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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9a69b05 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #52923 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/52923) 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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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 <a -href="http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. 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.</p> -<p>Title: Memoir and Correspondence of Caroline Herschel</p> -<p>Author: Mrs. John Herschel</p> -<p>Release Date: August 29, 2016 [eBook #52923]</p> -<p>Language: English</p> -<p>Character set encoding: UTF-8</p> -<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMOIR AND CORRESPONDENCE OF CAROLINE HERSCHEL***</p> -<p> </p> -<h4 class="nf-center">E-text prepared by Sonya Schermann<br /> - and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> - (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net">http://www.pgdp.net</a>)<br /> - from page images generously made available by<br /> - Internet Archive<br /> - (<a href="https://archive.org">https://archive.org</a>)</h4> -<p> </p> -<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10"> - <tr> - <td valign="top"> - Note: - </td> - <td> - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - <a href="https://archive.org/details/correspondence00hersuoft"> - https://archive.org/details/correspondence00hersuoft</a> - </td> - </tr> -</table> -<p> </p> -<hr class="full" /> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c000'> - <div><span class='xlarge'>CAROLINE HERSCHEL.</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div id='frontis' class='figcenter id001'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_ii'>ii</span> -<img src='images/i_004.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p><i>Joseph Brown sc</i><br /><i>Caroline Herschel.</i><br /><i>ÆTAT 92.</i></p> -</div> -</div> - -<div> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_iii'>iii</span> - <h1 class='c001'>MEMOIR AND CORRESPONDENCE<br /> <br />OF<br /> <br />CAROLINE HERSCHEL.</h1> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div><span class='sc'>By</span> MRS. JOHN HERSCHEL.</div> - <div class='c002'>WITH PORTRAITS.</div> - <div class='c002'><i>SECOND EDITION.</i></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>LONDON:</div> - <div>JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET.</div> - <div>1879.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_v'>v</span> - <h2 class='c004'>INTRODUCTION.</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c005'><span class='sc'>Familiar</span> 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.</p> - -<p class='c006'>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.</p> - -<p class='c006'>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,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b c007'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>When all the world seems adverse to desert.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>These helpers and sustainers, men or women, have -all the same quality in common—absolute devotion and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_vi'>vi</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Of this noble company of unknown helpers Caroline -Herschel was one.</p> - -<p class='c006'>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, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_vii'>vii</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c006'>These memorials of his father and his aunt were -<span class='pageno' id='Page_viii'>viii</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c006'>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.</p> - -<p class='c006'>Her own astronomical labours were remarkable, and -in her later life she met with honour and recognition -<span class='pageno' id='Page_ix'>ix</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c006'>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.</p> - -<p class='c006'>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.</p> - -<p class='c006'>If these Recollections convey as much pleasure -<span class='pageno' id='Page_x'>x</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c006'><i>December, 1875.</i></p> - -<h3 class='c008'>NOTE.</h3> - -<p class='c009'><span class='sc'>When</span> 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 <em>go on</em> 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 <em>idle</em> while you live. But indeed, if I could -tell you the influence which a short account by a stranger -of <em>your</em> labours with your dear Brother had upon me when -a child, and of my choosing <em>you</em> (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.”</p> - -<div class='c010'>August 9, 1841.</div> - -<p class='c011'>May we not echo this hope, and feel indeed that “<span class='fss'>SHE -BEING DEAD YET SPEAKETH</span>.”</p> - -<div class='c010'>M. C. H.</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_xi'>xi</span> - <h2 class='c004'>CONTENTS.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>CHAPTER I.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'>PAGE</div> - -<p class='c012'>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</p> - -<div class='c010'><a href='#Page_1'>1</a></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>CHAPTER II.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c012'>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</p> - -<div class='c010'><a href='#Page_29'>29</a></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>CHAPTER III.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c012'>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</p> - -<div class='c010'><a href='#Page_78'>78</a></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>CHAPTER IV.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c012'>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</p> - -<div class='c010'><a href='#Page_118'>118</a></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>CHAPTER V.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c012'>RETROSPECTION—LIFE IN HANOVER—HER HUMILITY—HER WORKS—MADE -HON. MEMBER OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY—HER -<span class='pageno' id='Page_xii'>xii</span>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</p> - -<div class='c010'><a href='#Page_141'>141</a></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>CHAPTER VI.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c012'>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</p> - -<div class='c010'><a href='#Page_196'>196</a></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>CHAPTER VII.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c012'>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</p> - -<div class='c010'><a href='#Page_262'>262</a></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>TO BINDER.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c012'>Portrait of Caroline Herschel. <a href='#frontis'><i>Frontispiece.</i></a></p> - -<p class='c012'>Portrait of Sir William Herschel, after the original by Abbott, in -the National Portrait Gallery, to face p. <a href='#Page_118'>118</a>.</p> - -<p class='c012'>Herschel’s Forty-foot Telescope, to face p. <a href='#Page_29'>29</a>.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c000'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_1'>1</span><span class='xlarge'>CAROLINE HERSCHEL.</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER I.<br /> <br />RECOLLECTIONS OF EARLY LIFE IN HANOVER.</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c005'><span class='sc'>Caroline Lucretia Herschel</span> 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.</p> - -<p class='c006'>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 <em>Herschel</em> 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_2'>2</span>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1675-1731. <i>Early Recollections.</i></div> - -<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_3'>3</span>The family group to which Miss Herschel’s autobiography -introduces us consisted of—</p> - -<p class='c005'>1. Sophia Elizabeth, born in 1733. [Afterwards -Mrs. Griesbach.]</p> - -<p class='c006'>2. Henry Anton Jacob, born 20th November, 1734.</p> - -<p class='c006'>(4) 3. Frederic William, born 15th November, 1738.</p> - -<p class='c006'>(6) 4. John Alexander, born 13th November, -1745.</p> - -<p class='c006'>(8) 5. Carolina Lucretia, born 16th March, 1750; -and</p> - -<p class='c006'>(10) 6. The little Dietrich, born 13th September, -1755.</p> - -<p class='c005'>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 <em>William</em> 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_4'>4</span>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1743-1754. <i>Early Recollections.</i></div> - -<p class='c006'>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:—</p> - -<p class='c013'>“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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_5'>5</span>have seen my brother William confirmed in his new oböisten -uniform.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>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,</p> - -<p class='c014'>“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.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>Great preparations were made for</p> - -<p class='c014'>“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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_6'>6</span>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.”</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1753-1755. <i>Early Recollections.</i></div> - -<p class='c005'>A little later, when war troubles broke up the -household, and the bride returned to her mother, we -are told:</p> - -<p class='c014'>“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.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>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:—</p> - -<p class='c013'>“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.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>For a little while the family enjoyed a peaceful -interval, during which the extraordinary proficiency of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_7'>7</span>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:—</p> - -<p class='c013'>“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 <em>me so happy</em> to see <em>them so happy</em>. 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_8'>8</span>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.”</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1755-1756. <i>Early Recollections.</i></div> - -<p class='c005'>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:—</p> - -<p class='c013'>“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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_9'>9</span>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.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>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.</p> - -<p class='c013'>“My mother being very busy preparing dinner, had -<span class='pageno' id='Page_10'>10</span>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.”</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1756-1757. <i>Early Recollections.</i></div> - -<p class='c005'>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,<a id='r1' /><a href='#f1' class='c015'><sup>[1]</sup></a> 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:—</p> - -<p class='c013'>“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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_11'>11</span>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.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>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.</p> - -<p class='c013'>“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.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_12'>12</span>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1757-1760. <i>Early Recollections.</i></div> - -<p class='c013'>“Nothing but distressing reports came from our army, -and we were almost immediately in the power of the -French troops,<a id='r2' /><a href='#f2' class='c015'><sup>[2]</sup></a> 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.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_13'>13</span>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</p> - -<p class='c014'>“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.”</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1760-1761. <i>Early Recollections.</i></div> - -<p class='c005'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_14'>14</span>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,—</p> - -<p class='c013'>“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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_15'>15</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“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.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>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</p> - -<p class='c014'>“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.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>In spite of her strong objections to learning, the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_16'>16</span>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</p> - -<p class='c014'>“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.”</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1761-1764. <i>Early Recollections.</i></div> - -<p class='c005'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_17'>17</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c013'>“Of the joys and pleasures which all felt at this long-wished-for -meeting with my—let me say my <em>dearest</em> -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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“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.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_18'>18</span>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1764-1767. <i>Early Recollections.</i></div> - -<p class='c013'>“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.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_19'>19</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c006'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_20'>20</span>her desire for better instruction. The parents had -never agreed on the subject. “When I had left -school,” she writes,</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1767. <i>Early Recollections.</i></div> - -<p class='c013'>“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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c016'>But sometimes I found it scarcely possible to get through -with the work required, and felt very unhappy that -<span class='pageno' id='Page_21'>21</span>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.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_22'>22</span>account of this episode shows how customary such -apprenticeship was among young ladies of good -family, as a part of their education:—</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1768. <i>Early Recollections.</i></div> - -<p class='c013'>“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,<a id='r3' /><a href='#f3' class='c015'><sup>[3]</sup></a> 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.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_23'>23</span>Dietrich was despatched in the summer as soon as a -fitting escort could be found.</p> - -<p class='c013'>“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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“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.</p> - -<p class='c013'>[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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_24'>24</span>opened <em>to the Public</em>, 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.]</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1768-1770. <i>Early Recollections.</i></div> - -<p class='c013'>“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.</p> - -<p class='c005'>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—</p> - -<p class='c014'>... “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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_25'>25</span>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, <em>shake and all</em>, 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.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1772. <i>Early Recollections.</i></div> - -<p class='c006'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_26'>26</span>with her mother, although the latter had given her -consent to the change.</p> - -<p class='c013'>“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 <i>Görde</i>, 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....</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>“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, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_27'>27</span>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.<a id='r4' /><a href='#f4' class='c015'><sup>[4]</sup></a> For the vessel was almost a -wreck, without a main and another of its masts.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_28'>28</span>“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.”</p> - -<hr class='c017' /> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c018'> - <div>END OF RECOLLECTIONS, VOL. I.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>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.”</p> - -<div class='figcenter id002'> -<img src='images/i_044.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p>SIR WILLIAM HERSCHEL’S FORTY-FOOT TELESCOPE AT SLOUGH.<br />[<i>To face page 29.</i></p> -</div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_29'>29</span> - <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER II.<br /> <br />LIFE OF THE BROTHER AND SISTER IN BATH.</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c005'><span class='sc'>At</span> 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_30'>30</span>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1772. <i>Life in Bath.</i></div> - -<p class='c006'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_31'>31</span>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.”</p> - -<p class='c013'><span class='pageno' id='Page_32'>32</span>“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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“My brother Alexander, who had been some time in -England, boarded and lodged with his elder brother, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_33'>33</span>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)....</p> - -<p class='c011'>“The three winter months passed on very heavily. -I had to struggle against <i><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">heimweh</span></i> (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.”</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1774-1775. <i>Life in Bath.</i></div> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_34'>34</span>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.”</p> - -<p class='c013'>“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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_35'>35</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“But nothing serious could be attempted, for want of -time, till the beginning of June, when some of my brother’s -<span class='pageno' id='Page_36'>36</span>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.<a id='r5' /><a href='#f5' class='c015'><sup>[5]</sup></a> 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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1775-1782. <i>Life in Bath.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_37'>37</span>“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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“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.<a id='r6' /><a href='#f6' class='c015'><sup>[6]</sup></a> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_38'>38</span>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.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_39'>39</span>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.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>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,—</p> - -<p class='c013'>“And that my choice could not have been a bad one I -conclude from having been pronounced by Mr. Palmer (the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_40'>40</span>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.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>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.</p> - -<p class='c006'>The name of <em>William Herschel</em> was fast becoming -famous, as a writer, a discoverer, and the possessor and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_41'>41</span>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.<a id='r7' /><a href='#f7' class='c015'><sup>[7]</sup></a> It came about as follows:—</p> - -<p class='c013'>... “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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_42'>42</span>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<a id='r8' /><a href='#f8' class='c015'><sup>[8]</sup></a> 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_43'>43</span>absence did not last above three or four days, when my -brother returned alone, Sir William remaining with his father.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_44'>44</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“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<a id='r9' /><a href='#f9' class='c015'><sup>[9]</sup></a> 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, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_45'>45</span>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....</p> - -<p class='c011'>... 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“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.”</p> - -<p class='c005'>It was during his absence at this time that the three -following letters were written and received:—</p> - -<p class='c013'><span class='sc'>Dear Lina</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_46'>46</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>I am, your affectionate brother,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Wm. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-l'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Saturday Morning,</div> - <div class='line'> probably <i>May 25</i>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_47'>47</span>TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'>Monday Evening, <i>June 3, 1782</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Lina</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<em>deserves</em> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>what they call</em> my great discoveries. Alas! -this shows how far they are behind, when such trifles as I -have seen and done are called <em>great</em>. Let me but get at it -again! I will make such telescopes, and see such things—that -is, I will endeavour to do so.</p> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_48'>48</span>The letter ends abruptly with this sentence, and -only one more was written during this momentous -interval.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1775-1782. <i>Impending Changes.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>July 3, 1782.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Carolina</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_49'>49</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c013'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_50'>50</span>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1782. <i>Removal to Datchet.</i></div> - -<p class='c005'>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, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_51'>51</span>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!</p> - -<p class='c013'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_52'>52</span>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....</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1783. <i>Life at Datchet.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>... 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_53'>53</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_54'>54</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 8.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_55'>55</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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<a id='r10' /><a href='#f10' class='c015'><sup>[10]</sup></a> did not go home without getting -<span class='pageno' id='Page_56'>56</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>first</em> quarterly payment of <em>fifty pounds</em> (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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>It seemed to be supposed that enough had been done when -my brother was enabled to leave his profession that he might -<span class='pageno' id='Page_57'>57</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1784-1785. <i>Removal from Datchet to Clay Hall.</i></div> - -<p class='c005'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_58'>58</span>“litigious woman,” who refused to be bound to reasonable -terms, and at length, on the 3rd of April, 1786, -the house and garden at <span class='sc'>Slough</span> were taken, and all the -apparatus and machinery immediately removed there.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1786. <i>Removal from Clay Hall to Slough.</i></div> - -<p class='c013'>... 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_59'>59</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_60'>60</span>(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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1786. <i>Life and Work at Slough.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>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.”</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 3.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>4th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>5th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>6th.</i>—I put all the philosophical letters in order, and -the collection of each year in a separate cover.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>12th.</i>—I put paper in press for a register, and calculated -for Flamsteed’s Catalogue.</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_61'>61</span><i>Mem.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>14th.</i>—Dr. and Mrs. Maskelyne called here with Dr. -Shepherd.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>15th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>16th.</i>—I ruled part of the register of sweeps.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>18th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>19th.</i>—In the evening we swept from eleven till one.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>20th.</i>—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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_62'>62</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>22nd.</i>—I calculated all the day for Flamsteed’s Catalogue. -Lord Mulgrave called this evening.....</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>23rd.</i>—Received letters from Hanover. Finished calculating -for Flamsteed’s Catalogue.</p> - -<p class='c005'>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>FROM W. HERSCHEL TO CAROLINE HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>Friday, July 14, 1786</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Sister</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_63'>63</span>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>FROM W. HERSCHEL TO CAROLINE HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'>[<i>August, 1786.</i>]</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Lina</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>old -England</em> again, though <em>old Germany</em> 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.</p> - -<p class='c013'><i>24th.</i>—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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>28th.</i>—I wrote part of Flamsteed’s Catalogue in the -clear. It was a stormy night, we could not go to bed.</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_64'>64</span><i>29th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>30th.</i>—I wound up the sidereal timepiece, Field’s and -Alexander’s clocks, and made covers for the new and old -registers.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>31st.</i>—I booked 558, 557, and 554; 556, 555, I was -obliged to leave out on account of some difficulty.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Mem.</i>—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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1786. <i>Slough.—The first Comet.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><i>August 1.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>2nd.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>1 o’clock.—The object of last night <em>is a comet</em>.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>3rd.</i>—I did not go to rest till I had wrote to Dr. Blagden -<span class='pageno' id='Page_65'>65</span>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO DR. BLAGDEN.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>August 2, 1786.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Sir</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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:—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <cite><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Connoissance des Temps</span></cite>, 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>August 1</i>, 1786, 9<sup>h</sup> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>10<sup>h</sup> 33ʹ. Fig. 2. The suspected comet makes now a -perfect isosceles triangle with the two stars <i>a</i> and <i>b</i>.</p> - -<p class='c011'>11<sup>h</sup> 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 <i>b</i> to be assured of the motion.</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_66'>66</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Aug. 2nd</i>, 10<sup>h</sup> 9ʹ. The comet is now, with respect to the -stars <i>a</i> and <i>b</i>, situated as in Fig. 4, therefore the motion -since last night is evident.</p> - -<p class='c011'>10<sup>h</sup> 30ʹ. Another considerable star, <i>c</i>, may be taken into -the field with it by placing <i>a</i> in the centre, when the comet -and the other star will both appear in the circumference, as -in Fig. 5.