff on business, -who, in conversation, among the rest, were saying that the keeping -Christmas in the German fashion was coming to be very general in -England; but I hope they will never go such lengths in foolery as they -do here. The tradespeople have been for many weeks in full employ -framing and mounting the embroideries of the ladies and girls of all -classes, for there exists not a folly or extravagancy among the great -but it is imitated by the little. The shops are beautifully lit up by -gas, and the last three days before Christmas all that could be tempting -was exhibited in the market places in booths lighted up in the evening, -where all run to gaze and get a liking to all they see. Cooks and -housemaids present one another with knitted bags and purses, the -cobbler’s daughter embroidered neck-cushions for her friend the -butcher’s daughter, which are made up by the upholsterer at great -expense, lined with white satin, the upper part, on which the back is to -rest, is worked with gold, silver, and pearls. - -But I find too much difficulty to write in these short days, else I -could write a book about the nonsense which is going on in this city. I -have for this last month been completely tired out with this Christmas -bustle; but now the balls at the Bourse, given by the shopmen to the -daughters of their masters, will be succeeded by the masquerades in -Lent, an amusement which in the good old times was only for the -nobility, but from which they are now excluded.... - -[Sidenote: 1841. _Concerning her Brother._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - _Feb. 24, 1841._ - - * * * * * - -I intended to have made some remarks to you about several things which -are said in those pages which came enclosed in the letter of February -3rd. I suppose it is not expected to acknowledge the receipt thereof, -but if there is anybody to whom my thanks are due, I beg you will do it -for me, because I am not capable of writing to strangers. But to you I -cannot help pointing out several things which displease me very much.... - -I think whoever reads the Preface to the description of the forty-foot -telescope (see “Philosophical Transactions,” June 11, 1795), would not -accuse him of jealousy—which also may be seen by the four volumes on the -construction of Specula, which your father left behind in MSS., (to -which you added those excellent drawings of the machinery, &c.), which -it was my care, for half a dozen years at least, to save them from being -devoured by the mice, by placing them on a table in the middle of the -library, where I was obliged to leave them when I left Slough, for I -could not find a better place for them. - -Your father was latterly most miserably stinted for room, and I fear -many, many things have met with destruction in consequence of being put -by in corners among rubbish when not in use. For instance, when -polishing and the foci were to be tried, by three apertures, which -generally wanted to be repaired first; (for the twenty-foot they were -made of pasteboard, but for the forty-foot of light deal) and I was -directed to hold them before the mirror, and, listening to the report of -the trial, was glad to hear “All right, three foci perfectly alike!” and -the work proceeded to perfect the polish. Dear nephew, I stick fast, and -must give over talking about these things; it downright fatigues me. But -these folks would not have called the Herschelian construction useless -if they had seen the struggle, during the years from 1781 to ’86, to get -a sight of the Satellites of the Georgium Sidus, when, after throwing -aside the speculum, they stood broad before us.... Pray, does South live -still? - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - _March 31, 1841._ - - * * * * * - -Not to send blank paper, I will fill it by copying from my Day-book the -names of the visitors I had to receive on the 16th of March. This I can -do mechanically and by feeling, and it serves to pass away the time, as -I cannot see to read for any length of time. - -By way of being ready to see anybody by twelve o’clock, I rose an hour -earlier than usual, but before I was dressed, Mrs. Beckedorff and Mrs. -W. Clarke sent each a beautiful moss-rose and card. Soon after, Mrs. -Clarke and General Halkett came; Generalin Borse and daughter brought -violets; Frau von Both; Ober Medicinal-Rath Mühry; Miss Beckedorff; -Madam Groskopff; Hofräthin Ubelode brought mignonette; Oberjustiz-Rath -von Werloff sent crocuses; Fraulein von Werloff sent a card and -hyacinths; Dr. Groskopff, Hauptman Buse, Alexis Richter, Major -Müller;—all these I saw between twelve and four o’clock, and several for -a good while together. I talked and complimented myself into a fever, of -course “looked blooming,” and am to live to be a hundred years old. What -stuff! After eating my solitary dinner I tried to get a little sleep, as -I generally do, but before I could compose myself enough, two of Major -Müller’s sisters came and remained two hours with me; after they left -me, Fraulein von Werloff sent her companion, a Mademoiselle H., and a -sister, to keep me company till ten o’clock. With difficulty, and the -help of Betty, I got into bed, but could get no sleep, nor the whole day -after. - -[Sidenote: 1841-1842. _Her Ninety-first Birthday._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _July 31, 1841_. - -MY DEAREST NIECE,— - -If it was not that I ought to thank you for your kind letter of June -9th, I should perhaps not have now the spirit to take up the pen; but -your letters always, especially the last, contain, besides the many -consoling expressions, such very interesting information, that I would -not for the world risk to lose the monthly sight of your dear -handwriting, by omitting to return at least my grateful thanks for your -kind communications of what the present philosophers are about. - -I think I can form some idea of the author of the book on philosophy -(and godfather of our little Amelia), from what I recollect to have read -some years past in some quarterly publication by a Mr. Whewell, in -defence of Sir Isaac Newton. In short, it met with _my approbation_! -There is for you! What do you say to that? - -I do not wish to write in what my dear brother William used to call a -Dick Doleful style, when our brother Alexander was in the dismals, and -out of which we often succeeded in laughing him. But I cannot just now -turn to anything of a cheering nature, for yesterday, the 30th, our -Queen died, and I have been very unwell in consequence of the violent -change in the weather.... - - -The following letter refers to the intended removal of Sir J. Herschel -and his family to Collingwood, which he had purchased:— - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _August 2, 1841_. - -MY DEAREST NIECE,— - -... I could wish to know something more about the place where you now -are.[58] How many miles is Collingwood from London? How many from -Hastings? Have you any good people or neighbours about you? I think I -read in Watson’s Gazetteer, Hawkhurst to be full of poor, and, what is -worse, of smugglers. Pray take care of the dear boys and children, that -they are not kidnapped in their little rambles from home. - -I can for the present only say so much of myself that my friends are -almost going to kill me with their visits, like, as they say, the cat -did her kitten with kindness. On Sunday I was even honoured with a visit -from the Duchess of Anhalt Dessau and the Princess of Rudolstadt—the -latter a little astronomer—who remained a whole hour with me. They are -both daughters of the late Queen. - -[Sidenote: 1842 _Concerning her Brother._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _Feb. 3, 1842_. - -... Your mentioning the Government gift of the Kew Observatory to the -Royal Society, recalls to my mind the struggles through a life of -privations during the lapse of between twenty and thirty years, till my -brother had realised a capital sufficient for living in a respectable -manner by making seven, ten, twenty, and twenty-five-foot telescopes. -For it was in 1782 when Mr. De Mainborg, the King’s private astronomer -(formerly one of his tutors) at Kew, died, and my brother, in -consequence of the discovery of the G. Sidus, was called from his -lucrative employment at Bath. His friends had no other idea but that he -was to succeed Mr. De Mainborg at Kew. But it was otherwise decreed, for -the King was surrounded by some _wiseacres_ who knew how to bargain, and -even £100 were offered if he would go to Hanover! - -But you know by what I once wrote on a former occasion that he settled -at Datchet with £200 per annum, after four months’ travelling between -London, Greenwich, and Windsor, and moving his workshop and instruments -from a house at Bath, of which he had a lease. And at Michaelmas, 1782, -was the first £50 he ever saw of the King’s money. This happened at the -time when Parliament had granted to the King £80,000 a-year for -encouraging sciences. This I only knew by what I heard at that time, and -that Mr. West, R.A., with his giant Judas, Jervis, who made the -altar-piece for St. George’s chapel (which I once heard Mrs. Beckedorff -say had cost the King £30,000), and Herschel, were the first who -benefited by this grant. - -I am full of expectation of W.’s promised description of the Christmas -entertainment; but put him in mind that I do not understand Latin. Of -A’s Greek, I think I can be a judge, knowing the letters of the alphabet -in consequence of their being used in the astronomical catalogues.... I -hope music is still in favour with the family; often I lament that at -the time of our quitting Bath in such a hurry my brother’s musical -treasures were scattered, and given to the winds. Among the rest there -was a song for four voices, “In thee I bear so dear a part,” which was -just going to be published by desire, for it was sung by the first -performers from the London theatres, and encored, between the acts of -the oratorios. I wrote it out ready in parts during my brother’s -absence; but he could not find a moment to send it off, nor to answer -the printer’s letters. - -Oh! how I should like to hear some of the glees and catches sung by the -great and little family in the music-room at Collingwood; but it was not -to be! and I had rather leave off and leave some room for the many good -wishes to yourself, my dear nephew, and all those who are dear to you, -and believe me, - - My dear niece, - Ever your most affectionate aunt, - CAROLINE HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1842. _Goes to a Play._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _March 3, 1842_. - -MY DEAREST NIECE,— - -... Nothing runs in my head but what concerns my family and connections, -and I am at present living over again the last eighty-nine years of my -existence.... But I will leave off teazing you with these old stories -with which I am obliged to amuse myself, for I cannot see to work or -read, and must therefore either sleep or scribble, for my visitors come -mostly in the forenoon, their evenings being taken up with public -amusements or private parties, of which I have not been able to be a -partaker these three years, for I see by my account-books it is so many -since I left off subscribing to the play. But to please Mrs. Clarke I -made the experiment on the 3rd of February, whether I should come home -alive after seeing _King Charles II. in Wapping_, acted at the English -Ambassador’s. Mrs. Clarke came about twelve with an invitation from the -Honourable Mrs. Edgecombe—their house not containing a room large enough -for giving great balls, they contrived this way of entertaining the -company. The enclosed playbill will show the rest. - -There was no time for consulting milliners, and Mrs. Clarke assisted me -in looking out something from what I had worn some years back, cap and -all. (N.B.