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <i>a</i> or <i>c</i> 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<sup>h</sup> 33ʹ, may be pretty nearly ascertained.</p> - -<p class='c011'>You will do me the favour of communicating these -observations to my brother’s astronomical friends.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'> I have the honour to be,</div> - <div class='line'> Sir,</div> - <div class='line'>Your most obedient, humble servant,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Carolina Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-l'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><i>August 2nd, 1786.</i></div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Slough, near Windsor.</span></div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO ALEX. AUBERT, ESQ.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Slough</span>, <i>August 2, 1786</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Sir</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>August 1st</i>, 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_67'>67</span>liberty to send the first, that you might compare it with -what I saw to-night.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>In Fig. 2, <i>August 2nd</i>, 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>I made these observations with my little Newtonian -sweeper, and used a power of about 30: the field is about -1½ degree.</p> - -<p class='c011'>I hope, sir, you will excuse the trouble I give you with -my wag [<i>qy.</i> 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 <em>hours</em> in the telescope.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_68'>68</span>With my respectful compliments to the ladies, your sisters, -I have the honour to be,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'> Sir,</div> - <div class='line'>Your most obedient, humble servant,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>DR. BLAGDEN TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='sc'>Gower Street, Bedford Square</span>,</div> - <div class='line'><i>August 5, 1786</i>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Madam</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Accept my best thanks for your obliging attention in -communicating to me the news, and believe me to be, with -great esteem,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Your obedient, humble servant,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>C. Blagden</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_69'>69</span>ALEX. AUBERT, ESQ., TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>London</span>, <i>7th August, 1786</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Miss Herschel</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>you</em> have made it, -and I think I see your <em>wonderfully clever</em> and <em>wonderfully -amiable</em> 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....</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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].</p> - -<p class='c011'>By the above, you will see it will be very near 19 of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_70'>70</span>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,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Dear Miss Herschel,</div> - <div class='line'> Your most obedient and obliged</div> - <div class='line'> humble servant,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Alex. Aubert</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1786. <i>Employments at Slough.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO DIETRICH HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Slough</span>, <i>August 4, 1786</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Brother</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_71'>71</span>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....</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>When I saw it, it appeared like a very bright, but round, -small nebula.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c005'>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:—</p> - -<p class='c013'><span class='sc'>Dear Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1786-1787. <i>Employments at Slough.</i></div> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_72'>72</span>The information is of a very miscellaneous kind, -but matters connected with her special study form -the greater part of the questions. For instance:—</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b c003'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Given the true time of the transit—take a transit.</div> - <div class='line'>Do the same thing another way.</div> - <div class='line'>To find what star Mercury is nearest.</div> - <div class='line'>Take its place in the Nautical Almanac.</div> - <div class='line'>Another way....</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='c019'>* * * * *</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Time of a star’s motion to be turned into space.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='c019'>* * * * *</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>To adjust the quadrant when fastened to the telescope.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='c019'>* * * * *</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>A logarithm given, to find the angle.</div> - <div class='line'>Oblique spherical triangles.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>4th.</i>—I wrote to-day to Hanover, booked my observations, -and made a fair copy of three letters. Made accounts. -The night is cloudy.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>5th.</i>—I calculated nebulæ all day. The night was tolerably -fine, and I saw the comet.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>6th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>7th</i>, <i>8th</i>.—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>9th.</i>—I calculated 100 nebulæ....</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>10th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_73'>73</span><i>11th.</i> I completed to-day the catalogue of the first -thousand.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>12th.</i> ... calculated 200 nebulæ of the second thousand.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>13th.</i> Professor Kratzensteine, from Copenhagen, was -here to-day. In the evening I saw the comet and swept.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>14th.</i> ... I calculated 140 nebulæ to-day, which -brought me up to the last discovered nebulæ, and, therefore, -this work is finished.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>15th.</i> I went up with Mrs. H. to Windsor to pay some -bills and to buy several articles against my brother’s return.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>16th.</i> ... my brothers returned about three in the -afternoon.</p> - -<p class='c013'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>The moonlight nights were generally taken advantage of for -experiments, and for the frequent journeys to town which he -<span class='pageno' id='Page_74'>74</span>was obliged to make to order and provide the tools and -materials which were continually wanting, I may say by -wholesale.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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....</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_75'>75</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.)</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>My brother’s bust was taken by Lochée, according to Sir -Wm. Watson’s order. Professor Wilson and my brother -Jacob<a id='r11' /><a href='#f11' class='c015'><sup>[11]</sup></a> were present.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1786-1787. <i>Slough—Appointed Assistant Astronomer.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_76'>76</span>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 <em>for Car.</em> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1787-1788. <i>Slough—Marriage of Dr. Herschel.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_77'>77</span>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>END OF RECOLLECTIONS.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_78'>78</span> - <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER III.<br /> <br />LIFE AFTER HER BROTHER’S MARRIAGE.</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c005'><span class='sc'>With</span> 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<a id='r12' /><a href='#f12' class='c015'><sup>[12]</sup></a> 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_79'>79</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c006'>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 “<em>minding the Heavens</em>” 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, “<i>This is what I call the -Bills and Receipts of my Comets</i>,” 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_80'>80</span>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1788. <i>Second Comet discovered.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO THE REV. DR. MASKELYNE.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Sir</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>Last night, December 21st, at 7<sup>h</sup> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Mrs. Herschel and my brothers join with me in compliments -to Mrs. Maskelyne and yourself, and I have the -honour to remain,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'> Dear sir,</div> - <div class='line'>Your most obliged, humble servant,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Carolina Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Slough</span>, <i>Dec. 22, 1788</i>.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.—<span class='sc'>Wm. H.</span></p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>THE REV. DR. MASKELYNE TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Greenwich</span>, <i>December 27, 1788</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Miss Caroline</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>I thank you for your favour of the 22nd instant, containing -<span class='pageno' id='Page_81'>81</span>an account of your discovery of a <em>second</em> comet -on the 21st, and recommending it to my attention.</p> - -<p class='c011'>I received it only on the 24th, at ten in the morning, -owing to the slowness of our penny post.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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<sup>h</sup> 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<sup>h</sup> 33ʹ 55ʺ, and distance from the North Pole 53° 59ʹ. By -your observation of December 22nd, 5<sup>h</sup> 31ʹ in the morning, -its A. R. was 18<sup>h</sup> 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_82'>82</span>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 <em>horror</em> 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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'> I remain, dear Miss Caroline,</div> - <div class='line'>Your obedient and obliged humble servant,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>N. Maskelyne</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>DR. HERSCHEL TO SIR H. ENGLEFIELD.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>December 22, 1788.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Sir</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_83'>83</span>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 (<cite><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Connoissance des Temps</span></cite>, 75).</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>SIR H. ENGLEFIELD TO DR. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Petersham</span>, <i>December 25, 1788</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Sir</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-l'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Believe me, dear Sir,</div> - <div class='line'> With all the wishes of the season,</div> - <div class='line'> Your much obliged and faithful</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>H. C. Englefield</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1788-1790. <i>The Third Comet seen.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_84'>84</span>DR. HERSCHEL TO SIR J. BANKS.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Sir</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Dec. 21st, 1788.</i>—About 8 o’clock I viewed the comet -which my sister had a little while before pointed out -to me with her small Newtonian <em>sweeper</em>. 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Dec. 22nd.</i>—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....</p> - -<p class='c011'>In every observation I found the small star which accompanies -β Lyræ exactly in the parallel of the comet.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_85'>85</span>also of the parallel can hardly err so much as 15 -seconds of a degree.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>I have the honour to remain,</div> - <div class='line'> Sir, &c.,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Wm. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-l'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='sc'>Slough, near Windsor</span>,</div> - <div class='line'> <i>March 3, 1789</i>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>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:—</p> - -<div class='c020'><i>April 19th, 1790.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Sir</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>But as perhaps several days might pass before I could -<span class='pageno' id='Page_86'>86</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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<sup>h</sup> 24ʹ sidereal time, and the first -view I could have of it last night was 16<sup>h</sup> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>These are only estimations from the field of view, and I -only mention it to show that its motion is not so very rapid.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>I am, &c.,</div> - <div class='line'> C. H.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1790. <i>Letters about the Third Comet.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO ALEX. AUBERT, ESQ.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Slough</span>, <i>April 18, 1790</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Sir</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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<sup>h</sup> 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_87'>87</span>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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>I am, dear sir, &c., &c.,</div> - <div class='line'> C. H.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>SIR JOSEPH BANKS TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Soho Square</span>, <i>April 20, 1790</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Madam</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Dear Madam,</div> - <div class='line'> Your faithful servant,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>J. Banks</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>ALEX. AUBERT, ESQ. TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>London</span>, the <i>21st April</i>, Wednesday, 1790.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Miss Herschel</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_88'>88</span>phenomenon; it was somewhat hazy. I observed with a -common night-glass of Dollond’s <em>a faint something</em> 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 <em>with a good night glass</em>, 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Believe me, &c., &c.,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Alexander Aubert</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1790. <i>Letters from Astronomers.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_89'>89</span>REV. DR. MASKELYNE TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Greenwich</span>, <i>April 22, 1790</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Miss Herschel</span>,—</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>* * 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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-l'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>I remain, dear Miss Herschel,</div> - <div class='line'> My worthy sister in astronomy,</div> - <div class='line'> Your faithful and obliged humble servant,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>N. Maskelyne</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>J. DE LA LANDE TO CAROLINE HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><span class='sc'>Rue Collége Royal</span>, le 12 Juillet, 1790.</span></div> - -<p class='c011'><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><span class='sc'>Ma chère et savante Commère</span>,—</span></p> - -<p class='c011'><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">J’ai reçu avec la plus délicieuse satisfaction la première -<span class='pageno' id='Page_90'>90</span>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.</span></p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1790. <i>Letters.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">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 <cite>Moniteur</cite> -ou <cite>Gazette Nationale</cite> 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.</span></p> - -<p class='c011'><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">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<a id='r13' /><a href='#f13' class='c015'><sup>[13]</sup></a> -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.</span></p> - -<p class='c011'><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">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,</span></p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Votre très-humble et très</span></div> - <div class='line'><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"> obéissant serviteur,</span></div> - <div class='line'><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"> <span class='sc'>De la Lande</span>.</span></div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Plusieurs de mes étoiles ont servi à comparer votre -<span class='pageno' id='Page_91'>91</span>comète qui a disparu le 30 juin, mais que M. Messier et -M. Méchain ont suivis sans interruption, jusques dans le -crépuscule.</span></p> - -<p class='c011'><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">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.</span></p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO M. DE LA LANDE.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Slough</span>, <i>Sept. 12th, 1790</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Sir</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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. <a id='unge'></a>Ungeschick have informed me of.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>I beg to present many respectful compliments to the -ingenious ladies you mentioned in your letter.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Mrs. Herschel desires to be remembered to you, sir. We -do not give up the hopes of seeing you again at Slough, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_92'>92</span>and are wishing it may not be long before you visit -England again.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>I remain, dear sir,</div> - <div class='line'> With greatest esteem, &c., &c.,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>C. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1791-1795. <i>Two more Comets discovered.</i></div> - -<p class='c005'>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:—</p> - -<div class='c020'><span class='sc'>Göttingen</span>, <i>May 10</i>, [about 1793.]</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_93'>93</span>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.</p> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Prof. Seyffer.</span></div> - -<p class='c005'>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.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>None of the correspondence in connection with the -seventh has been preserved, excepting her own letter -announcing its discovery to Sir J. Banks.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR JOSEPH BANKS.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Slough</span>, <i>Nov. 8, 1795</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Sir</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>It will probably pass between the head of the Swan and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_94'>94</span>the constellation of the Lyre, in its descent towards the -sun. The direction of its motion is retrograde.<a id='r14' /><a href='#f14' class='c015'><sup>[14]</sup></a></p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>I have the honour to be,</div> - <div class='line'> With great respect, &c., &c.,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Caroline Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>Two years later the eighth and last comet was -discovered, on the 6th of August, 1797. It was the -occasion of the following letter:—</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR JOSEPH BANKS.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>August, 17, 1797.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Sir</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_95'>95</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>With the utmost respect,</div> - <div class='line'> I remain, sir,</div> - <div class='line'> Your most obedient servant,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>C. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1795-1797. <i>Ceases to reside with her Brother.</i></div> - -<p class='c005'>We are now reduced to the short diary-like entries -in a small book entitled “<cite>Extracts from a Day-Book -kept during the years 1797 and 1821</cite>,” 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_96'>96</span>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:—</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1797-1798. <i>Astronomical.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO REV. DR. MASKELYNE.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Slough</span>, <i>Sept. 1798</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Sir</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_97'>97</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Many times do I think with pleasure and comfort on the -friendly invitations Mrs. Maskelyne and yourself have given -<span class='pageno' id='Page_98'>98</span>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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-l'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>With my best respects and compliments to Mrs. M.,</div> - <div class='line'> I remain, with the greatest esteem,</div> - <div class='line'> Your most obliged and humble servant,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>C. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1798. <i>Extracts from Day-book.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>DIARY.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>May 29th</i> and <i>30th</i>.—Was mostly spent at the Observatory, -Professor Vince<a id='r15' /><a href='#f15' class='c015'><sup>[15]</sup></a> being there.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 30th.</i>—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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>September 11th.</i>—Dined at my brother’s. Professor Pictet -and Dr. Ingenhouse, &c., were there. Cloudy night.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>October 7th.</i>—Finished the MS. Catalogue of omitted -stars for Dr. Maskelyne.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>December 31st.</i>—<i>Mem.</i> Uncommonly harassed in consequence -of the loss of time necessary for going backward and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_99'>99</span>forward, and not having immediate access to each book or -paper at the moment when wanted.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1799. <i>Extracts from Day-book.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><i>January 4th.</i>—Spent the evening at my brother’s. Sir -Wm. Watson<a id='r16' /><a href='#f16' class='c015'><sup>[16]</sup></a> and Mr. Wilson<a id='r17' /><a href='#f17' class='c015'><sup>[17]</sup></a> were there.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>February 11th.</i>—My brother went to Bath to make some -stay there, having taken a house on Sion Hill.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>February 26th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>March 29th.</i>—The Prince of Orange stepped in to ask -some questions about planets, &c.<a id='r18' /><a href='#f18' class='c015'><sup>[18]</sup></a></p> - -<p class='c011'>Lord Kirkwall and a gentleman came to see the instruments.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>April 1st.</i>—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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_100'>100</span><i>May 14th.</i>—Was interrupted in works on account of the -Montem.</p> - -<p class='c011'>[<i>Montem</i>].—Was visited by Mrs. Owen, the Elds, Linds,<a id='r19' /><a href='#f19' class='c015'><sup>[19]</sup></a> -&c., at my lodgings, or wherever they could find me.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>June.</i>—Began re-calculating all the sweeps as a constant -work for leisure time.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>June 8th.</i>—My brother returned. I drank tea with him -and Mrs. H., and at seven went home to my lodgings.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 15th.</i>—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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>August 19th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c005'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_101'>101</span>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.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>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.</p> - -<div class='c020'><span class='sc'>Buxted Place</span>, <i>August 30, 1799</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Miss Herschel</span>,</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>I am, dear Miss Herschel,</div> - <div class='line'> Your humble servant,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>S. Maskelyne</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1799-1800. <i>Letters.</i></div> - -<p class='c005'>The following letter has reference to this visit, and -is inserted here, although belonging to a somewhat -later date:—</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_102'>102</span>MISS HERSCHEL TO THE REV. DR. MASKELYNE.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>January, 1800.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Sir</span>,</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>something</em> to make myself -deserving of all these kind attentions.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>You see, dear sir, that you have done me more good than -you were perhaps aware of: you have not only enabled me -<span class='pageno' id='Page_103'>103</span>to peep at the heavens, but have put me into <em>good humour</em> -with myself.</p> - -<p class='c011'>With my respectful compliments to Mrs. and Miss -Maskelyne,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-l'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>I remain, with many thanks, Dear sir,</div> - <div class='line'> Your much obliged and humble servant,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>C. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>The following is from a friend who took the deepest -interest in the career of both brother and sister:—</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>ED. PIGOTT, ESQ. TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='sc'>Bath, St. James’s Square</span>,</div> - <div class='line'> <i>April 30, 1799</i>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Madam</span>,</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>With many thanks, I remain,</div> - <div class='line'> Dear madam,</div> - <div class='line'> Your most obedient</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Edwd. Pigott</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>Dr. and Mrs. Herschel, whom I have occasionally the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_104'>104</span>pleasure of seeing, though by no means so often as I could -wish, are well, and desired to be mentioned to you.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1799-1800. <i>Extracts from Diary.</i></div> - -<p class='c013'><i>August 31st.</i>—At six in the evening both my brothers -arrived from Bath. Alexander gave me a call.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>September 8th.</i>—Professor Vince, his lady, and Alexander -came to see me.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>October 18th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>November 19th.</i>—The bailiffs took possession of my landlord’s -goods, and I found my property was not safe in my -new habitation.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>December 31st.</i>—The king had been at the Observatory.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>February 1st.</i>—My brother went to Bath.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Mem.</i>—Miss Baldwin [a niece of Mrs. Herschel’s] and -little John<a id='r20' /><a href='#f20' class='c015'><sup>[20]</sup></a> frequently call on me.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>April 28th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>April 29th.</i>—From ten till three at the Observatory to -make order in the books and MSS.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>May 1st.</i>—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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_105'>105</span><i>May 26th.</i>—I went to take leave of my nephew, who -entered at Dr. Gretton’s School.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>June 23rd.</i>—Paid my rent, and gave notice of quitting my -apartments at Michaelmas.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>June 25th.</i>—Began to pack up what I must take to Bath -with me, for there I am to go!</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>June 29th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 3rd.</i>—I left Slough by the nine o’clock Newbury -coach, and remained with the Miss Whites [at Newbury] till -next morning.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 4th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_106'>106</span><i>Sept. 10th.</i>—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</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Oct. 2nd.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Oct. 29th.</i>—I received notice that in about a fortnight I -should be wanted at Slough.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>FROM DR. HERSCHEL IN LONDON TO CAROLINE HERSCHEL AT BATH.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>London</span>, <i>Nov. 7, 1800</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Sister</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_107'>107</span>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....</p> - -<p class='c011'>Remember me to our good brother Alexander, and, with -compliments from Mrs. Herschel,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>I remain, dear sister,</div> - <div class='line'> Your affectionate brother,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Wm. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>P.S.—The bacon and cheese are very excellent. I have -not had time to try Alexander’s green lenses; they look -beautiful.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1800-1801. <i>Extracts from Diary.</i></div> - -<p class='c013'><i>Nov. 14th.</i>—I left Bath, slept the night at the inn at Newbury, -and left there between three and four.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Nov. 15th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Nov. 24th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Dec. 15th.</i>—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</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Dec. 17th.</i>—I slept there for the first night.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>March 28th.</i>—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. * * * * *</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_108'>108</span><i>April 20th.</i>—Moved from Windsor to a small house at -Chalvy, rented from Mr. House, the wood-cutter.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>June 9th.</i>—My brother went to Bath; by the 25th he -was returned.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 1st.</i>—Alexander came from Bath.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 29th.</i>—I went to Slough to take (along with Alex.) -care of the house whilst my brother, with his family, were -from home.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>February 20th.</i>—The first time Mrs. Beckedorff’s<a id='r21' /><a href='#f21' class='c015'><sup>[21]</sup></a> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>March 2nd.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>April 7th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>May 6th.</i>—My brother went to take a paper to the R. S., -and remained there till the 15th.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>May 26th.</i>—I returned home to Chalvy very ill with a -bad leg, having waited too long before I called in assistance.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>June 27th.</i>—The carriage was sent to take me to Slough. -Hitherto work had been daily sent me.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 13th.</i>—My brother, Mrs. H., my nephew John, and -Miss Baldwin left Slough to go to Paris.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>August 25th.</i>—All returned with my nephew dangerously -<span class='pageno' id='Page_109'>109</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>March 25th.</i>—I moved from Chalvy to Upton.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>April 3rd.</i>—Spent the day at Slough. Dr. and Miss -Wilson, Miss Whites, and Professor Johnes, from Cambridge, -were there.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>April 12th.</i>—Had an account of my sister Griesbach’s -death. She died March 30th.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>May 1st.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>June 13th.</i>—Alexander arrived from Bath.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>June 25th.</i>—Spent a melancholy day at the Queen’s -Lodge on account of the French having taken Hanover.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>September 18th.</i>—My brother Alex. returned to Bath.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>October 18th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>November 6th.</i>—I spent the day at Slough. Professor -Valis,<a id='r22' /><a href='#f22' class='c015'><sup>[22]</sup></a> with his lady, from Marlow, was there.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>November 19th.</i>—I dined at Slough to meet Dr., Mrs., -and Miss Maskelyne.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>December.</i>—Almost throughout the whole month I worked -at Slough from breakfast till nine in the evening.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1801-1805. <i>Extracts from Diary.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><i>March 16th.</i>—Finished re-calculating sweeps.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Mem.</i>—Above 8,760 observations have been brought to -[the year] 1800.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>April 4th.</i>—Dined at Slough to meet Mrs. Bates and a -large party. In the evening we heard Mrs. B. sing <i>Mad -Bess</i>, &c., &c.</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_110'>110</span><i>April 18th.</i>—I went to Slough. My brother went, with -his family, to Bath.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>May 10th.</i>—My brother returned.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>August 5th.</i>—My brother Alexander came from Bath.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>November 22nd.</i>—I went to make some stay at Slough -during the time my brother spent in town with his family.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>December 10th.</i>—I returned to Upton.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>January 14th.</i>—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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>March 5th.</i>—Went to make some stay with my brother at -Slough, Mrs. H. being in town.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>March 27th.</i>—All returned, and I went with my work to -Upton again.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>August 14th.</i>—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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>September 24th.</i>—I went to work with my brother at Slough.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>October 1st.</i>—When Mrs. H., with her niece, returned -from Newbury, I went again to Upton. The Spanish -telescope left England in October.<a id='r23' /><a href='#f23' class='c015'><sup>[23]</sup></a></p> - -<p class='c011'><i>November 13th.</i>—I went to Slough, the family to town; -<span class='pageno' id='Page_111'>111</span>but, in the absence of the moon, my brother was at home, -and much observing, and work was despatched.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>December 1st.</i>—All came home, and I went to my solitude -again.<a id='r24' /><a href='#f24' class='c015'><sup>[24]</sup></a> 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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1805-1806. <i>Extracts from Diary.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><i>May 1st.</i>—I went to Slough to make some stay with my -brother.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 4th.</i>—My brother went to Gravesend to meet my -youngest brother (who came to pay us a visit), and was -detained there for a passport.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 6th.</i>—In the evening they both arrived at Slough.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 10th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 13th.</i>—We went all to the Terrace, and took our tea -with Mrs. Bremeyer and Mr. Beckedorff at the Castle.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 23rd.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_112'>112</span><i>July 24th.</i>—D. left us. My eldest brother and Mrs. H. -accompanied him to London.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>August 1st.</i>—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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1806-1807. <i>Extracts from Diary.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><i>September 8th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Mem.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>December 28th.</i>—I went to see Mrs. Bremeyer, but found -she had died ten hours before my arrival at the Castle.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>January 15th.</i>—My brother went to Bath to see his -brother and Sir Wm. Watson.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>January 24th</i>, <i>5th</i>, and <i>6th</i>.—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....</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_113'>113</span><i>May 2nd.</i>—I left Upton for Slough, to work with my -brother. Mrs. H. being in town till</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>June 18th.</i>—Spent the day at Slough, Mr. and Mrs. Watt -being there on a visit, and a large party to dinner.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Aug. 13th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Aug. 29th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Sept. 22nd.</i>—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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>Oct. 1st.</i>—Received an account and letters announcing a -comet.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Oct. 2nd.</i>—Saw the comet, visible to the naked eye.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Oct. 4th.</i>—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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_114'>114</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Nov. 3rd.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Jan.</i>—Many days at work in the library and workrooms -assisting my brother.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Feb. 3rd.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Feb. 6th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Feb. 9th.</i>—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. <i>Mem.</i> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Feb. 10th.</i>—From this day my nephew’s health kept on -mending.</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_115'>115</span><i>Feb. 19th.</i>—My nephew mending, but my brother not -well.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Feb. 26th.</i>—My brother so ill that I was not allowed to -see him, and till March 8 his life was despaired of, and by</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Mar. 10th.</i>—I was permitted to see him, but only for two -or three minutes, for he is not allowed to speak.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Mar. 22nd.</i>—He went for the first time into his library, -but could only remain for a few moments.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>April 7th.</i>—I went to stay at Slough, my brother going -by short stages to Bath, Mrs. H., my nephew, and Miss -Baldwin with him.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>May 9th.</i>—My brother returned, nearly recovered, but -with a violent cold and cough caught on the journey.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>May 24th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>June 7th.</i>—Was the Montem, of course much company.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>June 13th.</i>—I dined at the Castle to meet Lady and Miss -Banks, Mr. De Luc,<a id='r25' /><a href='#f25' class='c015'><sup>[25]</sup></a> &c.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 1st.</i>—Alexander arrived at Slough. <i>Mem.</i> We -received very distressing accounts from our brother at -Hanover.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 21st</i> till <i>26th</i>.—My brother was absent, and I was -daily at work in the library.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Sept. 5th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_116'>116</span><i>Oct. 4th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Nov. 2nd.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Nov. 6th.</i>—A letter from Harwich arrived informing us -that D. was waiting there for a passport.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Nov. 7th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Dec. 19th.</i>—Dietrich left Slough for lodgings in Pimlico, -London. Came with Fr. Griesbach the day before Christmas -Day, and returned to town the 26th.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1809. <i>Extracts from Diary.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><i>Mem.</i> 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!</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Jan.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_117'>117</span><i>Jan. 13th.</i>—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</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Feb. 5th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Mar. 9th.</i>—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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>Oct. 2nd.</i>—Alex left Slough. I was very ill, and had Dr. -Pope to attend me.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Oct. 9th.</i>—Dismissed Pope and went to Dr. Phips.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Oct. 17th.</i>—My nephew went to Cambridge. His mother -and Miss Baldwin remained in lodgings at Cambridge.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Nov. 20th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Dec. 6th.</i>—Dietrich went to London for the winter.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_118'>118</span> - <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER IV.<br /> <br /><span class='fss'>DIARY</span>—<i>continued</i>—1810.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>April 29th.</i>—My nephew took leave of me, returning to -Cambridge.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>May 4th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 13th.</i>—I went to remain at my brother’s house during -the time he, with Mrs. H. and Miss Baldwin, went to -Scotland.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>Sept. 18th.</i>—My brother and the family returned, and -Dietrich came to Slough, a room being prepared for him -in my cottage.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>Dec. 1st.</i>—Dietrich went to town to enter on his winter -engagement.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='figcenter id003'> -<img src='images/i_135.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p>Joseph Brown SC.<br /><br />SIR W<sup>M.</sup> HERSCHEL, B<sup>T.</sup><br /><br /><i>From a Drawing by Lady Gordon,<br />after a Painting by L.T. Abbott in the National Portrait Gallery.</i><br /><br />JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE ST. 1876.</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_119'>119</span><i>July 22nd.</i>—My brother with his family left Slough on a -tour to Edinburgh and Glasgow. I went to his house till -they returned, Sept. 18th.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Aug. 6th.</i>—Dietrich came to Slough, and I left him to -the care of Mrs. Cock, at my habitation.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>May 11th.</i>—I went to be with my brother; Mrs. H. went -to town for a month.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>June 1st.</i>—Dietrich came to Slough, disengaged from all -business in town to spend the last few weeks he was to -be in England with us.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>June 12th.</i>—Mrs. H. returned from town, and I went -home to look to the necessary preparations for Dietrich’s -precarious (<i>sic</i>) journey he was obliged to make through -Sweden.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>June 27th.</i>—My eldest brother went to Oxford, came -back the 30th, and Alexander arrived the same day from -Bath.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 8th.</i>—Dietrich left us; Alex accompanied him to -town.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 14th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Sept.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Oct. 5th.</i>—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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_120'>120</span>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1813. <i>Extracts from Diary.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>Jan. 25th.</i>—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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>March 5th.</i>—Miss S. White, with her maid Sally (one of -my nephew’s nurses), came to be present at my nephew’s -twenty-first birthday.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>March 7th</i> and <i>8th</i>.—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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>March 17th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>March 25th.</i>—I went to be with my brother. Mrs. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_121'>121</span>Herschel and Miss Baldwin followed my nephew to Cambridge -to assist him in settling his occasional residence there.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>May 3rd.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>May 10th.</i>—I went to London, and met with a friendly -reception at Mrs. Goltermann’s.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>May 11th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>The evening we spent at Buckingham House with Mrs. -Beckedorff.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>May 12th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>On entering Mrs. Beckedorff’s room I found Madame -D’Arblay (Miss Burney), and we spent a very pleasant -evening.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>May 15th.</i>—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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_122'>122</span>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.”</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1814. <i>Extracts from Diary.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><i>May 18th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>June 14th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 24th.</i>—Alexander arrived at Slough to spend the -summer and work with his brother.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>Nov. 13th.</i>—I had a call from Miss Joanna Baillie.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Nov. 29th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Dec. 4th.</i>—I met Madame D’Arblay and Mr. Rehberg, -&c., at the Castle.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Jan. 1st.</i>—My nephew, John Herschel, brought me, for a -New Year’s present, a new publication by him.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Mem.</i>—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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_123'>123</span>very carefully kept to myself, as I wished to be useful to my -brother as long as possibly I could....</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Feb. 7th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>April 1st.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>May 4th.</i>—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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>June 10th.</i>—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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>Sept. 13th.</i>—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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_124'>124</span>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1815-16. <i>Extracts from Diary.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><i>Sept. 30th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Nov. 15th.</i>—I went to work with my brother, which chiefly -consisted of calculations and constructing new tables for the -Georgian satellites, &c., &c.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Nov. 29th.</i>-Mrs. H. returned, and I continued calculating -and copying at home.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>Aug. 11th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Sept. 11th.</i>—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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>Jan. 2nd.</i>—I was obliged to attend at Slough by eight -<span class='pageno' id='Page_125'>125</span>o’clock, to be present when the Archdukes John and Louis -of Austria visited my brother and his instruments.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Jan. 9th.</i>—My nephew received a diploma of being Member -of the University of <a id='gott'></a>Göttingen. The packet brought very -satisfactory letters from our brother at Hanover.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Feb. 4th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>April 5th.</i>—My brother received the Royal Hanoverian -Guelphic Order.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>May 12th.</i>—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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>June 17th.</i>—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.]</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Sept. 2nd.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Sept. 9th.</i>—I went home.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>Sept. 23rd.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Sept. 26th.</i>—We had letters from Hanover to acquaint us -<span class='pageno' id='Page_126'>126</span>with Alexander’s arrival in improved health, after a pleasant -journey both by sea and land.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1817. <i>Extracts from Diary.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><i>October</i>, <i>Nov.</i>, <i>Dec.</i>—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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>March 27th.</i>—I spent the day at my brother’s, Sir Robert -and Lady Liston being there on a visit before their return -to Constantinople.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>May 10th.</i>—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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>June 9th.</i>—All the family came home. I returned to my -house with astronomical work to finish.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>June 14th.</i>—Spent the day at Lady Herschel’s to meet -Mrs. and Miss Maskelyne.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 10th</i> and <i>11th</i>.—Spent at my brother’s, the mornings -at work in the library the evenings with the company....</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 14th.</i>—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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>Nov. 7th.</i>—Prepared for going into mourning for the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_127'>127</span>Princess Charlotte. Mrs. De Luc died a few days after or -before the Princess.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Feb. 11th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>April 13th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Mem.</i> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>June 8th.</i>—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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>June 25th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 16th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 21st.</i>—</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Mem.</i> 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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1818. <i>Extracts from Diary.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_128'>128</span><i>Aug. 8th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Aug. 18th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Aug. 25th.</i>—I was obliged to leave my brother for a few -hours to call on the Princess Sophia Matilda, who desired -to see me.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>Sept. 8th.</i>—I spent some hours with the Princess at -the Castle.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Oct. 14th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Nov. 12th.</i>—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....</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Nov. 17th.</i>—The Queen died. The 3rd of December -<span class='pageno' id='Page_129'>129</span>the Princess returned my books with a kind note, and on -the 4th she left Windsor.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Dec. 5th</i>, <i>6th</i>, <i>7th</i>.—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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>Dec. 16th.</i>—My brother went to town, to sit for his -portrait by Mr. Artaud.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Feb. 3rd.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Feb. 7th.</i>—My nephew arrived in town, and on the 12th -all came home and I returned to my habitation.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Feb. 28th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>March 11th.</i>—Was Miss Baldwin’s wedding-day, which I -spent at Slough, with the family.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>April 2nd.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>The last moments before he stepped into the carriage -<span class='pageno' id='Page_130'>130</span>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1819-1820. <i>Extracts from Diary.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>May 1st.</i>—But he returned home much worse than he -went, and for several days hardly noticed my handiworks.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>June 21st.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 8th.</i>—We thought my brother was dying. On the -9th he was persuaded to be blooded in the arm, which something -relieved him.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Aug. 10th.</i>—My brother and Lady H. took me with -them to town.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Aug. 11th.</i>—We went to the Bank and did what was -thought necessary.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Aug. 12th.</i>—I went with Lady H. to see my brother’s -portrait, and ordered a copy for myself.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Aug. 25th.</i>—</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Mem.</i>—The 13th we came home, and one day passes like -<span class='pageno' id='Page_131'>131</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Oct. 15th.</i>—I went to my brother, his family being in town.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Oct. 29th.</i>—I returned to my home.</p> - -<p class='c005'>A small slip of yellow paper, containing the following -lines, traced by a tremulously feeble hand, belongs -to this year:—</p> - -<p class='c013'>“<span class='sc'>Lina</span>,—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.”</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 4th, 1819.</i></p> - -<p class='c005'>Then follows:—</p> - -<p class='c013'>“I keep this as a relic! Every line <em>now</em> traced by the -hand of my dear brother becomes a treasure to me.</p> - -<div class='c010'>“<span class='sc'>C. Herschel.</span>”</div> - -<p class='c005'>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 <em>the one</em> 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_132'>132</span>places in the country, but she was sinking in a -rapid decline, and died in the autumn.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1819-1821. <i>Extracts from Diary.</i></div> - -<p class='c013'><i>Nov. 10th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>From the 26th to 29th I was with my brother.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>March.</i>—We lost our brother Alexander, who died at -Hanover.<a id='r26' /><a href='#f26' class='c015'><sup>[26]</sup></a></p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>May 22nd.</i>—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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>The volume ends in October, 1821.</p> - -<p class='c013'>“Here closed my Day-book, for one day passed like -<span class='pageno' id='Page_133'>133</span>another, except that I, from my daily calls, returned to my -solitary and cheerless home with increased anxiety for each -following day.”</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1822. <i>Death of Sir William Herschel.</i></div> - -<p class='c005'>On the 25th of August, 1822, Sir William Herschel -died in his house at Slough.</p> - -<p class='c006'>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 <cite>Recollections</cite>:—</p> - -<div class='c020'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>April 15th, 1823</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'>“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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_134'>134</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“By some letters I wrote during the first four months of -1822 to my brother Alex<sup>r</sup>. 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.<a id='r27' /><a href='#f27' class='c015'><sup>[27]</sup></a> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_135'>135</span>[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.”</p> - -<div class='sidenote'><i>Recollections written at Hanover.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='sc'>Diary</span>—(<i>continued</i>).</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>May 13th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>May 20th.</i> * * * *</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 8th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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<a id='r28' /><a href='#f28' class='c015'><sup>[28]</sup></a> called and found me in despair about my -own confused affairs, which I never had had time to bring -<span class='pageno' id='Page_136'>136</span>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....<a id='r29' /><a href='#f29' class='c015'><sup>[29]</sup></a> -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, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_137'>137</span>as a very sensible elderly lady (Mrs. Morsom) would be -there on a visit.