—The latter of my own making.) I must give you here a German -saying, if you do not know it, which is, “_Einen jeden Narren gefällt -seine eigene Cappe!_”[59] but I cannot say that I was much pleased with -mine, I have so very few grey hairs left, which, however, I was told -were much admired! - -Mrs. C. left me with a promise of sending her chair and servant at -three-quarters past seven, and was waiting in an ante-room for me to -assist me in getting further, and, indeed, the whole evening she did not -withdraw her arm from me till she had put me in my chair again, and the -next morning she was with me almost before I was out of bed. The King, -Princess of Rüdolstadt, and one of the Princes of Solms were among the -company, and I did not come home without receiving their notice. But I -shall not venture on such pranks again, I promise you! - - * * * * * - -As I am writing this I see it will be my birthday, when I shall be -ninety-two years, if I live. My nephew’s is the 7th, and he will be -fifty, but for all that do not think him to be an old man. His father -was fifty-four when he first saw the light.... - -The King of Prussia left magnificent presents among the courtiers, and -Generalin Halkett was here on Sunday, and promised to bring me a -snuff-box to look at, which the general has received. I begged she would -not, for the ladies wear no pockets, and lose their purses, &c., as I -daily hear by the town crier. Their pocketkerchiefs they carry open in -their hands, which I think very indelicate; I daresay it is not the -fashion in England.... - -... I would not wish on any account to see either my nephew or you, my -dear niece, again _in this world, for I could not bear the pain of -parting once more_; but I trust I shall find and know you in the next. -And as long as I can hold a pen, let us, I beg, commune with one another -by letter! - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _June 2, 1842_. - -MY DEAREST NIECE,— - -A thousand thanks for your kind letter, which contains ever so much -comfortable and satisfactory information, such as heart can but wish.... - -I have begun a piece of work which I despair of finishing before my -eyesight and life will leave me in the lurch. You will perhaps wonder -what such a thing as I may pretend to do, can be, but I cannot help it, -and shall not rest till I have wrote the History of the Herschels. I -began, of course, with my father and his parents. My father was born in -January, 1707, and I have now only got so far as the beginning of 1758, -and it begins to interest me much, but I doubt whether I shall live to -finish it, but think it a pity it should be thrown away.[60]... - -... Do not forget to thank my little nephew for his pretty letter. His -description of the method his papa makes use of in teaching mathematical -figures, I prefer to that of his grandfather. He used, when making me, a -grown woman, acquainted with them, to make me sometimes fall short at -dinner if I did not guess the angle right of the piece of pudding I was -helping myself to! - -[Sidenote: 1842. _Regrets._] - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _July 7, 1842_. - -MY DEAREST NIECE,— - -I have just now been reading your dear letter of June 7th once again, -but I shall take care not to look into it for yet a while, else I run -the risk of going mad when thinking of my running away from a country -where I might have been an eye-witness, and sometimes a partaker, of so -much domestic happiness. But it is no matter now, and of no use fretting -about it; I am only sorry I cannot go on with my history as fast as I -could wish, for I feel too unwell to be doing _any_ thing for any length -of time.... - -... I am glad my dear nephew finds pleasure in giving up so much of his -valuable time to his dear sons; for my hair stands at an end on hearing -what beings are continually expelled from _our_ Eton here, all owing to -ignorant ambitious parents trusting entirely to unprincipled hirelings. - -Though my poor brother seemed to have no hands in the education of his -only son, I know, from having been present at many private conversations -he had with Dr. Gretton, that nothing was done without his approbation -and advice. - -... The _Astronom. Nachrichten_ have latterly been filled with tables -and too much mathematics (for me). The last numbers, 450, 451, contain -an account, by Struve, of the purchase of Olbers’ books, &c., for the -library of the Observatory at Pulkowa. This puts one in mind of Olbers -saying somewhere, I had discovered five comets. Who wanted him to give -the number of _my_ comets when he knew them no better? As far as I -recollect, Dr. Maskelyne has observed them all, and his observations on -them are, I daresay, all printed in the volumes of the Greenwich -Observations—at least of some he has shown me the proof sheets. I never -called a comet mine till several post days were passed without any -account of them coming to hand. And after all, it is only like the -children’s game, “_Wer am ersten kick ruft, soll den Apfel haben! Wo sie -denn alle rufen kick! kick! und so_,”[61] &c., &c. - -I long for the return of the messenger, for I heard to-day that Bessel -and Encke were gone to the philosophical meeting in England, and I -expect to hear a great deal of news. But first and foremost I wish to -see in your next that yourself and my dear nephew, with all the dear -_little, little_ ones, continue to be well and happy.... - -P.S.—My head is full of my History, and I go on but slowly, because I -cannot sit up for any length of time. I am only at my fourteenth year, -and have just parted from my brother, William Herschel I., who is -returned after a fourteen nights’ visit to us, to England, Leeds in -Yorkshire (where he must be left for some time), and I cannot go on till -I have recovered from the parting scene. - -You remember, you take the work in whatever state I may leave it, and -make the best of it at your leisure. Adieu. - - - TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _August 4, 1842_. - -MY DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -... Major Müller is not yet returned, and is not expected till -September, from his measuring business, and besides him there is not one -astronomer, or, I may say, rational man in Hanover to whom I could apply -for information in matters which are above my understanding. But in my -next I hope to say more, or rather a great deal about your “Chrysotype,” -for I had a visit to-day from a Berg-Rath-W., who seems to be much -interested in these discoveries.... How I envy you having seen -Bessel—the man who found _us_ the parallax of 61 Cygni.... - -... I believe I have water on my brains, and all my bones ache so that I -can hardly crawl; and besides sometimes a whole week passes without -anybody coming near me, till they stumble on a paragraph in the -newspaper of Grüthousen’s discoveries, or Lord Queenstown’s great -telescope, which _shall_ beat Sir William Herschel’s all to nothing, and -such a visit sometimes makes me merry for a whole day. - -[Sidenote: 1842-1843. _A Total Eclipse._] - - - SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - COLLINGWOOD, _Aug. 9, 1842_. - -MY DEAR AUNT,— - -M. tells me I must finish this letter with an account of the total -eclipse of the sun seen at Pavia by Mr. Baily, and at Turin by Mr. Airy. -At Pavia it was very finely seen, and as soon as the sun was totally -covered, the dark moon was seen to be surrounded with a _glory_, like -the heads of saints in old pictures. While he was admiring this, a great -shout from all the population of Pavia broke out at once, which was -caused by the sudden appearance of three purple or lilac-coloured -flames, which seemed to break out from the edge of the moon. At Milan -the same was seen, and the people shouted out “_Es leben die -Astronomen!