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1822. <i>Recollections written at Hanover.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><i>Aug. 8th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Aug. 11th</i>, <i>12th</i>, <i>13th</i>, and <i>14th</i>. I went as usual to spend -some hours of the forenoon with my brother.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Aug. 15th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>After half an hour’s vain attempt to support himself, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_138'>138</span>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1822. <i>Departure from England.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><i>Sept. 9th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Sept. 27th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Oct. 3rd.</i>—My friends as well as myself were made easy -by the arrival of my brother Dietrich, who came to fetch -me.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Oct. 7th.</i>—I took leave of Princess Augusta and all my -friends and connections in Windsor.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Oct. 10th.</i>—At 9 in the morning I left Slough with my -brother D. Lady H. and my nephew followed the next -day.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>Oct. 14th.</i>—Princess Sophia Matilda sent her carriage -for me to spend the day with her at Blackheath.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Oct. 16th.</i>—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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_139'>139</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Oct. 17th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Oct. 18th.</i>—At ten o’clock we went on board of the steam -packet.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Oct. 20th.</i>—At noon we landed after a stormy passage -at Rotterdam.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Oct. 21st.</i>—At daybreak we began to proceed on our way, -and</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Oct. 28th.</i>—We arrived at the habitation of my brother, -in Hanover.</p> - -<p class='c005'>A note, dated September 29th, 1828, apologizes to -her nephew for troubling him with the above and -other papers, adding:—</p> - -<p class='c013'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_140'>140</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c005'>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.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_141'>141</span> - <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER V.<br /> <br />RETROSPECTION.</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c005'><span class='sc'>As</span> 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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1822. <i>Retrospection.</i></div> - -<p class='c006'>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,<a id='r30' /><a href='#f30' class='c015'><sup>[30]</sup></a> 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, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_142'>142</span>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 <em>steady devotion -to a fixed purpose</em> 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 <em>he</em> 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_143'>143</span>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_144'>144</span>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 <em>can</em> and <em>will</em> execute his commands -with the quickness of lightning; for you will have -seen that in many sweeps six or twice six objects -<span class='pageno' id='Page_145'>145</span>have been secured and described in one minute of -time.”</p> - -<p class='c006'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_146'>146</span>labour,” and “an extraordinary monument of the -unextinguished ardour of a lady of seventy-five in -the cause of abstract science.”</p> - -<div class='sidenote'><i>Her Sweepings.</i></div> - -<p class='c006'>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.</p> - -<p class='c013'>1788. <i>Sept. 9th.</i>—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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>Dec. 8th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Another night of unavailing search, with thermometer -20°.<a id='r31' /><a href='#f31' class='c015'><sup>[31]</sup></a></p> - -<p class='c011'>1790. <i>Jan. 7th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>1791. <i>Aug. 2nd.</i>—I began to sweep at 1.30, from the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_147'>147</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>1792. <i>May 3rd.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>1795. <i>May 1st.</i>—<i>Mem.</i> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Nov. 7th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>1797. <i>Aug. 14th.</i>—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, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_148'>148</span>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1822. <i>Retrospection.</i></div> - -<p class='c005'>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.</p> - -<p class='c006'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_149'>149</span>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_150'>150</span>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 <em>the</em> forty-foot. -The homage paid to her as a <em>savante</em> 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_151'>151</span>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 “<em>not even discovered a comet</em>,” 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.</p> - -<p class='c006'>In these last remarks I have anticipated events, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_152'>152</span>must now return to the year 1822, when the correspondence -begins.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1822. <i>Journey to Hanover.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Rotterdam</span>, <i>Monday, Oct. 21, 1822</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Lady Herschel</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_153'>153</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Farewell, my dear Lady Herschel, and let me hear soon -that you and my nephew are well.</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_154'>154</span>Miss Baldwin will write, and of course she will inform me -of her own and all friends’ health, &c.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Ever your affectionate</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1822. <i>Arrival in Hanover.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>Oct. 30, 1822</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Lady Herschel</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_155'>155</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>I beg my love to my nephew and Miss Baldwin, who, I -hope, will soon let me know how you are, &c.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Believe me,</div> - <div class='line'> Your truly and affectionate</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1822. <i>Life in Hanover.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_156'>156</span>FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>Nov. 12, 1822</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Lady Herschel</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_157'>157</span>inquiries after you and my nephew’s health, and gratefully -remembers the kindly treatment she received at all times -from you.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Nov. 18th.</i>—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 <em>little</em> old woman; which -I suppose must be owing to having been told the <em>Great</em> Aunt -Caroline from England was coming.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Nov. 27th.</i>—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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_158'>158</span>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</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>My dear Lady Herschel’s</div> - <div class='line'> Most obliged and affectionate,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1822. <i>Settled in Hanover.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Nephew</span>,—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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. <em>I wish you would let me know if -any of the works of Schelling are known in England?</em> Of -him it is said that his philosophy is entirely new, and -beyond all what goes before, and so profound, that nobody -<em>here</em> can understand him, &c.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Believe me yours most affectionately,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_159'>159</span>FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>Dec. 18, 1822</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Lady Herschel</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>in any</em>; my cold in my head is still very -bad, and my poor brother is frequently unwell, and for want -<span class='pageno' id='Page_160'>160</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>I hope you will make Miss Baldwin write me soon a long -account how yourself and all <em>around</em> and <em>with</em> 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,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>My dear Lady H.,</div> - <div class='line'> Your very affectionate</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1822. <i>Letters.—Life in Hanover.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_161'>161</span>FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL, ESQ.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>Dec. 26, 1822</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>your</em> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_162'>162</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Ever your most affectionate aunt,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1823. <i>Letter to J. F. W. Herschel.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL, ESQ.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>Feb. 27, 1823</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i>, 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 <em>greatest</em> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_163'>163</span>must do so still for the present) because I knew that all -mails were detained this side of the sea.</p> - -<p class='c011'>One passage in your letter affected me much, it was gratifying -to me and unexpected: “... speaks of your -<em>English life</em>, &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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>I remain, ever your affectionate aunt,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_164'>164</span>FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL, ESQ.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>April 14, 1823</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>all</em> 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,</p> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1823. <i>Letter to Miss Herschel.</i></div> - -<p class='c005'>The following letter from the Princess Sophia of -Gloucester is a pleasing memorial of the kindness and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_165'>165</span>amiability of which Miss Herschel experienced so many -proofs while she lived at Slough:—</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>THE PRINCESS SOPHIA MATILDA TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Miss Herschel</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>long</em> preserved to you!</p> - -<p class='c011'>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,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Yours very faithfully,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Sophia Matilda</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>London</span>, <i>June 16, 1823</i>.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1823. <i>Letter to J. F. W. Herschel.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL, ESQ.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>June 24, 1823</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_166'>166</span>my head that this professor is but a <em>Jackanapes</em>,<a id='r32' /><a href='#f32' class='c015'><sup>[32]</sup></a> who will -spoil the <em>broth</em>,<a href='#f32' class='c015'><sup>[32]</sup></a> 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 <em>astrologer</em>, and if -it was the latter he would make nonsense of it.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <cite>Edinburgh Quarterly -Review</cite>, which appears here at Hanover, and of course -throughout Germany, that it may be known that your -father’s labours are in <em>yours</em> and of course in the <em>most able -hands</em> to make remarks on them. I only wish to draw your -attention this way, but say nothing.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_167'>167</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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?</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>I am interrupted, and must seal up the packet.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>And I remain, dear nephew,</div> - <div class='line'> Your most faithful and affectionate aunt,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_168'>168</span>FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL, ESQ.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>July 14, 1823</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Your most affectionate aunt,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1823. <i>Letter from J. F. W. Herschel.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>FROM J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Downing Street</span>, <i>August 1, 1823</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Aunt</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>I have been long threatening to send you a long -letter, but have always been prevented by circumstances -<span class='pageno' id='Page_169'>169</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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> - -<p class='c011'>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 class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_170'>170</span>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1823. <i>Astronomical.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>August 11, 1823</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <cite>Journal No. 10</cite>, &c., -... so if the index directs you to January 24th, 1797 M. -(for <i>M.</i> read <i>J.</i>) I think a memorandum of this will be -found in the cover or beginning of the index, but I am not -certain.</p> - -<p class='c011'>You have truly gratified me by sending the inscription of -the monument,<a id='r33' /><a href='#f33' class='c015'><sup>[33]</sup></a> for such subjects only are capable of interesting -<span class='pageno' id='Page_171'>171</span>my waking thoughts and nightly dreams. I was -going to give you an idea of what they are; but why should -I communicate grief?</p> - -<p class='c011'>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<a id='r34' /><a href='#f34' class='c015'><sup>[34]</sup></a> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>I was much pleased with the partial success of Mr. Babbage -in having something granted towards going on with -his <em>grand</em> ideas.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>With many compliments and best wishes, &c.,</div> - <div class='line'> Your most affectionate aunt,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1824. <i>Her Nephew on the Continent.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_172'>172</span>FROM J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Catania</span> (<span class='sc'>Sicily</span>), <i>July 2, 1824</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Aunt</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Éloge</span></i> 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_173'>173</span>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 <em>a niece of Lagrange</em> (not of -<em>Lalande</em>), 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Naples, Aug. 20th, 1824.</i>—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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_174'>174</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Florence, Aug. 16th, 1824.</i>—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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Your affectionate nephew,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>J. F. W. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>P.S.—Have you heard how M. Pfaff’s translation proceeds? -I wrote to him from Cattagione, in Sicily.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1824. <i>Her Nephew’s Travels.</i></div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_175'>175</span><span class='sc'>Munich</span>, <i>Sept. 17, 1824</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Aunt</span>,—</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>may</em> never occur again.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_176'>176</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>I remain, dear aunt,</div> - <div class='line'> Your affectionate nephew,</div> - <div class='line'> J. F. W. H.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>Sept. 25, 1824</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>finish</em> a general catalogue of the 2,500 -nebulæ, &c., which would have otherwise caused us both a -tedious and vexatious correspondence in the future.</p> - -<p class='c011'>I anxiously forbore to express my wishes for seeing you, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_177'>177</span>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</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Believe me, my dearest nephew,</div> - <div class='line'> Your faithful and affectionate aunt,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1824. <i>Visit from her Nephew.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>Oct. 14, 1824</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Lady Herschel</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>[Here follows a long history of the younger members of -the Griesbach family, with details of the events of seventy -years before.]</p> - -<p class='c011'>... 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_178'>178</span>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 <em>nothing! nothing!</em> 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 <em>nothing</em> -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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1824. <i>Life in Hanover.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_179'>179</span>FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>Nov. 1, 1824</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_180'>180</span>that you are <em>extremely</em> well. That I may yet often hear the -same, wishes your most affectionate aunt,</p> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>FROM J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>London</span>, <i>December, 1824</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Aunt</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_181'>181</span>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<a id='like'></a>likenesses.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1825. <i>Life in Hanover.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>Jan. 14, 1825</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_182'>182</span>Graf Rapfstein brought me lately the <cite>Moniteur</cite> 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....</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>(1.) The favours of monarchs ought to have been mentioned, -but once would have been enough.</p> - -<p class='c011'>(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!</p> - -<p class='c011'>With compliments to all friends, particularly Mr. and -Mrs. Babbage,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>I remain, my dearest nephew,</div> - <div class='line'> Yours most affectionately,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>Poor Sir William Watson! [whose death had lately been -announced to her.]</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_183'>183</span>MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>March 7, 1825</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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, <em>not -a Preface</em>, 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 <em>till you called for it -yourself</em>; for I must confess that from the day I let the -<em>eight manuscript books and catalogue of Nebulæ, and catalogue -of stars</em> 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 <em>your own</em>, 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_184'>184</span>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 -(<em>to you only</em>), which he used before we left Bath. -There are only a few pencil memoranda, but they show -that music did not <em>only</em> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'> I am</div> - <div class='line'>Ever your most affectionate aunt,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>March 8, 1825</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Lady Herschel</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_185'>185</span>sent me your thanks for the very letters which caused me -such fears.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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) -<span class='pageno' id='Page_186'>186</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Farewell, my dear Lady H., and remember me to Miss B., -who, I hope, will be good to me and write often to</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Your affectionate sister,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>P.S.—Mr. H—— is released from his plague, for his -wife is dead.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1825. <i>Catalogue of Nebulæ.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>March 27, 1825</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>The gauges were brought immediately after observations -into a book called “Register of Star Gauges,” which was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_187'>187</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>N.B.—Let it be remembered that the memorandums in -the transcript of the sweeps between ||——|| are mine, and -must be confided in accordingly.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>I am, dear nephew,</div> - <div class='line'> Yours affectionately,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>C. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1825. <i>Life in Hanover.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_188'>188</span>FROM J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>April 18, 1825.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Aunt</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <cite><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Éloge</span></cite> in the <cite><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Moniteur</span></cite> 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_189'>189</span>mere catalogue of insects, but had told us a little of their -habits. Of Leibnitz’s MSS. more hereafter....</p> - -<p class='c011'>The <i><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">mettwursts</span></i> are excellent. The packets to my mother -and Mary shall be sent....</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Your affectionate nephew,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>J. F. W. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>May 3, 1825</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_190'>190</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>My brother intends soon to write a few words about -insects himself, which is almost the only object with which -he <em>amuses</em> himself. It is well he does not see the word -<em>amuses</em>, for I suppose it should be <em>sublime study</em>, 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?</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>I</em> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>I must only add that I am, my dearest nephew,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Your affectionate aunt,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_191'>191</span>MISS HERSCHEL TO HERR HOFRATH UND RITTER GAUSS.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>Sept. 8, 1825</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Sir</span>,</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'> Sir,</div> - <div class='line'>Your most obliged and humble servant,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Caroline Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1825. <i>Declining health of her Brother.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>Sept. 20, 1825</i>.</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>... 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_192'>192</span>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 <em>at home</em>. This is what -they <em>imagine</em> (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....</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Believe me yours affectionately,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>C. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1825. <i>J. F. W. Herschel—Gold Medal.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>FROM J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Slough</span> [<i>after July</i>], 1825.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Aunt</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_193'>193</span>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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....</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Devonshire Street</span>, <i>Dec. 30, 1825</i>.</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>I have not been doing much in the astronomical way -of late—but, <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">en revanche</span></i>, Mr. South has been hard at work, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_194'>194</span>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 <cite><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">Astronomische Nachrichten</span></cite> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1825. <i>Letter from Professor Gauss.</i></div> - -<p class='c005'>The following is the answer from Professor Gauss to -the letter already given:—</p> - -<p class='c013'><span class='pageno' id='Page_195'>195</span><span class='sc'>Dear Madam</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Dear Madam,</div> - <div class='line'> Your most obliged humble servant,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Charles Frederick Gauss</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Göttingen</span>, <i>Sept. 28, 1825</i>.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_196'>196</span> - <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER VI.<br /> <br />LIFE IN HANOVER—<i>continued</i>.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='c003'></div> -<div class='sidenote'>1826. <i>To J. F. W. Herschel.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>Feb. 1, 1826.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>vigor</em> 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 <em>can</em> and <em>will</em> -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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>you</em> are the only -<span class='pageno' id='Page_197'>197</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<em>half sweep</em>. 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_198'>198</span>line which denotes that the Milky Way is in those places, -and if you see an <i>L</i> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_199'>199</span>father’s, and I remember that several letters passed between -them about a double star in Böotes.</p> - -<p class='c011'>I am much obliged to you for the sheet of Schumacher’s -<cite><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">Astronom. Nachrichten</span></cite>. 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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1826. <i>Mr. South.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>good-natured, handsome, and sensible young lady</em>, 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> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>P.S.—Dear Nephew, I have spent too much time in gossiping -with your dear mother for saying anything besides, -but I am,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Your most sincere and affectionate aunt,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_200'>200</span>MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>Aug. 8, 1826</i>.</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1826. <i>Making her Will.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_201'>201</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>I am impatient to have your answer to this stuff, which -I am almost ashamed to trouble you with.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>My next shall be of a more agreeable subject, and I have -only to say,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>I am,</div> - <div class='line'> Your most affectionate aunt,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>C. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>FROM J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Montpellier</span>, <i>Sept. 17, 1826</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Aunt</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>With regard to the dispositions you mention in your -letter, and respecting which you express a wish for my -<span class='pageno' id='Page_202'>202</span>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1826. <i>J. F. W. Herschel in Auvergne.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_203'>203</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Adieu, dear aunt, and believe me—“where’er I go, whatever -realms I see”—</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Your affectionate nephew,</div> - <div class='line'> J. F. W. H.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>Sept. 29, 1826.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_204'>204</span>corners among craters of volcanoes, but you know best, and -I hope you found something....</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'> I am,</div> - <div class='line'>My dear nephew’s affectionate aunt,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>C. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>Nov. 1, 1826.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>as -soon as possible</em> 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).</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>I lead a very idle life, my sole employment consists in -keeping myself in good humour and not be disagreeable to -others.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Groskopf tells me the translation of your father’s papers -<span class='pageno' id='Page_205'>205</span>causes a great sensation among the learned here in -Hanover.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Believe me, dearest nephew,</div> - <div class='line'> Yours, most affectionately,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>C. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1826. <i>Accident at Sea.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>Dec. 5, 1826.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <cite><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">Berliner Jahrbuch</span></cite> for 1830.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_206'>206</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Sun and Comet.</i>—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 <em>he</em> has had no -account that anything has been seen on the 18th Nov. On -the 17th it is mentioned (in the <cite><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">Zeitungen</span></cite>, I believe) a large -spot on the sun to have been observed at Frankfort, but the -18th being cloudy it could not be pursued.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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!</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>he</em> did all. I was a mere tool -which <em>he</em> 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....</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1826. <i>Monkey Clock to count Seconds.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_207'>207</span>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....</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>To your dear mother and Miss B. I beg to be kindly -remembered,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>And remain</div> - <div class='line'> Yours, most affectionately,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>C. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>Dec. 24, 1826.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>You will with this receive the only volume of the -translation (printed on <em>bad</em> paper, <em>without</em> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_208'>208</span>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 <em>sums</em> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <cite><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">Berliner Jahrbuch</span></cite>, which I -suppose you have, as usual, else I have got them from ’23 -to ’29, and could send them.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.,</p> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>C. Herschel</span>.</div> - -<p class='c011'>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!<a id='r35' /><a href='#f35' class='c015'><sup>[35]</sup></a></p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1827. <i>The first Chapter of her History.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>April, 1827.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dearest Nephew!</span>—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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....</p> - -<p class='c011'>Perhaps I have told you nothing but what you have known -long since; but as my thoughts are continually fixed on the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_209'>209</span>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 -<em>my own private opinion</em> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_210'>210</span>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 <em>every one</em> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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; -<span class='pageno' id='Page_211'>211</span>and that a farther attempt at leaving the work -complete became impossible.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>shabby, mean-spirited -advisers</em> 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.</p> - -<div class='c010'>Farewell, my best Nephew!</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1827. <i>Sir William’s Copy of Locke.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>May 8, 1827.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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<a id='r36' /><a href='#f36' class='c015'><sup>[36]</sup></a>—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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_212'>212</span>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....</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>Now, there is gone a Herr <a id='von'></a>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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Farewell, dear Nephew, &c., &c.,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>C. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1827. <i>Her Nephew’s receipt of her History.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>Between 4th and 11th May, 1827.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Aunt</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>the plates</em>, 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_213'>213</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>The Journals and the <i><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">mettwursts</span></i> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>working list</em> 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_214'>214</span>are new. But I won’t plague you any more with this at -present.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Believe me, dear Aunt,</div> - <div class='line'> Your affectionate Nephew,</div> - <div class='line'> J. F. W. H.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1827. <i>Her English Bed.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>July 10, 1827</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Lady Herschel</span>,—</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_215'>215</span>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Your most affectionate Sister,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>C. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>Aug. 16, 1827.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>You mention that Mr. Baily intends to bring Flamsteed’s -<span class='pageno' id='Page_216'>216</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Tell your dear mother she must not give me the slip, for -I will and cannot mourn for anyone more that I love.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>I remain, &c., &c.,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>C. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1827. <i>Continuation of her History.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_217'>217</span>MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>Sept. 25, 1827.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>now</em> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>When I took my leave of the contents of your father’s -library, it was parting from <em>all</em> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_218'>218</span>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1827. <i>Letter to her Nephew.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_219'>219</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Adieu, dear Nephew, believe me ever,</div> - <div class='line'> Your most affectionate Aunt,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>Dec. 22, 1827.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>... 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_220'>220</span>nothing; and besides, his family is settled in Götha. It is -a pity such a man should be obliged to be idle.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>I remain your most affectionate Aunt,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1828. <i>Her Annuity.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>May 9th, 1828.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Lady Herschel</span>,</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_221'>221</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>My dear Lady Herschel,</div> - <div class='line'> Your most affectionate Sister,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>C. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>FROM J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>May 5, 1828.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Aunt</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_222'>222</span>could admire), and for the <i><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">mettwursts</span></i> (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 <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">ci-devant</span></i> large equatorial), -and you shall hear from time to time what is doing....</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Your affectionate Nephew,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>J. F. W. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1828. <i>Gold Medal of Astronomical Society.</i></div> - -<p class='c021'><i>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.</i></p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Gentlemen</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_223'>223</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>his</em> memory is not the purpose for which I am placed -here.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>sweeps</em> 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_224'>224</span>inclemency of the weather? Who shared his privations? -A female. Who was she? His sister. Miss Herschel it -was who by <em>night</em> 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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1828. <i>Her Astronomical Labours.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>In the year 1797 she presented to the Royal Society a -Catalogue of 560 stars taken from Flamsteed’s observations, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_225'>225</span>and not inserted in the British Catalogue, together with a -collection of errata that should be noticed in the same -volume.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_226'>226</span>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.<a id='r37' /><a href='#f37' class='c015'><sup>[37]</sup></a></p> - -<p class='c005'>Extract from the Report of the Council of the Astronomical -Society to the Annual Meeting, Feb. 13, 1835.<a id='r38' /><a href='#f38' class='c015'><sup>[38]</sup></a></p> - -<p class='c013'>“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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_227'>227</span>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....”<a id='r39' /><a href='#f39' class='c015'><sup>[39]</sup></a></p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1828. <i>An Hon. Member of the R. A. Society.</i></div> - -<div class='c020'><i>May 28th, 1828.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Aunt</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>... 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,<a id='r40' /><a href='#f40' class='c015'><sup>[40]</sup></a> I could do no -otherwise. The Society have done <em>well</em>. I think they -might have done <em>better</em>, but my voice was neither asked -nor listened to.</p> - -<p class='c011'>I ought to mention that it became a matter of discussion -at the <em>Royal</em> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -(<em>possibly by this</em>) 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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Your affectionate nephew,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>J. F. W. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_228'>228</span>MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>June 3, 1828.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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....</p> - -<p class='c011'>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?</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_229'>229</span>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 <em>hum</em> and <em>ha</em> when the good man -begins to talk about it. Dear nephew, adieu!</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>I am, your affectionate aunt,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1828. <i>Thanks for Bracelets.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>With many compliments to Miss B.,</div> - <div class='line'> Believe me, your most affectionate sister,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>C. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>June 23, 1828.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_230'>230</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Our gardens and country houses about Hanover have -had the same fate. This happened the day before a <i><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">Volks -Fest</span></i>, 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>I have the two dullest months before me, for the plays -<span class='pageno' id='Page_231'>231</span>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 <em>inseparables</em>, 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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Yours very affectionately,</div> - <div class='line'><span class='sc'>C. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1828. <i>About the Medal.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>Aug. 21, 1828.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_232'>232</span>now I have but one wish, that I may take <em>your</em> good opinion -with me into my grave.</p> - -<p class='c011'>I have no time or inclination to think much on this subject, -else I could say a great deal about the <em>clumsy speech</em> of -the V. P. Whoever says <em>too much of me</em> says <em>too little of -your father</em>! and only can cause me uneasiness.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>I must prepare to pay a visit at the villa of a friend -<span class='pageno' id='Page_233'>233</span>of mine where I have twice this summer refused an invitation.</p> - -<p class='c011'>So, God bless you, my dearest nephew, and be assured -of my affectionate regard.</p> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>C. Herschel.</span></div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1828. <i>On her Diary.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>FROM J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>London</span>, <i>Dec. 9, 1828</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Aunt</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>The Journals also came safe and well to hand, but in the -<em>series</em> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_234'>234</span>J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='sc'>26, Lower Phillimore Place</span>,</div> - <div class='line'> <i>Jan. 14, 1829</i>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Aunt</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>voluntarily</em><a id='r41' /><a href='#f41' class='c015'><sup>[41]</sup></a> 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 <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">ennui</span></i>, 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 <em>now</em> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Your affectionate nephew,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>J. F. W. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1829. <i>On her Nephew’s marriage.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>March 3, 1829.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Lady Herschel</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>I long to congratulate you on the happy occasion of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_235'>235</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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....</p> - -<p class='c011'>The following hint is only to you as a dear sister, for as -such I now know you:—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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....</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>But as long as God pleases I shall remain</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Your most affectionate sister,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>C. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_236'>236</span>MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL, ESQ.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>March 3, 1829.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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!”</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_237'>237</span>which I most fervently join by saying, “God bless you -both!”</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Your happy and affectionate aunt,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1829. <i>Her Portrait.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>TO THE SAME.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>March 30, 1829.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1829. <i>Letters.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>Nov. 16, 1829.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>I am glad you are removed again to Kensington, where -<span class='pageno' id='Page_238'>238</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>... 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_239'>239</span>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!...</p> - -<p class='c011'>Mrs. and Miss Beckedorff send their kind love....</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>God be with you, my dear Lady H.</div> - <div class='line'> Believe me your most affectionate sister,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>C. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL, ESQ.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>January 11, 1830</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <i><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">der Würg Engel<a id='r42' /><a href='#f42' class='c015'><sup>[42]</sup></a> ist -noch einmal vorüber gegangen</span></i>, at which I am very glad, -because I wish to be a little better prepared for making my -exit than I am at present.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>terrible</em> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>So I am to be godmother! with all my heart! I am now -<span class='pageno' id='Page_240'>240</span>so enured to receiving honours in my old age, that I take -them all upon me without blushing....</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Jan. 12th.</i>—No letter for me yet! and no news, <a id='except'></a>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!</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1830. <i>A Box of Gifts.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL, ESQ.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>June 18, 1830</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in2'><i>Contents</i>:—</div> - <div class='line'>Wollaston’s Catalogue.</div> - <div class='line'>Bode’s Catalogue.</div> - <div class='line'>My Index to Flamsteed’s Observations.</div> - <div class='line'>Herschel’s and South’s Observations, bound in red morocco.</div> - <div class='line'><span class='pageno' id='Page_241'>241</span>Logarithmic Tables by Taylor.</div> - <div class='line'>Seventy-two Papers of your father’s, in five volumes.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>God bless you, dear nephew,</div> - <div class='line'> Says your affectionate aunt,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_242'>242</span>MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL, ESQ.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>Oct. 27, 1830</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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....</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Dr. Groskopf has been <i><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">zum Ritter ernannt</span></i> 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?</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1830-1831. <i>Her Nephew’s Book.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_243'>243</span>MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL, ESQ.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>March, 1831.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>your book</em>. 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>decay</em> of -nature, and nine days after your birthday I am eighty-one. -What a shocking idea it is to be decaying! <em>decaying!</em> 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!”</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>22nd.</i>—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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_244'>244</span>suppose, how to rid yourself of a pestering fool by answering -coolly, or not at all.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>23rd, afternoon.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Your book<a id='r43' /><a href='#f43' class='c015'><sup>[43]</sup></a> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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,</p> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>C. Herschel</span>.</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1831. <i>Letter to her Niece.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_245'>245</span>MISS HERSCHEL TO MRS. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>May 14, 1831</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'>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!</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><i>May 18th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_246'>246</span>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<a id='r44' /><a href='#f44' class='c015'><sup>[44]</sup></a> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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....</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1831. <i>Her Grave.—Paganini.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>June 4, 1831</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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....</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_247'>247</span>... 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).</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>son</em> doing him so ample justice by -endeavouring to perfect what he could only begin....</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>TO MRS. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>August 11, 1831</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'>... 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 <em>was</em> -or <em>is</em> 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 <cite>The Sun</cite> of July 13 is a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_248'>248</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>I am reading all the Parliamentary speeches as given in -<cite>The Sun</cite>, 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 <em>own</em> J. Herschel) who had felicitously -observed that “the greatest discoverer in science can do no -more than accelerate the progress of discovery.”...</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>I remain, my dear niece,</div> - <div class='line'> Your most affectionate</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>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:—</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1831. <i>Letter from Prof. Encke.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>FROM PROFESSOR ENCKE TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Berlin</span>, <i>Aug. 17, 1831</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Madame</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_249'>249</span>loss to have been deprived of the excellent treatise written -by your eminent nephew, had it not reached its destination.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>I am, with great esteem and regard, madame,</div> - <div class='line'> Your most obedient, humble servant,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>T. F. Encke</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>Oct. 25, 1831</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Sir John</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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....</p> - -<p class='c011'>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....</p> - -<p class='c011'>Loves and compliments to all whom <em>we</em> love, and God -bless my dear nephew, says</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Your affectionate aunt,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>P.S.—I received Miss B.’s letter on the 16th. It gave -<span class='pageno' id='Page_250'>250</span>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR JOHN HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>December 25, 1831</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_251'>251</span>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 <em>the whole</em>, 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 “<em>from</em>” 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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1832. <i>Last Illness of Lady Herschel.</i></div> - -<div class='c020'><i>December 26th.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Niece</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_252'>252</span>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....</p> - -<p class='c011'>... I beg once more for an early assurance of my dear -sister’s recovery.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR JOHN HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>Jan. 20, 1832</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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....</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1832. <i>Enters her eighty-third year.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_253'>253</span>MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>March 14, 1832</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Niece</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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, <em>perhaps</em>, 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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).</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>I am much obliged to my dear nephew for sending the few -pages announcing the publications of the Royal Society. It -<span class='pageno' id='Page_254'>254</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Pray do not forget me when my nephew’s recension of -Mrs. Somerville’s works makes its appearance....</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>April 20, 1832</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>My dear niece has promised me your article<a id='r45' /><a href='#f45' class='c015'><sup>[45]</sup></a> 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 <em>now</em>; 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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....</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1832. <i>Letter from Hanover.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>EXTRACT FROM A LETTER OF SIR JOHN HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>June 19, 1832</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'>... I found my aunt wonderfully well and very nicely -and comfortably lodged, and we have since been on the full -<span class='pageno' id='Page_255'>255</span>trot. She runs about the town with me and skips up her -two flights of stairs as light and fresh at least as <em>some folks</em> -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 <em>likeness</em> is correct, and I soon found the point of view.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Yesterday, being the anniversary of Waterloo, there was -a great military <em>spectacle</em> 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_256'>256</span>military?) there was no ball in the evening, nor <em>any</em> -the <em>slightest</em> provision for the amusement or participation of -the fair. So Mars and Venus, I suppose, have had a -“tiff!” Adieu.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1832-1833. <i>Her Life in Hanover.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>Dec. 4, 1832</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Niece</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>grievance</em>—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 -<cite>Times</cite> 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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>March 30, 1833</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>Ever since the 6th of March, the day on which I -received my dear niece’s of the 26th of February, I have -<span class='pageno' id='Page_257'>257</span>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!<a id='r46' /><a href='#f46' class='c015'><sup>[46]</sup></a> -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!...</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<cite>Globe</cite>—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!</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>August 1, 1833</i>.</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_258'>258</span>perusal of which I look forward as a solace during the time -you will be on your way <em>far, far</em> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>half swept</em>. 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!</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1833. <i>Retrospection.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>TO THE SAME.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>Sept. 6, 1833.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Niece</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_259'>259</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>John</em> and <em>I</em> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_260'>260</span>handle the tools). A bricklayer came directly with brick -and mortar to mend the damage.