_”[62] as soon as they saw the flames. - -I am glad you got my Chrysotype pictures safe. The present beautiful -sunshine has given me an opportunity to make great progress in -photography, and the enclosed photographic copy of a little engraving or -two may serve to amuse you. Meanwhile the star reductions are not -forgotten. Thirty more sweeps only remain to be reduced, and I am -already in the engraver’s hands with the nebulæ pictures. And so the -world wags with - - Your affectionate nephew, - J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - - SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. - -... On the 30th of last month I finished the _reductions_ of all my Cape -nebulæ and double stars, and have got all the former and all but a very -small number of the latter arranged in catalogues in order of Rt. -Ascension for the epoch 1830, January 1st. Thus these two most important -parts of my Cape work are at last secured against _loss_, and it will -not be long now before I shall begin to prepare for the work of -publication in good earnest. I mean as to the narrative part. - -_Dec. 8, 1842._ - -[Sidenote: 1843. _Sir J. Herschel’s Translation._] - - - LADY HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - _Jan. 12, 1843._ - -... Your nephew sends you his translation of Schiller’s beautiful and -_instructive_ poem, “The Walk,” in which he tied himself down to the -original metre, and each couplet contains the sense of the corresponding -couplet in German, so that the full strength of the English language was -required to do justice to the comprehensiveness of Schiller’s ideas. -There was a beautiful walk up the side of Table Mountain which always -reminded Herschel of this poem, and made him love it; and lately there -have appeared in an Edinburgh Review translations of all Schiller’s -minor poems, some of which are well done; but he thought “The Walk” -deserved to be better rendered, so he set about it, and distributed it -among his friends as his Christmas sugarplum. The number of interesting -autographs, criticisms, witticisms, &c., which have been thereupon -returned, will make an amusing packet. One lady says (alluding to the -singularity of the hexameter in English) that she found it difficult to -get into the _step_ of the Walk; another, that the _Walk_ had got into a -_Run_, it was so often carried off by friends from his table; another, -not knowing whence it came, intended sending it to Herschel for his -opinion on its merits! another, while admiring the ideas, says “to the -_verse_ I am _averse_.” The good Misses Baillie, of Hampstead, have been -greatly delighted with it. They desired their kindest remembrances to -you. - - * * * * * - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - HANOVER, _March 1, 1843_. - -... Nine o’clock in the evening (February 19). This is the first moment -of quiet after six days in tumultuous joys by all living beings, from -the most highest to the most lowest, and I will give you here an account -of what share I have had in the rejoicings. In the first place, I must -begin with confessing that I have been uncommonly ill of late, and -nobody came near me to comfort me; for all my friends were too busy with -gala-dresses, or else laid up with colds, &c., from shopping in bad -weather, and paddling about in the snow, and I am at this moment -ignorant of how they have fared.... - -I have not time to fill the paper, for my friends begin now to take up -my little time of my _short_ forenoons, and the evenings I cannot see; -so here I send what I have been scribbling, and will only add that the -enclosed programme was sent me, on the 14th by the Crown Prince, who -having inquired through somebody after my health, and hearing I was -well, and preparing for illumination, was much affected; and yesterday -his adjutant, Major Stolzenberg, brought me a message from the Crown -Prince, including H. R. H. the Princess, with a present of their -portraits. - - * * * * * - - * * * * * - - - TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL, BART. - - _April, 1843._ - -MY DEAREST NEPHEW!— - -Many thanks for your dear letter, which I found on my breakfast-table on -the morning of the 16th March,[63] ... when the Crown Prince and -Princess were announced. Mrs. Clarke, who just came in, assisted me to -entertain the royal and interesting pair for nearly an hour. They came -in arm in arm, carrying an immense bouquet before them, which I heard -afterwards they were returning with from the hothouses at Herrnhausen. -As soon as the Princess was placed on the sofa, and I beside the same, -the Crown Prince drew a chair close to me, chatting and joining in our -conversation. I could not help giving the Princess the lines of your -letter to read, where you mention them so prettily, and presenting her -with “The Walk,” which was lying among the flowers and the open letters -before us on the table. It was a little rumpled in the coming, which she -said made it the more welcome, as it would remind her of its having once -been mine. - -I intended to amuse you with the list of the names and titles of all the -visitors I had to receive on that day, but you will find them one of -these days in my Day-book; and I will only say that it was rather too -much to expect me to be civil to upwards of thirty persons in one day, -which lasted till evening, so that I had no time to eat a morsel, -finding myself seriously ill. - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: 1843. _On the Zodiacal Light._] - - _May 4, 1843._ - -Memorandum for my next letter, made April 23rd. - -To my Nephew. On reading your letter to the editor of the _Times_, of -March 31st, I recollect having written down some observations of your -father’s on the zodiacal light; he never lost an opportunity of noticing -anything remarkable during twilight, or in the absence of nebulæ, &c., -and I remember also his explaining to me another kind of ray, which is -after sun-setting, reaching up _very_ high; but this only appears for -one or two nights at the equinox: but I have forgot all about it, and -want only to speak here about a _temporary_ Index to observations, in -which I know a few of suchlike memorandums were catalogued or carried in -their separate books. With this Index your father was never satisfied, -telling me, “I could not make an Index, it was a task Sir I. Newton had -found too difficult to accomplish,” ... and he would hardly allow me to -make use of this book, after calling it a _temporary_ Index. But it has -often saved me a whole week’s poring over the Journals for a -memorandum.... - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - _June, 1843._ - -MY DEAREST AND BEST NIECE,— - -I must write a few lines by way of thanking you for your dear letter of -May 9th. Your description of the splendid observations which are made on -the roof of your own mansion, recall the many solitary and, at the same -time, happy hours I spent on my little roof at Slough, when I was not -wanted at the twenty-foot. And I cannot help at the same time regretting -my having spent these last twenty years in so useless a manner, between -roofs and houses which prevent my seeing even an eclipse of the moon -when in a low part of the ecliptic, it passes away behind the houses of -my opposite neighbours; and so did the glorious tail of your comet, of -which, however, I have gathered all that has been said in the papers, -besides what you and my dear nephew have been so kind as to -communicate.... - -I have just been reading part of your dear packet over again, and am -resolved to follow your advice, and say as little of what happens now as -possibly I can help, and send herewith what I call the first part of my -History, of which I wish you will in your very next give me your sincere -opinion. I shall judge by it if I may go on, or lay down the pen for -ever. - -(I hope the packet containing my brother’s biography has been safely -taken care of among his papers, for I have no copy of it; pray let me -know if you have seen such a packet, I think it is in quarto, and that I -put it in a cover like all the MSS.) - -Of the present I can only say that I have been unable to do anything -beside keeping myself alive, and getting my clothes on by twelve at -noon, so that I may be able to receive anybody who may call on me -between that hour and eight in the evening. - - * * * * * - -This brings to my remembrance, that when I was godmother to Mrs. -Waterhouse’s eldest sister in 1787, I was called away in the afternoon -to help my brother to receive the Princesse Lamballe, who came with a -numerous attendance to see the moon, &c. About a fortnight after, her -head was off. - -[Sidenote: 1843. _On her Recollections._] - - - SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - COLLINGWOOD, _Sept. 13, 1843_. - -MY DEAR AUNT,— - -Again we are rejoiced by the sight of your handwriting, and by the -admirable and truly interesting History of your own younger days, which -you have sent with your delightful letter, and which arrived perfectly -safe, and, you may be sure, will be treasured as the apple of the eye, -and often read and re-read. I began the reading of it last evening to -all your grand-nephews and nieces who are old enough to understand it, -and the History of their great-grandpapa’s hardships after the Battle of -Dettingen, and poor uncle Alexander’s harsh treatment, and your own -quiet, thoughtful activity and self-dependence, made on all my hearers, -as well as on myself, an impression which I am sure will not easily be -forgotten, and which I shall take care not to let them forget. We all -entreat you to continue it, and you need not be in any fear about the -_writing_. Your handwriting (Gottlob[64]) is still excellently good, and -there was not a word either in your letter or in the “History” that gave -me the least trouble to read.... - -... I visited in London Mde. Taylor (whom you entrusted with the -pictures of your Royal visitors, which are very charming things, and -seem as if they must be good likenesses). I did not find her husband at -home, but she is a very pleasing person, and pleased me greatly by the -respectful and friendly way in which she spoke of you. We hope to see -them here, where they will be much valued, as will be the effigy or -recollection of everybody that has been kind to you, or anything that -has given you pleasure.... - -The only news I have to send you is that of Capt. Ross’s safe return -with the South Polar Expedition after nearly four years’ absence, having -penetrated to the 79th degree of S. Lat., and discovered a new continent -full of volcanoes and icy mountains, and the true position of the south -magnetic pole. He anchored his ship upon the spot where the Americans -say they found land, and found no bottom at six hundred fathoms! - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - - _June 4, 1844._ - -MY DEAREST NEPHEW,— - -... For these last three months I have not been able to add a single -line to my Memoir, but what you will find among my papers and -memorandums; perhaps your daughter Isabella may, for her amusement some -time or other, correct and write in the clear, my scribblings, for I -find that in attempting to correct one blunder I am making two others in -the same line. But I wish you might see, by what I say of myself, what -trouble and invention it must have cost your father to enable me to -assist in determining the places of all these objects, and I see with -pleasure that your observations agree so nearly. - - * * * * * - -I was going to send, for the amusement of my dear niece, some -description of what is going on here in Hanover, but I find it would be -too much for my time and patience at present, and will only say that I -believe they are all out of their senses. - -There is an _Eisenbahn_[65] from Hanover to Braunschweig just now -completed, which has turned them all wild. Some hundreds of high -officers all (but the King) set off at eight o’clock to breakfast with -the Braunschweigers, and returned with the same at three to dinner -(eight hundred in number) in the orangery at Herrnhausen, from whence -the Braunschweigers returned and were at home, I believe, again at -eight. - -I am too tired at present, else I was going to tell you how they are -building. Hanover is now twice as large as when you saw it last; nothing -but castles will serve them any longer. I have all this from hearsay, -for I have not been downstairs since February 3, 1842. - - * * * * * - -They talk of nothing here at the clubs but of the great mirror and the -great man who made it. I have but one answer for all, which is, “_Der -Kerl ist ein Narr!