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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....</p> - -<p class='c011'>If I only live long enough to have the assurance of your -<em>all</em> being well and safely got to the Cape, I will lay down -my head in peace.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>God bless you, my dear niece ... and with my love -to my dear nephew and yourself,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>I remain,</div> - <div class='line'> Your most affectionate aunt,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1833. <i>To Professor Schumacher.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>TO PROFESSOR SCHUMACHER.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>Dec. 11, 1833.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Sir</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_261'>261</span>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.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Excuse my troubling you so far, and believe me with -great regard, dear Sir,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Your much obliged and humble servant,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>C. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_262'>262</span> - <h2 class='c004'>CHAPTER VII.<br /> <br />SIR JOHN HERSCHEL AT THE CAPE.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='c020'><span class='sc'>Cape Town</span>, <i>Jan. 21, 1834</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Aunt</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>so far</em>. 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 <em>quite</em> 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_263'>263</span>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1834. <i>Sir John Herschel at the Cape.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Your affectionate nephew,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>J. F. W. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_264'>264</span>MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Braunschweiger Strasse</span>, No. 376, <i>May 1, 1834</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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....</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1834. <i>Arrival at the Cape.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>My dear friends, Mrs. and Miss Beckedorff, are assisting -<span class='pageno' id='Page_265'>265</span>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 <em>great</em>, 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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_266'>266</span>second likely to live (if not beyond) at least to the age of -his grandfather?</p> - -<p class='c011'>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).</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>God bless you <em>all</em>, and believe, my dear nephew,</div> - <div class='line'> Ever your most affectionate aunt,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>FROM J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Feldhausen</span>, <i>June 6, 1834</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Aunt</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>rummaging</em> the recesses of that -constellation and find it full of beautiful globular clusters. -A few evenings ago I lighted on a strange <a id='neb'></a>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_267'>267</span>with them.... Farewell; M. desires to add her -kindest regards to those of</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Your affectionate nephew,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>J. F. W. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1834. <i>The Landgravine of Hesse.</i></div> - -<p class='c005'>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.</p> - -<div class='c020'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>June 10, 1834</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>extasies</em> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>I am happy of having this opportunity of assuring you of -the sincerity of my regard.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Elise</span>,</div> - <div class='line'>The Dowager Landgravine of Hesse,</div> - <div class='line'> born Princess of England.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>To Miss Caroline Herschel.</span></p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>[<i>Enclosure.</i>]</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Dessau</span>, <i>June 6, 1834</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'>Miss Caroline Herschel finds here the expressions -of my utmost gratitude for the great kindness to give me -<span class='pageno' id='Page_268'>268</span>the so very interesting work of her nephew, the worthy -follower of a celebrated father.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Fredrica</span>,</div> - <div class='line'>Duchess of Anhalt Dessau.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Miss Caroline Herschel.</span></p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>Sept. 11, 1834.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_269'>269</span>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1834. <i>A Hole in the Sky.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>I thank you for the astronomical portion of your letter, -and for your promise of future accounts of uncommon -objects. It is not <em>clusters of stars</em> 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!”<a id='r47' /><a href='#f47' class='c015'><sup>[47]</sup></a> and, as I said before, -stopping afterwards at the same spot, but leaving it unsatisfied, -&c....</p> - -<p class='c011'>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....</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>With the most heartfelt wishes for the continuance of the -health of you all,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>I remain, &c., &c.,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>C. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1835. <i>Sir John Herschel at the Cape.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_270'>270</span>FROM J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Feldhausen, C. G. H.</span>, <i>Feb. 22, 1835</i>.</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>without the smallest star</em>. For example:—</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>R.A. 16<sup>h</sup> 15<sup>m</sup>—N.P.D. 113° 56ʹ—a field without the smallest star.</div> - <div class='line'>R.A. 16 19 N.P.D. 116 3—<i>Antares</i> (α Scorpii.)</div> - <div class='line'>R.A. 16 23 N.P.D. 114 25 to 214° 5ʹ—fields entirely void of stars.</div> - <div class='line'>R.A. 16 26 N.P.D. 114 14 not a star 16<sup>m</sup>—Nothing!</div> - <div class='line'>R.A. 16 27 N.P.D. 114 0 not a star as far as 114° 10ʹ.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c016'>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):—</p> - -<p class='c011'>“17<sup>h</sup> 28<sup>m</sup>, 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.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_271'>271</span>tint (not as when one says Lyra is a <em>bluish</em> star, &c.), but a -positive and evident blue, between indigo-blue and verditer -green. It is about 12ʺ in diameter, exactly round, or a -<em>very</em> little elliptic, and quite as sharply defined as a planet. -Its place is 11<sup>h</sup> 42<sup>m</sup> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO A. DE MORGAN, ESQ., SECRETARY OF</div> - <div>ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>March 9, 1835.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Sir</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>I beg you will believe me to remain, with great regard,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Sir, your most respectful and</div> - <div class='line'> obliged humble servant,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Caroline Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1835. <i>Catalogues of Stars.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_272'>272</span>MISS HERSCHEL TO F. BAILY, ESQ.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>April 2, 1835</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Sir</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_273'>273</span>each star of the British Catalogue with their observations -in that <em>incorrect edition</em> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <cite><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">Astronom. Nachrichten</span></cite> regularly for -<span class='pageno' id='Page_274'>274</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>I remain, my dear Sir,</div> - <div class='line'> Your humble servant,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Caroline Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1835. <i>Letters.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>FROM MRS. SOMERVILLE TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='sc'>Royal Hospital, Chelsea</span>,</div> - <div class='line'> <i>April 16, 1835</i>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Madam</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>I remain, dear Madam,</div> - <div class='line'> With sincere esteem,</div> - <div class='line'> Very truly yours,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Mary Somerville</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_275'>275</span>MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>April 23, 1835.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Niece</span>,—</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>... 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 <em>ladies</em> who play, sing, and sew -so prettily, write, “O! my back. O! I have the cramp -here, there, &c.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_276'>276</span>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 -<em>promotion</em>—in the <cite><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">Zeitungen</span></cite>) 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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1835. <i>Newton and Flamsteed.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>Here I have filled my paper with talking of nothing but myself, -because I know that my nephew corresponds with <em>all</em> scientific -men in Europe, for I hear frequently of extracts having -<span class='pageno' id='Page_277'>277</span>appeared in the papers (of his communications) by Struve, -Littrow, &c., and should suppose he will also know what is -done at <em>our Society, of which I now am a fellow</em>! 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.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>bad</em> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>God bless you both, and the dear children, my best -niece.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Ever your most affectionate aunt,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO P. STEWART, ESQ.<a id='r48' /><a href='#f48' class='c015'><sup>[48]</sup></a></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>May 25, 1835.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>Let the time come whenever it may please God, I leave -<span class='pageno' id='Page_278'>278</span>cash enough behind to clear me from <em>all</em> and <em>any</em> obligations -to all who <em>here</em> 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,<a id='r49' /><a href='#f49' class='c015'><sup>[49]</sup></a> -who lately came to settle at Hanover) to fulfil my -directions.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>August 6, 1835</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Niece</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>I dare not wait any longer for a return of better -spirits, <em>such</em> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>his</em> -life instead of <em>mine</em> had been spared until this present moment; -for what immense and wonderful discoveries have -<span class='pageno' id='Page_279'>279</span>not been made within these thirteen years, chiefly by his -own son, or son’s suggestion!</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1835. <i>Present of Constantia.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>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....</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>composing</em>, 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....</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_280'>280</span>SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Fellhausen</span>, <i>Oct. 24, 1835</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Aunt</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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!</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 (<em>yours</em>) 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 <em>in</em> or <em>near</em> the calculated -place, but no measures could be got.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>secure</em> and perfect what is done, and get all ready -<span class='pageno' id='Page_281'>281</span>to begin printing the moment we arrive in England; or, -if that is not possible, at least to have no more calculation -to do....</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1835. <i>Duke of Cambridge.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>FROM H.R.H. THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>Nov. 19, 1835</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>FRANCIS BAILY TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='sc'>37, Tavistock Place, London</span>,</div> - <div class='line'> <i>Jan. 29, 1836</i>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Madam</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>all</em> distributed) -it cannot be purchased.</p> - -<p class='c011'>I have been the more desirous that <em>you</em> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_282'>282</span>health, and his enjoyment of the pleasures of the fine -climate in which he is placed.</p> - -<p class='c011'>I remain, my dear madam, with the assurance of my best -respects, and my best wishes for your health and happiness,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Your very obedient servant,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Francis Baily</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO F. BAILY, ESQ.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>Feb. 15, 1836</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Sir</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_283'>283</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>If I will not lose another post I must conclude with the -assurance of ever remaining with great regard,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'> My dear Sir,</div> - <div class='line'>Your much obliged and humble servant,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>C. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1836. <i>Southern Stars.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>SIR JOHN HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>March 8, 1836.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Aunt</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>hope</em> and -<em>fear</em> it may yet be visible another month. Unluckily when -I sailed from England I left all my volumes of Poggendorff -and the <cite><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">Nachrichten</span></cite> 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 <em>must</em> do. Pray explain this to -Gauss.... Astronomical news I have little, but one -<span class='pageno' id='Page_284'>284</span>thing very remarkable I must tell you, γ Virginis is now <em>a -single star</em> in both the twenty-foot and the seven-foot -equatorial!!!</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Your affectionate nephew,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>J. F. W. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>June 29, 1836</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>gulls</em> 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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1836. <i>Her Brother’s Portrait.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>Capt. Müller is at present with Gauss, and will deliver -all your messages personally, for you must know I beware -<span class='pageno' id='Page_285'>285</span>of corresponding with all those <em>known ones</em> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>... 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, -<em>presented by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty -to Miss Herschel</em>. You cannot think how agitated I -feel on such occasions, coming to <em>me</em> 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</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>I am your affectionate aunt,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>October 20, 1836</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Niece</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>From June 14 to October the 1st, and not <em>any the -least account</em>, 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....</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_286'>286</span>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>... I have four complete years of the <cite><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">Astronom. -Nachrichten</span></cite> 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 -<em>hunt</em> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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....</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1836-1837. <i>Spots in the Sun.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Cape of Good Hope</span>, <i>Jan. 10, 1837</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Aunt</span>,—</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>I am now at work on the spots in the sun, and the -general subject of solar radiation, which you know occupied -<span class='pageno' id='Page_287'>287</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>March 30, 1837.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>... 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_288'>288</span>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?</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1837. <i>Saturn.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>FROM SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Feldhausen</span>, <i>May 7, 1837</i>.</div> - -<div class='figcenter id004'> -<img src='images/i_306a.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p><i>Fig. 1.</i></p> -</div> -</div> - -<div class='figcenter id005'> -<img src='images/i_306b.jpg' alt='Saturn' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>... 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 <em>at last</em> 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 <em>last Thursday</em> (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<sup>h</sup> 26<sup>m</sup> Sid. T. till 16<sup>h</sup> 35<sup>m</sup>, in which time it had -advanced visibly in its orbit from <em>below</em> the line of the -ansæ (as in figure) <em>to above</em>. In -this interval the planet had -moved over fully one diameter of -the body towards the preceding side, and, therefore, had -<span class='pageno' id='Page_289'>289</span>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.)</p> - -<p class='c011'>Next night, <i>Friday, May 5</i>, 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 <em>following</em> 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<sup>d</sup> 9<sup>h</sup>, which is also the reason why it was -not seen May 5th, being on that night near its inferior conjunction. -So this is <em>at last</em> a thing made out. As for No. -Seven I have no hope of ever seeing it.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id004'> -<img src='images/i_307.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p><i>Fig. 2.</i></p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>So now farewell once more, and, with many kind remembrances -to all Hanoverian friends,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Believe me, your affectionate nephew,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>J. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_290'>290</span>MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR JOHN HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>June 11, 1837</i>.</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>... 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, “<cite><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">Über den Einfluss der Unregelmässigkeiten der -Erde, auf geodetische Arbeiten und ihre Vergleichung mit -den astronomischen Bestimmungen</span></cite>.”<a id='r50' /><a href='#f50' class='c015'><sup>[50]</sup></a> 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 <em>you</em> return with your budget....</p> - -<p class='c011'>... 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....</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_291'>291</span>next Saturday or Sunday, when the Queen is expected. -More I cannot do!...</p> - -<p class='c011'>... 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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1837. <i>Sir John Herschel’s Return.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='sc'>Cape of Good Hope</span>,</div> - <div class='line'> <i>Sept. 7, 1837</i>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Aunt</span>,—</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>next summer</em> in Hanover. For so, if it -please God to lead us safe home, according to our present -<em>altered</em> plans, we most assuredly propose to do.</p> - -<p class='c011'>I say our <em>altered</em> 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_292'>292</span>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 <em>pro’s</em> and <em>con’s</em> of the question, -whether to return home direct, or <i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">viâ</span></i> Brazil?—<em>this</em> 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 <i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">dramatis -personæ</span></i> 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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>FROM H.R.H. THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Cambridge House</span>, <i>May 18, 1838</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Madam</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>I trust you continue enjoying your health; and with best -wishes, &c., &c.,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Yours most sincerely,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Adolphus</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1838. <i>Return of Sir John Herschel.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_293'>293</span>SIR JOHN HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>London</span>, <i>May 20, 1838</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'>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 <i>Windsor</i>, 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....</p> - -<p class='c005'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_294'>294</span>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:—</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1838. <i>Visit from her Grand-nephew.</i></div> - -<p class='c013'>... “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,’ -<span class='pageno' id='Page_295'>295</span>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.’ ‘<i><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">Ach, mein Gott! das -ist nicht möglich; ist dieser meines Neffen’s Sohn?</span></i>’ 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....</p> - -<p class='c011'>“Groskopff, by the way, was recounting a strange feat -which, to give you some notion of the <em>sort of person</em> (<i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">par -rapport au physique</span></i>), 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?”</p> - -<p class='c005'>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 <em>me</em> 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, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_296'>296</span>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!”</p> - -<p class='c006'>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>July 30, 1838</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Niece</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_297'>297</span>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....</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1838. <i>Sir J. Herschel at Home again.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>London</span>, <i>Aug. 6, 1838</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Aunt</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 (<em>not mixed</em>) 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_298'>298</span>of them, and for the many pretty and valuable -things you have sent; and till then, believe me,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>My dear aunt,</div> - <div class='line'> Ever your affectionate nephew,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>J. F. W. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>Aug. 21, 1838</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>... 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).</p> - -<p class='c011'>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. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_299'>299</span>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1838. <i>Letter to Lady Herschel.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>Sept. 24, 1838</i>.</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_300'>300</span>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Slough</span>, <i>Nov. 26, 1838</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Aunt</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Your letter of September 24th, with its numerous dates, -was like a little diary, and almost made us fancy ourselves -with you in Hanover....</p> - -<p class='c011'>I am sorry to see, on looking at my banker’s account, -that you have <em>not</em> (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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_301'>301</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>A Copley Medal was awarded to Gauss for his researches, -theoretical and practical, on the subject of terrestrial magnetism.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1838. <i>Elected Hon. Member of the R. A. I. S.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>Dec. 17, 1838</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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, <em>What is</em> <span class='fss'>THAT</span> <em>for</em>? 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....</p> - -<p class='c011'>... 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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_302'>302</span>MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR JOHN HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>Jan. 7, 1839</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'>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:—</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='sc'>Observatory, Dublin</span>,</div> - <div class='line'> <i>Dec. 4, 1838</i>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>“<span class='sc'>Madam</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>“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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“I have the honour to be, Madam, &c., &c.,</div> - <div class='line'> “<span class='sc'>William Rowan Hamilton</span>,</div> - <div class='line'> “P.R.I.A.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1839. <i>Life in Hanover.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR JOHN HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>Dec. 1, 1839</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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?</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>fibs</em>, though they may not always like what -I say.</p> - -<p class='c011'>I have been twice at the concert, and each time been -<span class='pageno' id='Page_303'>303</span>honoured with a wie gehts?<a id='r51' /><a href='#f51' class='c015'><sup>[51]</sup></a> 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 <i><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">Gelehrten</span></i> then all goes well, but -I know nothing about them....</p> - -<p class='c011'>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-<i><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">Verlobt</span></i>.<a id='r52' /><a href='#f52' class='c015'><sup>[52]</sup></a>” 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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>I remain, my dear nephew,</div> - <div class='line'> Your most affectionate aunt,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>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.</p> - -<p class='c013'><i>Aug. 3rd.</i>—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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_304'>304</span>to continue to take some exercise as long as the weather -and the length of the afternoon will permit.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1839-1840. <i>Her Day-Book.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><i>Aug. 26th.</i>—My niece Knipping came in the afternoon to -assist me in some needlework—we did not do much!</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Sept. 25th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Oct. 5th</i> & <i>6th</i>.—Mr. <a id='hohen'></a>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Oct. 7th.</i>—Dr. G. called for a moment, but nobody else!</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Dec. 10th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Jan. 27th.</i>—This is the first day since the 30th December -that the ice is detached from my sitting-room window.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Jan. 31st.</i>—Mr. Hausmann brought me some Journals, -and talked for an hour of old times with me, as he ever -does, good man!</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Feb. 7th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>March 17th.</i>—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 <em>are</em>, or <em>were, so dear</em>!... 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_305'>305</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>June 18th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 3rd.</i>—Dr. G. brought me an extract from <cite>The Sun</cite> -that my nephew has been created a baronet on the occasion -of the coronation.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 9th.</i>—My nephew arrived in Hanover in the evening.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 10th.</i>—In the afternoon I saw him and my little -grand-nephew for a few hours.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 25th.</i>—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!</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Oct. 24th.</i>—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!</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Oct. 29th.</i>—Mrs. Knipping spent an hour with me in the -dusk of the evening, and read an act of a play.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Dec. 30th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Jan. 5th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Jan. 20th.</i>—I have been to the concert last night to hear -<span class='pageno' id='Page_306'>306</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Feb. 12th.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>March 16th.</i>—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?</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>March 23rd.</i>—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>July 16th.</i>—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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1839. <i>End of Day-Book.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_307'>307</span><i>July 25th</i>.—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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>I am <em>now</em> 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 <em>anyone</em> -in it, like what I left, when the best of brothers took -me with him to England in August, 1772!</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Slough</span>, <i>Oct. 23, 1839</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Dear Aunt</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>... 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_308'>308</span>in which she replied to everything else. So do I, you may -be sure.</p> - -<p class='c011'>The Fables arrived safe, and W. must thank you for them -himself, as well as for your care of him in Hanover.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <i><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">die -Gelehrten</span></i>, &c., I know all is well. So God bless you, and -believe me,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Dear Aunt, your affectionate nephew,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>J. F. W. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1840. <i>Anecdote of the Old Telescope.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>Jan. 10, 1840</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Niece</span>,—</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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 <cite>Beggar’s Opera</cite>, says, “One cannot eat one’s -cake and have it too!”... -<span class='pageno' id='Page_309'>309</span>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 <em>dear</em> nephew -in the general hug! and believe me,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>My dearest niece,</div> - <div class='line'> Yours and his most affectionate aunt,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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!”</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>These scribblings will come to you among the rest of -my scraps. Good-bye!</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>Jan. 10, 1840</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Niece</span>,—</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>... 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_310'>310</span>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 <cite>The Clandestine Marriage</cite>).</p> - -<p class='c011'>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).</p> - -<p class='c011'>But what a contrast between a jubilee <i><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">auf der Börse</span></i><a id='r53' /><a href='#f53' class='c015'><sup>[53]</sup></a> at -Hanover and the one at Slough,<a id='r54' /><a href='#f54' class='c015'><sup>[54]</sup></a> 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<a id='r55' /><a href='#f55' class='c015'><sup>[55]</sup></a> depart in silence.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1840. <i>Misfortunes of Friends.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_311'>311</span>MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>April 5, 1840.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Niece!</span>—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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....</p> - -<p class='c011'>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,</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_312'>312</span>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c016'>and if I should (as it seems) live <a id='of'></a>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <cite>Chapter of Accidents</cite>. If I -could only have had a few hours of private conversation with -you then, much trouble would since have been spared me.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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?</p> - -<p class='c011'>... 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....</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL, BART.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>July 6, 1840.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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,<a id='r56' /><a href='#f56' class='c015'><sup>[56]</sup></a> at least, she will not be displeased -at knowing personally. Last night the sister of -the general, Mrs. W. Clarke,<a id='r57' /><a href='#f57' class='c015'><sup>[57]</sup></a> a widow, sat an hour with -<span class='pageno' id='Page_313'>313</span>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1840. <i>Her Seven-foot Telescope.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>August 3, 1840.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Niece</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>... 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.)</p> - -<p class='c011'>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....</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_314'>314</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>ample</em> annuity he left me.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>August 10, 1840.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>... 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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_315'>315</span>SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>August 10, 1840.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>... 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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR JOHN HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>Sept. 1, 1840.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>... 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 <em>all is well</em>! -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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1840. <i>Christmas in Hanover.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>Dec. 27, 1840.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>... 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_316'>316</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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....</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1841. <i>Concerning her Brother.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_317'>317</span>MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>Feb. 24, 1841.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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....</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_318'>318</span>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?</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>March 31, 1841.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_319'>319</span>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1841-1842. <i>Her Ninety-first Birthday.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>July 31, 1841</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Niece</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>my approbation</em>! -There is for you! What do you say to that?</p> - -<p class='c011'>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....</p> - -<p class='c005'>The following letter refers to the intended removal -of Sir J. Herschel and his family to Collingwood, -which he had purchased:—</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_320'>320</span>MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>August 2, 1841</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Niece</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>... I could wish to know something more about -the place where you now are.<a id='r58' /><a href='#f58' class='c015'><sup>[58]</sup></a> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1842 <i>Concerning her Brother.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>Feb. 3, 1842</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'>... 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_321'>321</span>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 <em>wiseacres</em> who -knew how to bargain, and even £100 were offered if he -would go to Hanover!</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_322'>322</span>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,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>My dear niece,</div> - <div class='line'> Ever your most affectionate aunt,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Caroline Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1842. <i>Goes to a Play.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>March 3, 1842</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Niece</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>... 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 <cite>King Charles II. in -Wapping</cite>, 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>There was no time for consulting milliners, and Mrs. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_323'>323</span>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, “<i><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">Einen jeden Narren gefällt -seine eigene Cappe!</span></i>”<a id='r59' /><a href='#f59' class='c015'><sup>[59]</sup></a> 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!</p> - -<p class='c011'>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!</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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....</p> - -<p class='c011'>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....</p> - -<p class='c011'>... I would not wish on any account to see either my -<span class='pageno' id='Page_324'>324</span>nephew or you, my dear niece, again <em>in this world, for I -could not bear the pain of parting once more</em>; 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!</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>June 2, 1842</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Niece</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>A thousand thanks for your kind letter, which contains -ever so much comfortable and satisfactory information, -such as heart can but wish....</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.<a id='r60' /><a href='#f60' class='c015'><sup>[60]</sup></a>...</p> - -<p class='c011'>... 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_325'>325</span>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!</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1842. <i>Regrets.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>July 7, 1842</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Niece</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>any</em> thing for any length of time....</p> - -<p class='c011'>... 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 <em>our</em> Eton here, all owing to -ignorant ambitious parents trusting entirely to unprincipled -hirelings.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>... The <cite><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">Astronom. Nachrichten</span></cite> 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 <em>my</em> comets when he -<span class='pageno' id='Page_326'>326</span>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, “<i><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">Wer am ersten -kick ruft, soll den Apfel haben! Wo sie denn alle rufen -kick! kick! und so</span></i>,”<a id='r61' /><a href='#f61' class='c015'><sup>[61]</sup></a> &c., &c.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>little, -little</em> ones, continue to be well and happy....</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <a id='four'></a>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>You remember, you take the work in whatever state I may -leave it, and make the best of it at your leisure. Adieu.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>August 4, 1842</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>... 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_327'>327</span>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 <em>us</em> the parallax of 61 Cygni....</p> - -<p class='c011'>... 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 <em>shall</em> beat Sir William Herschel’s all to nothing, and -such a visit sometimes makes me merry for a whole day.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1842-1843. <i>A Total Eclipse.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Collingwood</span>, <i>Aug. 9, 1842</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Aunt</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>glory</em>, 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 “<i><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">Es leben die Astronomen!</span></i>”<a id='r62' /><a href='#f62' class='c015'><sup>[62]</sup></a> as -soon as they saw the flames.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_328'>328</span>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</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Your affectionate nephew,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>J. F. W. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>... On the 30th of last month I finished the <em>reductions</em> -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 <em>loss</em>, 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Dec. 8, 1842.</i></p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1843. <i>Sir J. Herschel’s Translation.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>LADY HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>Jan. 12, 1843.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>... Your nephew sends you his translation of Schiller’s -beautiful and <em>instructive</em> 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_329'>329</span>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 <em>step</em> of the Walk; another, that -the <em>Walk</em> had got into a <em>Run</em>, 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 -<em>verse</em> I am <em>averse</em>.” The good Misses Baillie, of Hampstead, -have been greatly delighted with it. They desired their -kindest remembrances to you.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Hanover</span>, <i>March 1, 1843</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'>... 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....</p> - -<p class='c011'>I have not time to fill the paper, for my friends begin now -to take up my little time of my <em>short</em> 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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_330'>330</span>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL, BART.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>April, 1843.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Nephew!</span>—</p> - -<p class='c011'>Many thanks for your dear letter, which I found on -my breakfast-table on the morning of the 16th March,<a id='r63' /><a href='#f63' class='c015'><sup>[63]</sup></a> -... 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_331'>331</span>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1843. <i>On the Zodiacal Light.</i></div> - -<div class='c010'><i>May 4, 1843.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>Memorandum for my next letter, made April 23rd.</p> - -<p class='c011'>To my Nephew. On reading your letter to the editor of -the <cite>Times</cite>, 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 <em>very</em> 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 <em>temporary</em> -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 <em>temporary</em> Index. But it has often saved -me a whole week’s poring over the Journals for a memorandum....</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>June, 1843.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest and best Niece</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_332'>332</span>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....</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>(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.)</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1843. <i>On her Recollections.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_333'>333</span>SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Collingwood</span>, <i>Sept. 13, 1843</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Aunt</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 <em>writing</em>. Your handwriting -(Gottlob<a id='r64' /><a href='#f64' class='c015'><sup>[64]</sup></a>) 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....</p> - -<p class='c011'>... 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....</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_334'>334</span>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!</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>June 4, 1844.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Nephew</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>... 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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>There is an <i><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">Eisenbahn</span></i><a id='r65' /><a href='#f65' class='c015'><sup>[65]</sup></a> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_335'>335</span>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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, “<i><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">Der Kerl ist ein Narr!</span></i>”<a id='r66' /><a href='#f66' class='c015'><sup>[66]</sup></a>...</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>March 4, 1845.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dearest Niece</span>,—</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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!</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>March 5th.</i>—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!</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1845. <i>The Great Telescope.</i></div> - -<div class='c010'><i>April 29, 1845.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_336'>336</span>and a portrait of her was exhibited as a Sappho crowned -with laurels....</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c005'>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:</p> - -<p class='c013'><span class='sc'>My dearest Niece!</span>—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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,</p> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Car. Herschel</span>.</div> - -<p class='c005'>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:—</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1846-1847. <i>Letter—Baron Humboldt.</i></div> - -<div class='c020'><span class='sc'>Berlin</span>, <i>Sept. 25, 1846</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Most honoured Lady and Friend!</span>—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_337'>337</span>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 <em>I</em> 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.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'> With the deepest respect,</div> - <div class='line'>I am your most obedient, although illegible,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>Alexander Humboldt</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>Do not trouble yourself to write to the King; I will -convey your thanks to him.</p> - -<p class='c005'>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—</p> - -<p class='c013'>Miss Beckedorff shall write for me if I do not get -better. Loves to <em>all</em>.</p> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Caroline Herschel.</span></div> - -<p class='c005'><span class='pageno' id='Page_338'>338</span>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:—</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>EXTRACTS FROM THE LETTERS OF MISS BECKEDORFF TO</div> - <div>SIR JOHN AND LADY HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>Dec. 1846.</i></div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>* * * * *</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>... 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.</p> - -<div class='c010'><i>March, 1847.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1847. <i>Declining Strength.</i></div> - -<div class='c010'><i>March 31, 1847.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>I am commissioned by dear Miss Herschel to send to -you and for her dear nephew, with her best love, the accompanying -<span class='pageno' id='Page_339'>339</span>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 <em>sitting</em> 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>... I ran over to ask for Miss Herschel’s own message -<span class='pageno' id='Page_340'>340</span>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.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>... 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.</p> - -<div class='c010'><i>June 29, 1847.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>... 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.</p> - -<div class='c010'><i>Dec. 2, 1847.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>A few days ago she talked of her childhood, and even -sung me a little ballad she had then learnt.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1846. <i>Survey of the Nebulous Heavens.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_341'>341</span>While her faculties were equal to the appreciation -of the gift, she received a copy of Sir John Herschel’s -great work of <cite>Cape Observations</cite>. 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—<span class='sc'>The Survey -of the Nebulous Heavens</span>.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><span class='sc'>Collingwood</span>, <i>Dec. 8, 1846</i>.</div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Aunt</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_342'>342</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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....</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>SIR JOHN HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>July 11, 1847.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>My dear Aunt</span>,—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>You will then have in your hands the completion of my -father’s work—“The Survey of the Nebulous Heavens.”</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Louisa sends you all our news, and the autographs of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_343'>343</span>Struve and Adams, who, with M. Leverrier, are now at -Collingwood.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'> Adieu, dear aunt,</div> - <div class='line'>From your ever-affectionate nephew,</div> - <div class='line'> <span class='sc'>J. F. W. Herschel</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='sidenote'>1847. <i>Latter Days.</i></div> - -<p class='c005'>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.</p> - -<p class='c006'>The Day-book had long ceased. The final entry, -on 3rd September, 1845, is “<em>Astronomischen Nachrichten<a id='r67' /><a href='#f67' class='c015'><sup>[67]</sup></a> -came in</em>.” 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:—</p> - -<p class='c013'>Her decided objection to having her bed placed in a -warmer room had brought on a cold and cough, and so firm -<span class='pageno' id='Page_344'>344</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>January 6th.</i></p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1848. <i>The Long Life is Ended.</i></div> - -<p class='c005'>Four days later the same kind friend had to tell -how peacefully and gently the end came at last.</p> - -<p class='c013'><i>Jan. 10th, 1848.</i>—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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_345'>345</span>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.</p> - -<p class='c005'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_346'>346</span>that we obtain a glimpse of her drawn by any -other hand than her own.</p> - -<div class='c010'><i>January 13, 1848.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>... 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.</p> - -<div class='sidenote'>1848. <i>The End of All.</i></div> - -<p class='c005'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_347'>347</span>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<a id='r68' /><a href='#f68' class='c015'><sup>[68]</sup></a> 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.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_348'>348</span> - <h2 class='c004'>APPENDIX.</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c013'><span class='sc'>The</span> 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:—</p> - -<p class='c013'>Inventory of engravings, all in good black frames, with gilded -beads, and glazed:—</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>My Nephew, J. H.</div> - <div class='line'>My Mother.</div> - <div class='line'>A drawing of Slough, by J. Herschel.</div> - <div class='line'>My Brother, Lithographed.</div> - <div class='line'>Forty-foot Telescope.</div> - <div class='line'>Medallion of Wm. H., by Flaxman, of 1782.</div> - <div class='line'>Medallion of Wm. H., by Lochée, of 1787.</div> - <div class='line'>Engraving of Dr. Maskelyne, and</div> - <div class='line'>Greenwich Observatory (presented to me by himself).</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>BOOKS.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>Bode’s Atlas.</p> - -<p class='c011'>South’s Observations on Double and Treble Stars, from Phil. Transactions, Vol. I., 1826.</p> - -<p class='c011'>South’s Discordance between the Sun’s observed and computed Place. 1826.</p> - -<p class='c011'>On the Elements and Orbit of Halley’s Comet, &c., by Lieut. W. S. Stratford, 1837.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Preface to, &c., &c., of a General Astronomical Catalogue, by F. Wollaston, 1789.</p> - -<p class='c011'>J. H.’s Fourth Series of Observations with a twenty-foot Reflector, containing the places of 1236 Double Stars.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Stars in the Southern Hemisphere, observed at Paramatta, in New South Wales, by J. Dunlop, 1828.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Astronom. Nachrichten, from 1833 to 1839, in 7 vols. (half bound).</p> - -<p class='c011'>Emerson’s Treatise of Arithmetic.</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_350'>350</span>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.)</p> - -<p class='c011'>Salmon’s Geographical and Astronomical Grammar.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Ferguson’s Astronomy.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Watson’s Universal Gazetteer.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Quarterly Journal, Vol. XII., 1822.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Quarterly Review, July, 1832.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Edinburgh Review, January, 1834.</p> - -<p class='c011'>The Connexion of the Physical Sciences, by Mrs. Somerville, 1835.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.)</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Göttinger Anzeigen, 202, 203 Stück, Dec. 14, 1833.</p> - -<p class='c011'>J. Herschel’s Papers, from January 12th, 1828, to Nov. 11th, 1833. -Bound and directed to the Duke of Cambridge (from C. H.).</p> - -<p class='c011'>Eighteen of Wm. H.’s Papers, collected and bound in one volume, -and directed for Hauptman Müller.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Über den Neuentdecken Planeten, by Bode, 1784.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Introduction to English Grammar, by R. South.</p> - -<p class='c011'>1st and 2nd Vols. of Pfaff’s Translation of Herschel’s Sämtliche -Schriften, 1826 (collected works).</p> - -<p class='c011'>Abominable stuff! What is to be done with them? They are so -prettily bound, I cannot take it in my heart to burn them.</p> - -<hr class='c017' /> - -<p class='c011'>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.)</p> - -<p class='c011'>Landing-place: A clothes-press, a glass globe, a few chairs.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.)</p> - -<p class='c011'>A cupboard containing tea things, &c., for company. Urn, tea-board, -&c., waiter, two teapots, milk-pot, and slop-bason (black -Wedgwood).</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_351'>351</span>A few cups and saucers, coffee-pot, two glass plates, one and half -dozen bishop glasses, tumblers, cake-basket, &c.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Plate: Ha! ha! ha! ha!</p> - -<p class='c011'>Twelve teaspoons, 1 sugar-tongs, 1 table, 1 dessert, and 1 saltspoon, -4 plated candlesticks, very little used.</p> - -<p class='c013'>The superscription on the last page is as follows:—</p> - -<p class='c011'>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!