_”[66]... - - - MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. - - _March 4, 1845._ - -MY DEAREST NIECE,— - - * * * * * - -Have I understood you aright? Saw you the thermometer 1½° above zero? -the lowest I have heard of here was only 13° below freezing; but we are -buried in snow! - -_March 5th._—No alteration in the weather, nor in my affection for my -dear niece and nephew and their ten children! the first is as cold as -the latter is warm! - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: 1845. _The Great Telescope._] - - _April 29, 1845._ - -In his father’s library my nephew must have found a folio volume of H—— -(an astronomer and copper engraver), where, for every hour a distinct -picture [of the moon] is given. In the Phil. Transactions for 1780, p. -507, is the first paper of William Herschel on the Moon. In 1787; 1792, -p. 27; 1793, p. 206, measure of mountains, &c. - -Twenty-three years ago, when first I came here, I visited Madame W. (not -von) once or twice, saw her observatory and a telescope, I believe not -above 24-inch focal length; at that time she amused herself with -modelling the heads of the Roman Emperors: her daughter, then a girl, -was a poet, and a portrait of her was exhibited as a Sappho crowned with -laurels.... - - * * * * * - - -The great difficulty of writing begins at last to tell in Miss -Herschel’s correspondence. One more letter in 1845, is the last of the -ample sheets she had been used to fill. The monthly report becomes -shorter, more blotted, and betrays extreme feebleness. On the first of -October, 1846, she wrote: - - -MY DEAREST NIECE!— - -I must not let the messenger go without a line just to say that I am -still in the land of the living, of which, however, I have no other -proof than a letter from Baron v. Humboldt, inclosing a Golden Medal -from the King of Prussia. I can say no more at present, and the post -will not wait, so believe me, my dear niece, yours and my dear nephew’s -most affectionate aunt, - - CAR. HERSCHEL. - - -The following is the letter referred to from Alexander von Humboldt -which accompanied the Gold Medal presented by the King of Prussia on the -occasion of her ninety-sixth birthday:— - -[Sidenote: 1846-1847. _Letter—Baron Humboldt._] - - - BERLIN, _Sept. 25, 1846_. - -MOST HONOURED LADY AND FRIEND!— - -His Majesty the King, in recognition of the valuable services rendered -to Astronomy by you, as the fellow-worker of your immortal brother, Sir -William Herschel, by discoveries, observations, and laborious -calculations, commanded me, before his departure for Silesia, to convey -to you, in his name, the large Gold Medal for Science, and to express to -you the gratification he felt that, by God’s grace, your noble life has -been a long succession of years free of pain, and that now in your -solitude you continue to enjoy the reflected glory of the all-embracing -knowledge, the great labours in both hemispheres, and the profoundly -penetrating genius of your illustrious nephew, Sir John Herschel. To be -had in remembrance by an intellectual and kind-hearted Prince cannot be -a matter of indifference to you. He had wished you to receive this -little gratification on your ninety-sixth birthday, and by an -unfortunate mistake the date of Caroline Lucretia Herschel’s birth has -been changed from the 16th of March to the 16th of October, and _I_ am -the culprit, misled by a misprint in a French history of astronomy. I -know I may count upon your indulgence and that of your distinguished -family in England. I specially deserve such leniency to-day—the day on -which my young friend, Dr. Galle, assistant astronomer in our -Observatory (to the triumph of theoretical astronomy be it said), has -discovered the transuranian planet indicated by Leverrier as the cause -of the perturbations of Uranus. - - With the deepest respect, - I am your most obedient, although illegible, - ALEXANDER HUMBOLDT. - -Do not trouble yourself to write to the King; I will convey your thanks -to him. - - -Once more a few lines, begun November 1st, and finished December 3rd, -were traced, betraying, now only for the first time, the apprehension -that they might be the last, in the words— - - -Miss Beckedorff shall write for me if I do not get better. Loves to -_all_. - - CAROLINE HERSCHEL. - - -Even this, the last letter of all, is addressed in a large, clear -handwriting. Henceforth “the messenger” carried no more the large -familiar sheet which had often been filled at the cost of many days’ -work and frequent re-writing; but her kind friend, Miss Beckedorff, -wrote a regular monthly report to the anxious friends in England, from -which the following most interesting extracts are taken:— - - - EXTRACTS FROM THE LETTERS OF MISS BECKEDORFF TO - SIR JOHN AND LADY HERSCHEL. - - _Dec. 1846._ - - * * * * * - -... She said that whilst she was idling away her time on her couch she -had—with her mind’s eye—set up a whole solar system in one corner of her -room, and given to each newly-discovered star its proper place. She -cried when I told her again of your and Sir John’s solicitude about her, -&c. - - _March, 1847._ - -Her likeness has been taken by two young painters lately.... She was -sitting—or rather reclining—for her picture whilst my niece was with -her, and the exertion of it made her at first nervous and hysterical, -but by degrees she overcame it, and conversed cheerfully. I am sorry to -say the drawing which I saw did not do justice to her intelligent -countenance; the features are too strong, not feminine enough, and the -expression too fierce; but I hear the picture which I did not see is -more like her. - -[Sidenote: 1847. _Declining Strength._] - - _March 31, 1847._ - -I am commissioned by dear Miss Herschel to send to you and for her dear -nephew, with her best love, the accompanying print, which I fear will at -first sight not satisfy you. The artist has, I believe, imitated the -style of the old German school of Albert Dürer, resembling more a -‘woodcut’ than a print, nor does it justice to her fine old countenance. -Yet it is extremely like in features, expression, and deportment, her -eyes having taken the languid expression more from fatigue occasioned by -her _sitting_ for the picture, whilst she is used generally to recline -on her sofa, and I see them very frequently sparkle with all their -former animation.... She has, as I predicted, lived to begin her -ninety-eighth year, and she has stood the exertions and excitements of -her birthday even better than could have been expected. I saw her on the -15th, and again on the 17th; for knowing that Mrs. Clarke, who, like all -General Halkett’s family, are full of kind attentions to her, would act -as her aide-de-camp on the occasion, I felt that it would only be adding -to the number of those who must be kindly spoken to if I had gone to see -her on the 16th. Upon passing the door I just saw a beautiful and most -comfortable velvet armchair, a cake, and magnificent nosegay carried up -to her, and soon after met the gracious donor, our kind Crown-Princess, -with the Crown-Prince and the Royal child driving to her; they stayed -nearly two hours, Miss Herschel conversing with them without relaxation, -and even singing to them a composition of Sir William’s, ‘Suppose we -sing a Catch.’ The King sent his message by Countess Grote. On the 17th -I found her, more revived than exhausted, in a new gown and smart cap, -which Betty provided; and Betty’s own cap was new trimmed for the -occasion, strictly in keeping with the style of her mistress, and I can -but again commend the judgment and zeal with which she makes her -arrangements for the comfort and appearance of dear Miss Herschel, and -for a fit reception of her high and numerous visitors. - -... I ran over to ask for Miss Herschel’s own message before I seal. I -am to “give her best love to her dear nephew, niece, and the children, -and to say that she often wished to be with them, often felt alone, did -not quite like old age with its weaknesses and infirmities, but that she -too sometimes laughed at the world, liked her meals, and was satisfied -with Betty’s services.” - -... You may rest assured that she is most carefully attended to, and -Betty is not only fully to be depended upon, but is also extremely -judicious, and the only person who has gained Miss Herschel’s entire -confidence and approbation.... I have charged her to come to me whenever -she sees a possibility of doing anything for her mistress’s comfort, -and, from the girl’s unaffected attachment for her, can quite rely upon -her. Dear Miss Herschel has, indeed, arranged everything beforehand; and -for years past has reserved a sum to answer all calls in the event of -her death. - - _June 29, 1847._ - -... I generally find her dozing, and now always lying on her sofa; she -requires, however, but a very short moment to recollect herself, and -then enters into a conversation, of which she takes the greater and by -far the better part on herself. It generally carries her back to old -times and events and persons long gone by, sometimes with great humour, -sometimes with regret; and when she enters upon subjects of vexation, I -have the means of restoring cheerfulness and satisfaction by speaking of -her nephew and his family. She avoids topics of a directly serious and -religious nature—and is indeed so much alone that she has time for these -reflections when by herself. - - _Dec. 2, 1847._ - -A few days ago she talked of her childhood, and even sung me a little -ballad she had then learnt. - -[Sidenote: 1846. _Survey of the Nebulous Heavens._] - -While her faculties were equal to the appreciation of the gift, she -received a copy of Sir John Herschel’s great work of _Cape -Observations_. The first of the two following letters tells how it was -in progress; the next announces its completion; and thus, by a most -striking and happy coincidence, she, whose unflagging toil had so -greatly contributed to its successful prosecution in the hands of her -beloved brother, lived to witness its triumphant termination through the -no-less persistent industry and strenuous labour of his son, and her -last days were crowned by the possession of the work which brought to -its glorious conclusion Sir William Herschel’s vast undertaking—THE -SURVEY OF THE NEBULOUS HEAVENS. - - - SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - COLLINGWOOD, _Dec. 8, 1846_. - -MY DEAR AUNT,— - -Your letter, which arrived this morning, confirms the apprehension which -the absence of any news from you during the last month had begun to -excite, that you were unwell, and has caused us the liveliest sorrow. -How I wish we were near you, that dear M. could be with you and nurse -you. But the same kind Providence which has preserved you so long in -health will not fail you in sickness. Meanwhile, I pray and entreat you -not to decline the attendance of our good Dr. Mühry, or to avail -yourself of any comforts that Hanover can afford. We shall look most -anxiously for further accounts from Mde. Knipping, or if her family -distresses will not allow her (as you say she has lost her mother very -lately), from the kind pen of Miss Beckedorff, and I hope they will not -wait for the messenger, but write by the post, and that immediately, as -soon as this reaches your hands. - -Still I trust to see many more letters in your own handwriting, and that -the cessation of the very severe weather we have had of late will prove -beneficial in restoring your strength, to enable you to face the farther -progress of the season, which, if your climate is anything like ours, is -always worse in February than at Christmas.... - -I am working still hard at my book (of which you will have by this time -received the first four hundred pages), but I cannot get on quite so -fast as I would, and I greatly fear it will not be out by Christmas. - - - SIR JOHN HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. - - _July 11, 1847._ - -MY DEAR AUNT,— - -I send to the messenger who will take this, a copy of my “Cape -Observations” for you, and I hope it will not be too large for him to -take. - -You will then have in your hands the completion of my father’s work—“The -Survey of the Nebulous Heavens.” - -I hope you will be able to look at the figures (the engravings of the -principal nebulæ). As to the letter-press, the Introduction will perhaps -interest you, and I daresay Miss Beckedorff or Mde. Knipping will be -kind enough to read it to you—a little at a time. - -A copy is on its way I presume by this time to His Majesty the King of -Hanover, as a testimony of respect to a sovereign who has shown you on -many occasions such kind attentions. - -Louisa sends you all our news, and the autographs of Struve and Adams, -who, with M. Leverrier, are now at Collingwood. - - Adieu, dear aunt, - From your ever-affectionate nephew, - J. F. W. HERSCHEL. - -[Sidenote: 1847. _Latter Days._] - - -But the time was past when such gifts could be acknowledged with the old -enthusiasm, though the faculty to appreciate them had not failed, and we -can well imagine how nothing in the power of man to bestow could have -given her such pleasure on her death-bed as this last crowning -completion of her brother’s work. - -The Day-book had long ceased. The final entry, on 3rd September, 1845, -is “_Astronomischen Nachrichten[67] came in_.” As the letters show, the -never-failing birthday festival had been gallantly encountered, and the -accustomed offerings of her many friends with their good wishes, always -including those of the Royal Family, received in the usual place. But -the curtain begins to descend, and the months to go by with only a -bulletin to announce that she still lived, and, as the following extract -from a letter written by her friend Miss Beckedorff shows, with unabated -will and perfectly collected faculties:— - - -Her decided objection to having her bed placed in a warmer room had -brought on a cold and cough, and so firm was her determination to -preserve her old customs, and not to yield to increasing infirmities, -that when, upon Dr. M.’s positive orders, I had a bed made up in her -room, before she came to sit in it one day, it was not till two o’clock -in the night that Betty could persuade her to lie down in it. Upon going -to her the next morning, I had the satisfaction, however, of finding her -perfectly reconciled to the arrangement; she now felt the comfort of -being undisturbed, and she has kept to her bed ever since. Her mental -and bodily strength is gradually declining, and although she at times -rallies wonderfully, we can hardly expect that another month will elapse -ere I have to make my sad and last report.... She says that she is -without pain; fever has left her, and her pulse is regular and good, -though weak at times. She still turns and even raises herself without -assistance, and at times converses with us.... A few days ago she was -ready for a joke. When Mrs. Clarke told her that General Halkett sent -his love, and “hoped she would soon be so well again that he might come -and give her a kiss, as he had done on her birthday,” she looked very -archly at her, and said, “Tell the General that I have not tasted -anything since I liked so well.” I have just left her, and upon my -asking her to give me a message for her nephew, she said, “Tell them -that I am good for nothing,” and went to sleep again.... She is not -averse to seeing visitors. - -_January 6th._ - -[Sidenote: 1848. _The Long Life is Ended._] - - -Four days later the same kind friend had to tell how peacefully and -gently the end came at last. - - -_Jan. 10th, 1848._—Your excellent aunt, my kind revered friend, breathed -her last at eleven o’clock last night, the 9th of January.... She -suffered but little, and went to sleep at last with scarcely a struggle. -Up to the last moment she has had the most undeniable proofs of the -affection and veneration of her own family and a number of friends, both -English and German. Mr. Wilkinson, the English clergyman, has been -unremitting in his visits, and so kind and judicious was his manner, -that she received them to the last with unfeigned satisfaction.... At -four o’clock the guns announced the birth of a young Princess—an event -she had anticipated with much interest; and upon her being told of it -she opened her eyes for the last time with consciousness. - - -The following, translated from a letter of Miss Herschel’s niece, Mrs. -Knipping, to her cousin, Sir J. Herschel, is a most precious fragment, -expressing the sentiments of one who for years contributed to lighten -the grievous burden of age and growing infirmity by her constant -affection and appreciative sympathy. The regret that so little remains -from the same pen is enhanced by the fact that no notes, or memorials of -any kind, appear to exist by which we might hope to picture to ourselves -one whose unconscious self-portraiture makes us crave to see and know -and become familiarly acquainted with her, as she was seen and known by -others. Comparatively recent as was her death, to the best of our -knowledge all have passed away from whose lips we could hope to gather -the impressions of personal acquaintance. Excepting from the letters -already quoted on the occasion of her nephew’s two visits to Hanover, it -is not until she lay on her death-bed that we obtain a glimpse of her -drawn by any other hand than her own. - - _January 13, 1848._ - -... I felt almost a sense of joyful relief at the death of my aunt, in -the thought that now the unquiet heart was at rest. All that she had of -love to give was concentrated on her beloved brother. At his death she -felt herself alone. For after those long years of separation she could -not but find us all strange to her, and no one could ever replace his -loss. Time did indeed lessen and soften the overpowering weight of her -grief, and then she would regret that she had ever left England, and -condemned herself to live in a country where nobody cared for astronomy. -I shared her regret, but I knew too well that even in England she must -have found the same blank. She looked upon progress in science as so -much detraction from her brother’s fame, and even your investigations -would have become a source of estrangement had she been with you. She -lived altogether in the past, and she found the present not only strange -but annoying. Now, thank God, she has gone where she will find again all -that she loved. I shall long feel her loss, for I prized and loved her -dearly, and it is to me a most precious recollection that she loved me -best of all those here, admitted me to closer intimacy, and allowed me -to know something even of her inner life. - -[Sidenote: 1848. _The End of All._] - - -All the necessary instructions about her property, her house, her -burial, she had written years before; even the sum which she considered -sufficient had been carefully set apart for the funeral expenses, and -everything, down to the minutest trifle, had been arranged, so that her -executor, Sir John Herschel, might have the least possible trouble. She -especially prayed him not to come should her death occur in the winter; -but the reiterated instructions through the long series of letters show -how keen was her anxiety that whatever she possessed of value should -pass into his hands, and that no one of her Hanoverian connections, with -the exception of Mrs. Knipping [who, with Miss Beckedorff, was entrusted -with her keys], should intermeddle. She desired to be laid beside her -father and mother, and an inscription[68] of her own composition records -how she was her brother’s assistant, &c. She was followed to the grave -by many relations and friends, the Royal carriages forming part of the -procession; the coffin was covered with garlands of laurel and cypress -and palm branches sent by the Crown Princess from Herrnhausen, and the -holy words spoken over it were uttered in that same garrison church in -which, nearly a century before, she had been christened, and afterwards -confirmed. One direction she could not put on paper, but she desired -Mrs. Knipping to place in her coffin a lock of her beloved brother’s -hair and an old, almost obliterated, almanack that had been used by her -father. - - - - - APPENDIX. - - -THE inventory of the books, pictures, &c., in the sitting-room of No. -376 Braunschweiger Strass, is too characteristic to be omitted. The -following is a copy of it:— - - -Inventory of engravings, all in good black frames, with gilded beads, -and glazed:— - - My Nephew, J. H. - My Mother. - A drawing of Slough, by J. Herschel. - My Brother, Lithographed. - Forty-foot Telescope. - Medallion of Wm. H., by Flaxman, of 1782. - Medallion of Wm. H., by Lochée, of 1787. - Engraving of Dr. Maskelyne, and - Greenwich Observatory (presented to me by himself). - - - BOOKS. - -Bode’s Atlas. - -South’s Observations on Double and Treble Stars, from Phil. -Transactions, Vol. I., 1826. - -South’s Discordance between the Sun’s observed and computed Place. 1826. - -On the Elements and Orbit of Halley’s Comet, &c., by Lieut. W. S. -Stratford, 1837. - -Preface to, &c., &c., of a General Astronomical Catalogue, by F. -Wollaston, 1789. - -J. H.’s Fourth Series of Observations with a twenty-foot Reflector, -containing the places of 1236 Double Stars. - -Stars in the Southern Hemisphere, observed at Paramatta, in New South -Wales, by J. Dunlop, 1828. - -Astronom. Nachrichten, from 1833 to 1839, in 7 vols. (half bound). - -Emerson’s Treatise of Arithmetic. - -Introduction to Sir I. Newton’s Philosophy, with an Essay on, &c., by -John Ryland, M.A. (Mem.—A Keepsake of General Komerzewsky to me, and now -the same to my dear Nephew from his affectionate Aunt, C. H.) - -Salmon’s Geographical and Astronomical Grammar. - -Ferguson’s Astronomy. - -Watson’s Universal Gazetteer. - -Quarterly Journal, Vol. XII., 1822. - -Quarterly Review, July, 1832. - -Edinburgh Review, January, 1834. - -The Connexion of the Physical Sciences, by Mrs. Somerville, 1835. - -Third Vol. of Joanna Baillie’s Plays. (Mem.—Was given me by Lady H. the -day before I left England, to remember my friend, J. B.) - -John F. Wm. Herschel’s Discourse on Nat. Philosophy, which was published -in Dr. Lardner’s Cabinet, and that on Astronomy, I had handsomely bound -and presented them to the Duke of Cambridge, who asked them of me, and -would not even wait till I could read them through myself. - -Göttinger Anzeigen, 202, 203 Stück, Dec. 14, 1833. - -J. Herschel’s Papers, from January 12th, 1828, to Nov. 11th, 1833. Bound -and directed to the Duke of Cambridge (from C. H.). - -Eighteen of Wm. H.’s Papers, collected and bound in one volume, and -directed for Hauptman Müller. - -Über den Neuentdecken Planeten, by Bode, 1784. - -Introduction to English Grammar, by R. South. - -1st and 2nd Vols. of Pfaff’s Translation of Herschel’s Sämtliche -Schriften, 1826 (collected works). - -Abominable stuff! What is to be done with them? They are so prettily -bound, I cannot take it in my heart to burn them. - - --------------------- - -Landing place and five back rooms contain nothing but what is necessary -for the convenience of my servant and myself; and is mostly bought at -the fairs, for a trifling price. (Tables and chairs stained like -mahogany, the latter with cane bottoms, at 18d. a-piece, are, after -seven years’ use, like new.) - -Landing-place: A clothes-press, a glass globe, a few chairs. - -My Bedroom: A bedstead and bedding, &c., &c. 70 thl. dressing-glass, -mahogany frame, plate 22 by 14 inches. (I brought it with me from -England.) - -A cupboard containing tea things, &c., for company. Urn, tea-board, &c., -waiter, two teapots, milk-pot, and slop-bason (black Wedgwood). - -A few cups and saucers, coffee-pot, two glass plates, one and half dozen -bishop glasses, tumblers, cake-basket, &c. - -Plate: Ha! ha! ha! ha! - -Twelve teaspoons, 1 sugar-tongs, 1 table, 1 dessert, and 1 saltspoon, 4 -plated candlesticks, very little used. - - -The superscription on the last page is as follows:— - -It is a pity that I am not at Slough to put the glazed prints in my -nephew’s study; and many articles of furniture would be so useful in the -school-room of my little nephews and nieces. God bless them all! - - --------------------- - - - EPITAPH OF MISS HERSCHEL. - - Hier ruhet die irdische Hülle von - CAROLINA HERSCHEL, - Geboren zu Hannover den 16^{ten} Marz, 1750, - Gestorben den 9^{ten} Januar, 1848. - -Der Blick der Verklärten war hienieden dem gestirnten Himmel zugewandt, -die eigenen Cometen Entdeckungen, und die Theilnahme an den -unsterblichen Arbeiten ihres Bruders, Wilhelm Herschel, zeugen davon bis -in die späte Nachwelt. - -Die Königliche Irländische Akademie zu Dublin und die Königliche -Astronomische Gesellschaft in London zählten sie zu ihren Mitgliedern. - -In den Alter von 97 Jahren 10 Monathen entschlief sie mit heiterer Ruhe -und bei völliger Geisteskraft, ihrem zu einem besseren Leben -vorangegangenen Vater Isaac Herschel folgend der ein Lebensalter von 60 -Jahren, 2 Monathen, 17 Tagen erreichte und seit den 25^{ten} Marz, 1767, -hierneben begraben liegt. - - - [_Translation._] - - Here rests the earthly shell of - CAROLINE HERSCHEL, - Born at Hanover, March 16, 1750, - Died January 9, 1848. - -The gaze of Her whose eyes are now opened sought while here below the -starry skies: her comet discoveries, and her share in the undying work -of her Brother, William Herschel, shall tell of this to all time. - -The Royal Irish Academy of Dublin, and the Royal Astronomical Society of -London counted her among their Members. - -At the age of 97 years 10 months she fell asleep in perfect peace, and -in full vigour of mind, following into a better life her Father, Isaac -Herschel, who lived to the age of 60 years 2 months 17 days, preceded -her in 1767, and lies buried hard by. - - --------------------- - - - THE GRAVE OF CAROLINE HERSCHEL. - - FROM MISS BECKEDORFF. - - _Feb. 4, 1850._ - -“... If I have owned my having neglected visiting Sir John’s _living_ -relations, it has not been the same with the churchyard. I have now been -confined with cold and fever seven weeks, but one of my last visits was -to our lamented friend’s grave, which, with the stone and inscription on -it, was in perfect order. On the 16th of March I intend to have a bush -of white roses planted near it, knowing that my good mother would have -paid her that little tribute had she outlived her revered friend. The -white rose she had planted on the grave of Mrs. P. (?) in the same -churchyard (the mutual friend of both) continues to blossom every year, -and now is a memorial to me and my good mother likewise.” - - - FROM HERR WINNECKE (Assist. Astron. at Pulkowa.) - -“Travelling a few days ago through Hanover, I seized the opportunity of -visiting Miss Caroline’s grave. Pastor Richter, her grand-nephew, took -me to it. It is in the churchyard of the ‘Gartengemeinde,’ and in a good -state of preservation; a heavy slab lies on it, on which is engraved a -long inscription, composed by Miss Caroline herself. At the head is -planted a rose-bush, from which I gathered the leaves which I enclose. I -venture also to send two ‘shadow-outlines’ of Miss Caroline, which I had -taken from a silhouette in the possession of Frau Dr. Groskopf.” - - _June 26, 1864._ - - - - - INDEX. - - Academy, R. Irish, 300. - - Astronomical Society of London, 221, 271. - - Aubert, Alex., letter from Miss Herschel on discovering her first - comet, 66; - her third comet, 86. - - - Baily, F., letter from Miss Herschel, 272-274; - letter to her with his “Account of Flamsteed,” 281; - her answer, 282. - - Baldwin, Miss, her marriage, 129; - death, 132. - - Banks, Sir J., letter from William Herschel on his sister’s second - comet, 84; - from Miss Herschel on her third comet, 85; - and her eighth, 94. - - Beckedorff, Miss, letters during the latter years of Miss Herschel’s - life, 338-340, 343-345. - - Beckedorff, Mrs., 108. - - Blagden, Dr., letter from Miss Herschel about her first comet, 65. - - Brewster, Sir David, opinion of Miss Herschel’s catalogue of all the - star-clusters and Nebulæ, 145, 146. - - - Cambridge, Duke of, letter to Miss Herschel on the return of her nephew - from the Cape, 292. - - Cape of Good Hope—Sir John Herschel leaves the Cape, 292. - - Collingwood, the seat of the Herschel family, 320. - - Comets, Miss Herschel’s first, 64; - second, 80; - third, 85; - fifth, sixth, 93; - eighth, 94. - - Cumberland, Duke of, proclaimed king of Hanover, 290. - - - Dessau, Princess of Anhalt, letter to Miss Herschel, 267. - - - Earthquake at Lisbon, sensation produced in Hanover, 6. - - Encke, Prof., letter to Miss Herschel, 248. - - Englefield, Sir H., letter from W. Herschel on his sister’s second - comet, 83. - - Epitaph on Miss Herschel, 351. - - Etna, Mount, ascent by Sir John Herschel, 173. - - - Flamsteed’s Catalogue, calculations for, 60. - - Forty-foot telescope, 76, 308, 309, 310. - - - Gauss, Hofrath, letter from Miss Herschel, with her index to - Flamsteed’s Observations, 191; - his answer, 195. - - George III. visits the Slough Observatory, 104; - anecdote of, and the Archb. of Canterbury, 309. - - Georgian Satellites, the, 74, 305, 316. - - Georgium Sidus, the, discovered, 39. - - Gloucester, Princess Sophia of, visit to the telescope, 128. - - - Halley’s Comet, 283. - - Herschel, Alex., assists his brother William, 36, 53, 109, 111, 115, - 122; - returns to Hanover, 125; - death, 132; - notice of, 132. - - Herschel, Caroline Lucretia, early recollections, 1-28; - affection for her brother William, 9; - at the Garrison school, 11; - her father’s careful training, 13; - typhus fever, 15; - confirmation, 17; - learns dress-making, 21; - accompanies William to England, 26-28; - life in Bath, 29-50; - _Heimwehe_, 33; - visit to Mrs. Colebrook, 34; - musical rehearsals, 36; - reputation as a singer, 40; - assists her brother, 42; - life at Datchet, 50; - accidents, 55; - Clay Hall, 57; - Slough, 58; - Flamsteed’s Catalogue, 60, 61; - her _sweeps_, 64, 146-148; - first comet, 64; - salary of 50_l._ as her brother’s assistant, 75; - her eight comets, 80-94; - lives by herself, 95; - Index to Flamsteed’s Observations, 96; - extracts from diary, 98-132; - at Bath, 105; - at Slough, 107; - removes to Chalvy, 108; - resides at Upton, 109; - returns to Hanover on the death of her brother, 133; - _Recollections_, 133-140; - her works, 145; - bitter disappointment in her brother Dietrich’s family, 149; - letters, 152; - Catalogue of the Nebulæ, 181; - her will, 200; - presentation of the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society, - 221; - her Portrait, 237, 338; - Paganini, 247; - her nephew’s visit, 254; - anecdotes of his boyish amusements, 259; - Hon. Member of the Royal Astronomical Society, 271; - letter from Mrs. Somerville, 274; - illumination in honour of the Duke of Cumberland being proclaimed - king of Hanover, 290; - visit of her nephew and his son, 293-295; - Hon. Member of the R. Irish Academy, 300; - extracts from day-book, 303-307; - anecdotes of the forty-foot telescope, 308, 309; - describes Christmas in Germany, 313; - her 92nd birthday, 318; - begins the history of the Herschels, 324; - her 93rd birthday, 330; - the first railway between Hanover and Braunschweig, 334; - presented with a gold medal by the king of Prussia, 336; - her last letter, 337; - enters her 98th year, 339; - her death, 344; - funeral, 347; - epitaph, 351; - her grave, 352. - - Herschel, Sir John, first mention of, 104; - at Cambridge, 117; - senior wrangler, 120; - member of the University of Göttingen, 125; - ascends Mount Etna, 172; - at Munich, 175; - visits his aunt, 177, 293; - Secretary to the Royal Society, 181; - at Montpelier, 201; - catalogue of double stars, 213; - his marriage, 236; - describes his aunt, 254; - anecdotes of his boyhood, 259; - letters from the Cape, 263; - sweeping, 266; - the Milky Way, 270; - Halley’s comet, 283; - spots on the sun, 286, 287; - Saturn’s sixth satellite, 288, 289; - returns to England, 292; - created a baronet, 305; - on the Orionis star, 316; - eclipse of the sun in 1842, 327; - his chrysotype pictures, 327; - translation of Schiller’s “Walk,” 328, 329; - acknowledges his aunt’s history, 333. - - Herschel, Lady, letters from Miss Herschel, 152 _et seq._; - her death, 252. - - Herschel, Sir William, early display of talents, 3; - proficiency in music, 7; - accompanies his regiment to England, 8; - resides at Bath, 21; - fetches his sister Caroline, 26; - his musical compositions, 36; - erection of the twenty-foot telescope, 37; - discovers the Georgium Sidus, 39; - casting of the great mirror, 43; - goes to London and is introduced to the King, 45; - Royal Astronomer, 50; - limited salary, 50; - removes to Datchet, 50; - to Clay Hall, 57; - to Slough, 58; - the Georgian Satellites, 74; - marriage, 78; - observations on his sister’s comet, 84, 85; - his failing health, 124; - sits for his portrait, 129; - death, 133. - - Hesse, Princess of, letter to Miss Herschel, 267. - - Humboldt, Alex. von, letter to Miss Herschel, with the Gold Medal for - Science from the king of Prussia, 336, 337. - - - Knipping, Mme., extract from letter upon Miss Herschel’s death, 346. - - - La Lande, J. de, letter to Miss Herschel, 89; - her answer, 91. - - Lind, James, 100. - - - Morgan, A. de, letter from Miss Herschel on being elected Hon. Member - of the R. A. Society, 271. - - Mars, observations on, 53. - - Maskelyne, Rev. Dr., letter from Miss Herschel, on discovering her - second comet, 80; - on the Index to Flamsteed’s Observations, 96. - - - Nebulæ, the, 196-198. - - Nebulæ, the Cape, and double stars, 328. - - - Ole Bull, the violinist, 306. - - Orange, Prince of, at Slough, 99. - - Orionis, α, a variable and periodical star, 316. - - - Piazzi, Abbé, at Slough, 55; - at Catania, 173. - - Pigott, Ed., letter to Miss Herschel on the Flamsteed Catalogue, 101. - - - Railway, first, between Hanover and Braunschweig, 334. - - Ross, Capt., his return with the South Polar Expedition, 333, 334. - - - Schiller’s “Walk,” translated by Sir J. Herschel, 328, 329. - - Schumacher, Prof., letter from Miss Herschel, 260. - - Scorpio, 258, 266. - - Seyffer, Prof., letter to Miss Herschel, 92. - - Somerville, Mrs., letter to Miss Herschel, with her “Connexion of the - Physical Sciences,” 274. - - South, J., his 400 stars, 194; - his address to the Astronomical Society on presenting the hon. medal - to Miss Herschel, 222-227. - - Stewart, P., letter from Miss Herschel, 277. - - Sun, spots on the, 286, 287. - - “Survey of the Nebulous Heavens,” the conclusion of Sir W. Herschel’s - vast undertaking, 341. - - Sweepings for comets, 146-148. - - - Telescope, the forty-foot, anecdotes of, 308, 309; - its final preservation, 310. - - - Watson, Sir W., first acquaintance with W. Herschel, 42. - - Wilson, Alex., notice of, 99. - - - Zodiacal light, the, 331. - - - THE END. - - - BRADBURY, AGNEW, CO., PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS. - - - - - Footnotes - - -Footnote 1: - - The Duke of Cumberland’s army suffered severely in this battle. - -Footnote 2: - - “While the King of Prussia was warring in the south of Germany, an - army of 60,000 Frenchmen under Marshal d’Estrées was directed upon - Hanover, and occupied in the first place the Prussian dominions - lying upon the Rhine.... d’Estrées had been to a certain degree - successful in an action at Hastenbeck, on the Weser, and had forced - Cumberland to retreat. That commander continued to yield ground - incessantly, leaving Hanover and Magdeburg unprotected.... He - concluded with Richelieu the convention of Closter Severn, by which - he engaged that ... the Hanoverian troops should continue inactive - in their quarters near Stade. Hostilities were to be suspended, and - no stipulation was made respecting the Electorate of Hanover. That - country was accordingly plundered without mercy, and subjected to - enormous contributions.”—_Annals of France_, _Encyclopædia - Metropolitana_. - -Footnote 3: - - Afterwards Madame Beckedorff, Miss Herschel’s most valued friend in - after years. - -Footnote 4: - - The other version calls it “from Helvot to Harrige” = Harwich. - -Footnote 5: - - Although a considerable quantity of Sir W. Herschel’s musical - compositions exist in manuscript, much has unhappily perished. His - sister writes:—“I only lament that this anthem was left with the rest - of my brother’s sacred compositions, which were left in trust with one - of the choristers. The morning and evening services each in two - different keys, and numerous psalm tunes most beautifully set. The - organ book containing the scores; the parts written out and bound in - leather, in a box with lock and key which was always kept at the - chapel. All is lost. With difficulty many years after, one Te Deum was - recovered, and when I was in Bath in 1800 I obtained two or three torn - books of odd parts.” The chorister’s wife openly charged Mr. Linley - with having taken possession of these treasures. - -Footnote 6: - - “The grinding of specula used to be performed by the hand, no - machinery having been deemed sufficiently exact. The tool on which - they were shaped having been turned to the required form, and covered - with coarse emery and water, they were ground on it to the necessary - figure, and afterwards polished by means of putty or oxide of tin, or - pitch spread as a covering to the same tool in the place of the emery. - To grind a speculum of six or eight inches in diameter was a work of - no ordinary labour; and such a one used to be considered of great - size.”—“_Lord Rosse’s Telescopes_,” 1844. - -Footnote 7: - - He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, Dec. 6, 1781. - -Footnote 8: - - “About the latter end of this month [December, 1779] I happened to be - engaged in a series of observations on the lunar mountains, and the - moon being in front of my house, late in the evening I brought my - seven-feet reflector into the street, and directed it to the object of - my observations. Whilst I was looking into the telescope, a gentleman - coming by the place where I was stationed, stopped to look at the - instrument. When I took my eye off the telescope, he very politely - asked if he might be permitted to look in, and this being immediately - conceded, he expressed great satisfaction at the view. Next morning - the gentleman, who proved to be Dr. Watson, jun. (now Sir William), - called at my house to thank me for my civility in showing him the - moon, and told me that there was a Literary Society then forming at - Bath, and invited me to become a member of it, to which I readily - consented.”—_Sir W. Herschel’s Journal._ This occurred at a house in - River Street, which was soon changed for 19, New King Street. - -Footnote 9: - - George Griesbach, who with the rest of the family settled in England, - where they all did well, their musical talents and connections - bringing them a good deal under the notice of the Court. Mr. G. - Griesbach’s youngest daughter, Elizabeth, became the wife of Mr. - Waterhouse, of the British Museum. She died in 1874. - -Footnote 10: - - This eminent astronomer made inquiries after Miss Herschel long years - afterwards, as is related in the correspondence. See letter from Sir - J. Herschel, dated Catania, 1824, p. 174. - -Footnote 11: - - This is the last time that the name of Jacob Herschel appears. - -Footnote 12: - - Dr. Herschel married Mary, only child of Mr. James Baldwin, a merchant - of the City of London, and widow of John Pitt, Esq., by whom she had - one son, who died in early youth. She was a lady of singular - amiability and gentleness of character. The jointure which she brought - enabled Dr. Herschel to pursue his scientific career without any - anxiety about money matters. - -Footnote 13: - - M. De la Lande’s name was _Jerome Le Français dit de la Lande_; it is - to himself, therefore, that he here refers. The letter is addressed - “Mlle. Caroline Herschel, Astronome Célèbre, Slough.” - -Footnote 14: - - This comet, since known as Encke’s, in consequence of that great - astronomer having determined its periodicity in 1819 and predicted its - triennial return, was discovered, independently, four several times - before its identity was recognized, Miss Herschel’s observation of it - in 1795 being the second in order of time. Additional interest has - since attached to it, in consequence of its gradually diminishing - period and the views hence suggested on the economy of the solar - system. - -Footnote 15: - - The Rev. S. Vince, a mathematician and natural philosopher. - -Footnote 16: - - Sir William Watson, M.D., Knight, F.R.S. from 1770 to 1800, when he - resigned. He was one of the first members of the Astronomical Society - at its foundation in 1821 under the Presidency of William Herschel. - His father, also M.D. and Knight, was the eminent botanist and - naturalist. He lived much at Dawlish, where the Herschel family - frequently went to stay with him. - -Footnote 17: - - Alexander Wilson, M.D., professor of practical astronomy in the - University of Glasgow, and first propounder of that theory as to the - cause and nature of the spots on the sun, which was afterwards fully - corroborated and worked out by Sir W. Herschel. - -Footnote 18: - - The Prince’s questions were sometimes of a very remarkable kind. On a - previous occasion when he “stept in” with a view to having them - answered, and was not so fortunate as to find anyone at home, he left - the following memorandum: “The Prince of Orange has been at Slough to - call at Mr. Herschel’s and to ask him, or if he was not at home to - Miss Herschel, if it is true that Mr. Herschel has discovered a new - star, whose light was not as that of the common stars, but with - swallow tails, as stars in embroidery. He has seen this reported in - the newspapers, and wishes to know if there is any foundation to that - report.—Slough, the _8th_ of _August_, 1798.—W. Prince of Orange.” - -Footnote 19: - - James Lind, M.D., was a Scotchman, who devoted a considerable amount - of his time to astronomical observations. - -Footnote 20: - - The only child of Dr. Herschel. He afterwards became Sir John - Herschel. Miss Herschel was very proud as well as fond of him. He is - “my nephew.” Dr. Herschel is usually called “my brother,” in - distinction from all the rest of the family. - -Footnote 21: - - Mrs. Beckedorff was “the sweet little girl of ten or eleven years old” - with whom Miss Herschel had exchanged pleasant greetings when they - were both taking lessons in dressmaking from Madame Küster, in - Hanover, thirty-five years before. (See p. 22.) - -Footnote 22: - - Probably Professor Wales, mathematical master at Christ’s Hospital, - author of a mathematical paper published in the “Phil. Trans.,” 1781. - -Footnote 23: - - The cost of this fine instrument, which had been ordered by the King - of Spain as long before as January, 1796, was £3150. The Prince of - Canino paid £2310 for a ten and a seven-foot telescope from the same - indefatigable hands. But although the pecuniary profit was great, it - is not surprising that Miss Herschel should bemoan the “making and - selling of telescopes” as unworthy of the enormous amount of time and - labour which must be withdrawn from the study of astronomy; and it is - evident that the fatigue and exhaustion from polishing mirrors told - seriously upon Sir William’s health. - -Footnote 24: - - A characteristic little note from her brother belongs to this time: - “Lina,—Last night I ‘popt’ upon a comet. It is visible to the naked - eye, between Fomalhout and β Ceti, but above the line that joins the - two stars. It made an equilateral triangle (downwards) with 100 and - 107 Aquarii. I wrote last night to Sir J. Banks and write now also to - Dr. Maskelyne. Adieu. - - _Dec. 9, 1805._” - -Footnote 25: - - De Luc was a geologist of high reputation; an ardent opponent of - Huttonian views. - -Footnote 26: - - The following notice is from a Bristol paper: - - “Died, March 15th, 1821, at Hanover, Alexander Herschel, Esq., - well-known to the public of Bath and Bristol as a performer and - elegant musician; and, who for forty-seven years was the admiration of - the frequenters of concerts and theatres of both those cities, as - principal violoncello. - - “To the extraordinary merits of Mr. Herschel was united considerable - acquirement in the superior branches of mechanics and philosophy, and - his affinity to his brother, Sir William Herschel, the illustrous - astronomer, was not less in science than blood. To a large circle of - professional friends the uniform gentlemanly manners of Mr. Herschel - have rendered him at once an object of their warmest regard and - respect.” Alexander Herschel returned to Hanover in September, 1816, - and was enabled to live in comfortable independence until his death at - the age of seventy-six, through the never failing generosity of his - elder brother. - -Footnote 27: - - Although Miss Herschel was endowed by nature with a fine healthy - constitution, she suffered much in various ways during the last - twenty-five years of her life; and there is little doubt that her - health was injured, to a considerable extent, by the excessive fatigue - and serious accidents to which she was exposed in her earlier days, - when she often denied herself rest that was imperatively needed, in - order to be at hand when her brother required her services. - -Footnote 28: - - A younger sister of Mrs. Beckwith, niece of Lady Herschel. - -Footnote 29: - - This passage is a later note, added Sept. 26, 1828. - -Footnote 30: - - At this time W. Herschel frequently gave thirty-five and thirty-eight - lessons a week to lady pupils. - -Footnote 31: - - It was not an unknown circumstance for the ink to freeze while she was - attending to take down her brother’s observations. - -Footnote 32: - - These words had apparently to be sought for in the dictionary, as they - are inserted in pencil in blank spaces left for the purpose. - -Footnote 33: - - To her brother, in Upton Church, near Slough. - -Footnote 34: - - The paper referred to is probably one on “The Aberrations of Compound - Lenses and Object Glasses,” read at the Royal Society on the 22nd - March, 1821. - -Footnote 35: - - Dietrich Herschel died towards the end of January, 1827. - -Footnote 36: - - See p. 10. - -Footnote 37: - - The author of this hasty address feels no slight gratification in - having been present on the 1st June, 1821, at the last observations - with the twenty-foot reflector, in which Miss Herschel was engaged. He - remembers also, not without regret, but with becoming gratitude, that - the mirror used for his improvement, on the occasion was inserted, for - the last time, in the tube, by the hands of Sir William - Herschel.—_Memoirs Astronomical Society_, Vol. III., p. 409. - -Footnote 38: - - This extract, as it bears on the subject of the recognition of Miss - Herschel’s labours, is inserted here, though somewhat before its time. - -Footnote 39: - - “Motions were then made for passing these several resolutions, and the - same were carried unanimously.”—_Monthly Notices_, vol. iii. p. 91. - -Footnote 40: - - Of President. - -Footnote 41: - - An allusion to his approaching marriage, when he would resign his - Fellowship. - -Footnote 42: - - The Destroying Angel has once more passed by. - -Footnote 43: - - Discourse on the study of Natural Philosophy. - -Footnote 44: - - See p. 72, 1786. - -Footnote 45: - - In the Quarterly Review. - -Footnote 46: - - Sir John for ever! - -Footnote 47: - - Here, indeed, is a hole in the sky. - -Footnote 48: - - A brother of Lady Herschel’s. This gentleman and his brothers were in - the habit of writing to Miss Herschel during her nephew’s absence at - the Cape, keeping her informed of the latest news, and showing her - every kind and thoughtful attention. - -Footnote 49: - - This lady, the daughter of Dietrich Herschel, proved a most true, - affectionate, and trustworthy friend to the last. See her letter on - Miss Herschel’s death. - -Footnote 50: - - “On the Influence of the Irregularities of the Earth on Geodetic - Operations, and their Comparison with Astronomical Determinations.” - -Footnote 51: - - How d’ye do? - -Footnote 52: - - Betrothed. - -Footnote 53: - - On the Exchange. - -Footnote 54: - - The whole family party assembled at Christmas in the tube of the great - telescope, and sang a ballad composed for the occasion. - -Footnote 55: - - “The telescope, as you know, is laid on three stone piers - horizontally. It will be fresh painted to-morrow, and afterwards every - three or four years, as it wants it, and it looks very well. The - observatory will remain nearly as it is. The apparatus of the - telescope is _inside of the tube_, and will be riveted up from all - intruders. And all the polishing apparatus is _fixed_ on the - spot.”—_Letter of Sir John Herschel, Feb. 28, 1840._ - - The great mirror is now put up in the hall of the house—“Herschels”—at - Slough, by the present tenant, Mr. Montressor, who has spared no pains - to do honour to the relics as well as to keep up the character of the - old fashioned “habitation,” which owes much to the taste and judgment - he has bestowed on it. - -Footnote 56: - - General Baron Hugh Halkett, a distinguished officer of the German - Legion, died 1863. - -Footnote 57: - - Miss Herschel gave special directions that, after her death, her - snuff-box should be given to this lady. - -Footnote 58: - - The family of Sir J. Herschel had left Slough and settled at - Collingwood, near Hawkhurst, Kent, now the family residence. - -Footnote 59: - - Every fool is pleased with his own cap. - -Footnote 60: - - In answer to this announcement her niece wrote: “Herschel bids me say - he is quite delighted at the idea of your undertaking the family - history, but he insists upon it that you prove his descent from - _Hercules_, and I dare say in this age of relics, we could contrive to - find in the rummaging of old traps turned out at Slough, a veritable - piece of the old _club_ which has by fortunate accident served as part - of the ladders of the forty-foot telescope! or perhaps you remember - its slipping down the mouth of the great telescope one night when it - was turned in the direction of your ancestor’s constellation, as a - sign that he confessed himself _outshone_ by your _labours_.” - -Footnote 61: - - He who first cries “Kick!” shall have the apple. - -Footnote 62: - - The astronomers for ever! - -Footnote 63: - - Her 93rd birthday. - -Footnote 64: - - Thank God. - -Footnote 65: - - Railway. - -Footnote 66: - - The fellow is a fool! - -Footnote 67: - - The days on which this periodical arrived are always noted in the - Day-books. - -Footnote 68: - - The inscription is given in the Appendix. - - - - - * * * * * * - - - - -Transcriber’s note; - -Some corrections were made to the original text. In particular, -punctuation was corrected without further note. Inconsistent spelling -and hyphenation was retained unless noted otherwise. The order of Index -entries was corrected where errors were found. Ditto marks were replaced -by the text they represent. There was no marker for Footnote 21; its -placement has been assumed. Further corrections are noted below: - - p. 91 Ungeshick -> Ungeschick - p. 125 Gottingen -> Göttingen - p. 181 liknesses -> likenesses - p. 212 Von -> von - p. 226 Herchel's -> Herschel's - p. 240 excpet -> except - p. 266 nebulæ -> nebula - p. 304 Hohembaum -> Hohenbaum - p. 312 to of the age -> to the age of - p. 326 fouteeth -> fourteenth - Footnote 18 ommon -> common - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMOIR AND CORRESPONDENCE OF -CAROLINE HERSCHEL*** - - -******* This file should be named 52923-0.txt or 52923-0.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/5/2/9/2/52923 - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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