</p> - -<hr class='c017' /> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>EPITAPH OF MISS HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>Hier ruhet die irdische Hülle von</div> - <div><span class='sc'>Carolina Herschel</span>,</div> - <div>Geboren zu Hannover den 16<sup>ten</sup> Marz, 1750,</div> - <div>Gestorben den 9<sup>ten</sup> Januar, 1848.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>Die Königliche Irländische Akademie zu Dublin und die Königliche -Astronomische Gesellschaft in London zählten sie zu ihren Mitgliedern.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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<sup>ten</sup> -Marz, 1767, hierneben begraben liegt.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>[<i>Translation.</i>]</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>Here rests the earthly shell of</div> - <div><span class='sc'>Caroline Herschel</span>,</div> - <div>Born at Hanover, March 16, 1750,</div> - <div>Died January 9, 1848.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>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 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_352'>352</span>work of her Brother, William Herschel, shall tell of this to all -time.</p> - -<p class='c011'>The Royal Irish Academy of Dublin, and the Royal Astronomical -Society of London counted her among their Members.</p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> - -<hr class='c017' /> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>THE GRAVE OF CAROLINE HERSCHEL.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>FROM MISS BECKEDORFF.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c010'><i>Feb. 4, 1850.</i></div> - -<p class='c011'>“... If I have owned my having neglected visiting Sir John’s <em>living</em> -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.”</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>FROM HERR WINNECKE (Assist. Astron. at Pulkowa.)</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c011'>“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.”</p> - -<div class='c010'><i>June 26, 1864.</i></div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c004'>INDEX.</h2> -</div> - -<ul class='index c003'> - <li class='c022'>Academy, R. Irish, <a href='#Page_300'>300</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>Astronomical Society of London, <a href='#Page_221'>221</a>, <a href='#Page_271'>271</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>Aubert, Alex., letter from Miss Herschel on discovering her first comet, <a href='#Page_66'>66</a>; - <ul> - <li>her third comet, <a href='#Page_86'>86</a>.</li> - </ul> - </li> - <li class='c003'>Baily, F., letter from Miss Herschel, <a href='#Page_272'>272-274</a>; - <ul> - <li>letter to her with his “Account of Flamsteed,” <a href='#Page_281'>281</a>;</li> - <li>her answer, <a href='#Page_282'>282</a>.</li> - </ul> - </li> - <li class='c022'>Baldwin, Miss, her marriage, <a href='#Page_129'>129</a>; - <ul> - <li>death, <a href='#Page_132'>132</a>.</li> - </ul> - </li> - <li class='c022'>Banks, Sir J., letter from William Herschel on his sister’s second comet, <a href='#Page_84'>84</a>; - <ul> - <li>from Miss Herschel on her third comet, <a href='#Page_85'>85</a>;</li> - <li>and her eighth, <a href='#Page_94'>94</a>.</li> - </ul> - </li> - <li class='c022'>Beckedorff, Miss, letters during the latter years of Miss Herschel’s life, <a href='#Page_338'>338-340</a>, <a href='#Page_343'>343-345</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>Beckedorff, Mrs., <a href='#Page_108'>108</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>Blagden, Dr., letter from Miss Herschel about her first comet, <a href='#Page_65'>65</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>Brewster, Sir David, opinion of Miss Herschel’s catalogue of all the star-clusters and Nebulæ, <a href='#Page_145'>145</a>, <a href='#Page_146'>146</a>.</li> - <li class='c003'>Cambridge, Duke of, letter to Miss Herschel on the return of her nephew from the Cape, <a href='#Page_292'>292</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>Cape of Good Hope—Sir John Herschel leaves the Cape, <a href='#Page_292'>292</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>Collingwood, the seat of the Herschel family, <a href='#Page_320'>320</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>Comets, Miss Herschel’s first, <a href='#Page_64'>64</a>; - <ul> - <li>second, <a href='#Page_80'>80</a>;</li> - <li>third, <a href='#Page_85'>85</a>;</li> - <li>fifth, sixth, <a href='#Page_93'>93</a>;</li> - <li>eighth, <a href='#Page_94'>94</a>.</li> - </ul> - </li> - <li class='c022'>Cumberland, Duke of, proclaimed king of Hanover, <a href='#Page_290'>290</a>.</li> - <li class='c003'>Dessau, Princess of Anhalt, letter to Miss Herschel, <a href='#Page_267'>267</a>.</li> - <li class='c003'>Earthquake at Lisbon, sensation produced in Hanover, <a href='#Page_6'>6</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>Encke, Prof., letter to Miss Herschel, <a href='#Page_248'>248</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>Englefield, Sir H., letter from W. Herschel on his sister’s second comet, <a href='#Page_83'>83</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>Epitaph on Miss Herschel, <a href='#Page_351'>351</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>Etna, Mount, ascent by Sir John Herschel, <a href='#Page_173'>173</a>.</li> - <li class='c003'>Flamsteed’s Catalogue, calculations for, <a href='#Page_60'>60</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>Forty-foot telescope, <a href='#Page_76'>76</a>, <a href='#Page_308'>308</a>, <a href='#Page_309'>309</a>, <a href='#Page_310'>310</a>.</li> - <li class='c003'>Gauss, Hofrath, letter from Miss Herschel, with her index to Flamsteed’s Observations, <a href='#Page_191'>191</a>; - <ul> - <li>his answer, <a href='#Page_195'>195</a>.</li> - </ul> - </li> - <li class='c022'>George III. visits the Slough Observatory, <a href='#Page_104'>104</a>; - <ul> - <li>anecdote of, and the Archb. of Canterbury, <a href='#Page_309'>309</a>.</li> - </ul> - </li> - <li class='c022'>Georgian Satellites, the, <a href='#Page_74'>74</a>, <a href='#Page_305'>305</a>, <a href='#Page_316'>316</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>Georgium Sidus, the, discovered, <a href='#Page_39'>39</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>Gloucester, Princess Sophia of, visit to the telescope, <a href='#Page_128'>128</a>.</li> - <li class='c003'>Halley’s Comet, <a href='#Page_283'>283</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>Herschel, Alex., assists his brother William, <a href='#Page_36'>36</a>, <a href='#Page_53'>53</a>, <a href='#Page_109'>109</a>, <a href='#Page_111'>111</a>, <a href='#Page_115'>115</a>, <a href='#Page_122'>122</a>; - <ul> - <li>returns to Hanover, <a href='#Page_125'>125</a>;</li> - <li>death, <a href='#Page_132'>132</a>;</li> - <li>notice of, <a href='#Page_132'>132</a>.</li> - </ul> - </li> - <li class='c022'>Herschel, Caroline Lucretia, early recollections, <a href='#Page_1'>1-28</a>; - <ul> - <li>affection for her brother William, <a href='#Page_9'>9</a>;</li> - <li>at the Garrison school, <a href='#Page_11'>11</a>;</li> - <li>her father’s careful training, <a href='#Page_13'>13</a>;</li> - <li>typhus fever, <a href='#Page_15'>15</a>;</li> - <li>confirmation, <a href='#Page_17'>17</a>;</li> - <li>learns dress-making, <a href='#Page_21'>21</a>;</li> - <li>accompanies William to England, <a href='#Page_26'>26-28</a>;</li> - <li>life in Bath, <a href='#Page_29'>29-50</a>;</li> - <li><i><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">Heimwehe</span></i>, <a href='#Page_33'>33</a>;</li> - <li>visit to Mrs. Colebrook, <a href='#Page_34'>34</a>;</li> - <li>musical rehearsals, <a href='#Page_36'>36</a>;</li> - <li>reputation as a singer, <a href='#Page_40'>40</a>;</li> - <li>assists her brother, <a href='#Page_42'>42</a>;</li> - <li>life at Datchet, <a href='#Page_50'>50</a>;</li> - <li>accidents, <a href='#Page_55'>55</a>;</li> - <li>Clay Hall, <a href='#Page_57'>57</a>;</li> - <li>Slough, <a href='#Page_58'>58</a>;</li> - <li>Flamsteed’s Catalogue, <a href='#Page_60'>60</a>, <a href='#Page_61'>61</a>;</li> - <li>her <em>sweeps</em>, <a href='#Page_64'>64</a>, <a href='#Page_146'>146-148</a>;</li> - <li>first comet, <a href='#Page_64'>64</a>;</li> - <li>salary of 50<i>l.</i> as her brother’s assistant, <a href='#Page_75'>75</a>;</li> - <li>her eight comets, <a href='#Page_80'>80-94</a>;</li> - <li>lives by herself, <a href='#Page_95'>95</a>;</li> - <li>Index to Flamsteed’s Observations, <a href='#Page_96'>96</a>;</li> - <li>extracts from diary, <a href='#Page_98'>98-132</a>;</li> - <li>at Bath, <a href='#Page_105'>105</a>;</li> - <li>at Slough, <a href='#Page_107'>107</a>;</li> - <li>removes to Chalvy, <a href='#Page_108'>108</a>;</li> - <li>resides at Upton, <a href='#Page_109'>109</a>;</li> - <li>returns to Hanover on the death of her brother, <a href='#Page_133'>133</a>;</li> - <li><cite>Recollections</cite>, <a href='#Page_133'>133-140</a>;</li> - <li>her works, <a href='#Page_145'>145</a>;</li> - <li>bitter disappointment in her brother Dietrich’s family, <a href='#Page_149'>149</a>;</li> - <li>letters, <a href='#Page_152'>152</a>;</li> - <li>Catalogue of the Nebulæ, <a href='#Page_181'>181</a>;</li> - <li>her will, <a href='#Page_200'>200</a>;</li> - <li>presentation of the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society, <a href='#Page_221'>221</a>;</li> - <li>her Portrait, <a href='#Page_237'>237</a>, <a href='#Page_338'>338</a>;</li> - <li>Paganini, <a href='#Page_247'>247</a>;</li> - <li>her nephew’s visit, <a href='#Page_254'>254</a>;</li> - <li>anecdotes of his boyish amusements, <a href='#Page_259'>259</a>;</li> - <li>Hon. Member of the Royal Astronomical Society, <a href='#Page_271'>271</a>;</li> - <li>letter from Mrs. Somerville, <a href='#Page_274'>274</a>;</li> - <li>illumination in honour of the Duke of Cumberland being proclaimed king of Hanover, <a href='#Page_290'>290</a>;</li> - <li>visit of her nephew and his son, <a href='#Page_293'>293-295</a>;</li> - <li>Hon. Member of the R. Irish Academy, <a href='#Page_300'>300</a>;</li> - <li>extracts from day-book, <a href='#Page_303'>303-307</a>;</li> - <li>anecdotes of the forty-foot telescope, <a href='#Page_308'>308</a>, <a href='#Page_309'>309</a>;</li> - <li>describes Christmas in Germany, <a href='#Page_313'>313</a>;</li> - <li>her 92nd birthday, <a href='#Page_318'>318</a>;</li> - <li>begins the history of the Herschels, <a href='#Page_324'>324</a>;</li> - <li>her 93rd birthday, <a href='#Page_330'>330</a>;</li> - <li>the first railway between Hanover and Braunschweig, <a href='#Page_334'>334</a>;</li> - <li>presented with a gold medal by the king of Prussia, <a href='#Page_336'>336</a>;</li> - <li>her last letter, <a href='#Page_337'>337</a>;</li> - <li>enters her 98th year, <a href='#Page_339'>339</a>;</li> - <li>her death, <a href='#Page_344'>344</a>;</li> - <li>funeral, <a href='#Page_347'>347</a>;</li> - <li>epitaph, <a href='#Page_351'>351</a>;</li> - <li>her grave, <a href='#Page_352'>352</a>.</li> - </ul> - </li> - <li class='c022'>Herschel, Sir John, first mention of, <a href='#Page_104'>104</a>; - <ul> - <li>at Cambridge, <a href='#Page_117'>117</a>;</li> - <li>senior wrangler, <a href='#Page_120'>120</a>;</li> - <li>member of the University of Göttingen, <a href='#Page_125'>125</a>;</li> - <li>ascends Mount Etna, <a href='#Page_172'>172</a>;</li> - <li>at Munich, <a href='#Page_175'>175</a>;</li> - <li>visits his aunt, <a href='#Page_177'>177</a>, <a href='#Page_293'>293</a>;</li> - <li>Secretary to the Royal Society, <a href='#Page_181'>181</a>;</li> - <li>at Montpelier, <a href='#Page_201'>201</a>;</li> - <li>catalogue of double stars, <a href='#Page_213'>213</a>;</li> - <li>his marriage, <a href='#Page_236'>236</a>;</li> - <li>describes his aunt, <a href='#Page_254'>254</a>;</li> - <li>anecdotes of his boyhood, <a href='#Page_259'>259</a>;</li> - <li>letters from the Cape, <a href='#Page_263'>263</a>;</li> - <li>sweeping, <a href='#Page_266'>266</a>;</li> - <li>the Milky Way, <a href='#Page_270'>270</a>;</li> - <li>Halley’s comet, <a href='#Page_283'>283</a>;</li> - <li>spots on the sun, <a href='#Page_286'>286</a>, <a href='#Page_287'>287</a>;</li> - <li>Saturn’s sixth satellite, <a href='#Page_288'>288</a>, <a href='#Page_289'>289</a>;</li> - <li>returns to England, <a href='#Page_292'>292</a>;</li> - <li>created a baronet, <a href='#Page_305'>305</a>;</li> - <li>on the Orionis star, <a href='#Page_316'>316</a>;</li> - <li>eclipse of the sun in <a href='#Page_184'>184</a>2, <a href='#Page_327'>327</a>;</li> - <li>his chrysotype pictures, <a href='#Page_327'>327</a>;</li> - <li>translation of Schiller’s “Walk,” <a href='#Page_328'>328</a>, <a href='#Page_329'>329</a>;</li> - <li>acknowledges his aunt’s history, <a href='#Page_333'>333</a>.</li> - </ul> - </li> - <li class='c022'>Herschel, Lady, letters from Miss Herschel, <a href='#Page_152'>152</a> <i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">et seq.</span></i>; - <ul> - <li>her death, <a href='#Page_252'>252</a>.</li> - </ul> - </li> - <li class='c022'>Herschel, Sir William, early display of talents, <a href='#Page_3'>3</a>; - <ul> - <li>proficiency in music, <a href='#Page_7'>7</a>;</li> - <li>accompanies his regiment to England, <a href='#Page_8'>8</a>;</li> - <li>resides at Bath, <a href='#Page_21'>21</a>;</li> - <li>fetches his sister Caroline, <a href='#Page_26'>26</a>;</li> - <li>his musical compositions, <a href='#Page_36'>36</a>;</li> - <li>erection of the twenty-foot telescope, <a href='#Page_37'>37</a>;</li> - <li>discovers the Georgium Sidus, <a href='#Page_39'>39</a>;</li> - <li>casting of the great mirror, <a href='#Page_43'>43</a>;</li> - <li>goes to London and is introduced to the King, <a href='#Page_45'>45</a>;</li> - <li>Royal Astronomer, <a href='#Page_50'>50</a>;</li> - <li>limited salary, <a href='#Page_50'>50</a>;</li> - <li>removes to Datchet, <a href='#Page_50'>50</a>;</li> - <li>to Clay Hall, <a href='#Page_57'>57</a>;</li> - <li>to Slough, <a href='#Page_58'>58</a>;</li> - <li>the Georgian Satellites, <a href='#Page_74'>74</a>;</li> - <li>marriage, <a href='#Page_78'>78</a>;</li> - <li>observations on his sister’s comet, <a href='#Page_84'>84</a>, <a href='#Page_85'>85</a>;</li> - <li>his failing health, <a href='#Page_124'>124</a>;</li> - <li>sits for his portrait, <a href='#Page_129'>129</a>;</li> - <li>death, <a href='#Page_133'>133</a>.</li> - </ul> - </li> - <li class='c022'>Hesse, Princess of, letter to Miss Herschel, <a href='#Page_267'>267</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>Humboldt, Alex. von, letter to Miss Herschel, with the Gold Medal for Science from the king of Prussia, <a href='#Page_336'>336</a>, <a href='#Page_337'>337</a>.</li> - <li class='c003'>Knipping, Mme., extract from letter upon Miss Herschel’s death, <a href='#Page_346'>346</a>.</li> - <li class='c003'>La Lande, J. de, letter to Miss Herschel, <a href='#Page_89'>89</a>; - <ul> - <li>her answer, <a href='#Page_91'>91</a>.</li> - </ul> - </li> - <li class='c022'>Lind, James, <a href='#Page_100'>100</a>.</li> - <li class='c003'>Morgan, A. de, letter from Miss Herschel on being elected Hon. Member of the R. A. Society, <a href='#Page_271'>271</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>Mars, observations on, <a href='#Page_53'>53</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>Maskelyne, Rev. Dr., letter from Miss Herschel, on discovering her second comet, <a href='#Page_80'>80</a>; - <ul> - <li>on the Index to Flamsteed’s Observations, <a href='#Page_96'>96</a>.</li> - </ul> - </li> - <li class='c003'>Nebulæ, the, <a href='#Page_196'>196-198</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>Nebulæ, the Cape, and double stars, <a href='#Page_328'>328</a>.</li> - <li class='c003'>Ole Bull, the violinist, <a href='#Page_306'>306</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>Orange, Prince of, at Slough, <a href='#Page_99'>99</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>Orionis, α, a variable and periodical star, <a href='#Page_316'>316</a>.</li> - <li class='c003'>Piazzi, Abbé, at Slough, <a href='#Page_55'>55</a>; - <ul> - <li>at Catania, <a href='#Page_173'>173</a>.</li> - </ul> - </li> - <li class='c022'>Pigott, Ed., letter to Miss Herschel on the Flamsteed Catalogue, <a href='#Page_101'>101</a>.</li> - <li class='c003'>Railway, first, between Hanover and Braunschweig, <a href='#Page_334'>334</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>Ross, Capt., his return with the South Polar Expedition, <a href='#Page_333'>333</a>, <a href='#Page_334'>334</a>.</li> - <li class='c003'>Schiller’s “Walk,” translated by Sir J. Herschel, <a href='#Page_328'>328</a>, <a href='#Page_329'>329</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>Schumacher, Prof., letter from Miss Herschel, <a href='#Page_260'>260</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>Scorpio, <a href='#Page_258'>258</a>, <a href='#Page_266'>266</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>Seyffer, Prof., letter to Miss Herschel, <a href='#Page_92'>92</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>Somerville, Mrs., letter to Miss Herschel, with her “Connexion of the Physical Sciences,” <a href='#Page_274'>274</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>South, J., his 400 stars, <a href='#Page_194'>194</a>; - <ul> - <li>his address to the Astronomical Society on presenting the hon. medal to Miss Herschel, <a href='#Page_222'>222-227</a>.</li> - </ul> - </li> - <li class='c022'>Stewart, P., letter from Miss Herschel, <a href='#Page_277'>277</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>Sun, spots on the, <a href='#Page_286'>286</a>, <a href='#Page_287'>287</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>“Survey of the Nebulous Heavens,” the conclusion of Sir W. Herschel’s vast undertaking, <a href='#Page_341'>341</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>Sweepings for comets, <a href='#Page_146'>146-148</a>.</li> - <li class='c003'>Telescope, the forty-foot, anecdotes of, <a href='#Page_308'>308</a>, <a href='#Page_309'>309</a>; - <ul> - <li>its final preservation, <a href='#Page_310'>310</a>.</li> - </ul> - </li> - <li class='c003'>Watson, Sir W., first acquaintance with W. Herschel, <a href='#Page_42'>42</a>.</li> - <li class='c022'>Wilson, Alex., notice of, <a href='#Page_99'>99</a>.</li> - <li class='c003'>Zodiacal light, the, <a href='#Page_331'>331</a>.</li> -</ul> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>THE END.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>BRADBURY, AGNEW, CO., PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c000'> - <div>Footnotes</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f1'> -<p class='c013'><a href='#r1'>1</a>. The Duke of Cumberland’s army suffered severely in this battle.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f2'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r2'>2</a>. “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.”—<cite>Annals of France</cite>, <cite>Encyclopædia Metropolitana</cite>.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f3'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r3'>3</a>. Afterwards Madame Beckedorff, Miss Herschel’s most valued friend in -after years.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f4'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r4'>4</a>. The other version calls it “from Helvot to Harrige” = Harwich.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f5'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r5'>5</a>. 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.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f6'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r6'>6</a>. “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.”—“<cite>Lord Rosse’s Telescopes</cite>,” 1844.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f7'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r7'>7</a>. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, Dec. 6, 1781.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f8'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r8'>8</a>. “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.”—<cite>Sir -W. Herschel’s Journal.</cite> This occurred at a house in River Street, which -was soon changed for 19, New King Street.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f9'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r9'>9</a>. 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.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f10'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r10'>10</a>. 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.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f11'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r11'>11</a>. This is the last time that the name of Jacob Herschel appears.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f12'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r12'>12</a>. 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.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f13'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r13'>13</a>. M. De la Lande’s name was <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Jerome Le Français dit de la Lande</span></i>; it is to -himself, therefore, that he here refers. The letter is addressed “Mlle. Caroline -Herschel, Astronome Célèbre, Slough.”</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f14'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r14'>14</a>. 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.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f15'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r15'>15</a>. The Rev. S. Vince, a mathematician and natural philosopher.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f16'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r16'>16</a>. 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.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f17'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r17'>17</a>. 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.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f18'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r18'>18</a>. 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 <a id='common'></a>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 <i>8th</i> of <i>August</i>, 1798.—W. Prince of -Orange.”</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f19'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r19'>19</a>. James Lind, M.D., was a Scotchman, who devoted a considerable amount -of his time to astronomical observations.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f20'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r20'>20</a>. 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.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f21'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r21'>21</a>. 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.)</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f22'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r22'>22</a>. Probably Professor Wales, mathematical master at Christ’s Hospital, -author of a mathematical paper published in the “Phil. Trans.,” 1781.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f23'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r23'>23</a>. 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.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f24'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r24'>24</a>. 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.</p> - -<p class='c011'><i>Dec. 9, 1805.</i>”</p> - -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f25'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r25'>25</a>. De Luc was a geologist of high reputation; an ardent opponent of Huttonian -views.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f26'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r26'>26</a>. The following notice is from a Bristol paper:</p> - -<p class='c011'>“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.</p> - -<p class='c011'>“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.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f27'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r27'>27</a>. 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.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f28'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r28'>28</a>. A younger sister of Mrs. Beckwith, niece of Lady Herschel.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f29'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r29'>29</a>. This passage is a later note, added Sept. 26, 1828.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f30'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r30'>30</a>. At this time W. Herschel frequently gave thirty-five and thirty-eight -lessons a week to lady pupils.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f31'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r31'>31</a>. It was not an unknown circumstance for the ink to freeze while she was -attending to take down her brother’s observations.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f32'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r32'>32</a>. These words had apparently to be sought for in the dictionary, as they -are inserted in pencil in blank spaces left for the purpose.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f33'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r33'>33</a>. To her brother, in Upton Church, near Slough.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f34'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r34'>34</a>. 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.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f35'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r35'>35</a>. Dietrich Herschel died towards the end of January, 1827.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f36'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r36'>36</a>. See p. <a href='#Page_10'>10</a>.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f37'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r37'>37</a>. 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.—<cite>Memoirs Astronomical Society</cite>, Vol. III., -p. 409.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f38'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r38'>38</a>. This extract, as it bears on the subject of the recognition of Miss <a id='hersch'></a>Herschel’s -labours, is inserted here, though somewhat before its time.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f39'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r39'>39</a>. “Motions were then made for passing these several resolutions, and the -same were carried unanimously.”—<cite>Monthly Notices</cite>, vol. iii. p. 91.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f40'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r40'>40</a>. Of President.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f41'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r41'>41</a>. An allusion to his approaching marriage, when he would resign his -Fellowship.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f42'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r42'>42</a>. The Destroying Angel has once more passed by.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f43'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r43'>43</a>. Discourse on the study of Natural Philosophy.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f44'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r44'>44</a>. See p. <a href='#Page_72'>72</a>, 1786.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f45'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r45'>45</a>. In the Quarterly Review.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f46'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r46'>46</a>. Sir John for ever!</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f47'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r47'>47</a>. Here, indeed, is a hole in the sky.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f48'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r48'>48</a>. 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.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f49'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r49'>49</a>. 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.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f50'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r50'>50</a>. “On the Influence of the Irregularities of the Earth on Geodetic Operations, -and their Comparison with Astronomical Determinations.”</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f51'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r51'>51</a>. How d’ye do?</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f52'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r52'>52</a>. Betrothed.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f53'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r53'>53</a>. On the Exchange.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f54'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r54'>54</a>. The whole family party assembled at Christmas in the tube of the great -telescope, and sang a ballad composed for the occasion.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f55'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r55'>55</a>. “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 <em>inside of the tube</em>, and will be riveted -up from all intruders. And all the polishing apparatus is <em>fixed</em> on the spot.”—<cite>Letter -of Sir John Herschel, Feb. 28, 1840.</cite></p> - -<p class='c011'>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.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f56'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r56'>56</a>. General Baron Hugh Halkett, a distinguished officer of the German -Legion, died 1863.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f57'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r57'>57</a>. Miss Herschel gave special directions that, after her death, her snuff-box -should be given to this lady.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f58'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r58'>58</a>. The family of Sir J. Herschel had left Slough and settled at Collingwood, -near Hawkhurst, Kent, now the family residence.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f59'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r59'>59</a>. Every fool is pleased with his own cap.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f60'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r60'>60</a>. 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 <i>Hercules</i>, 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 <em>club</em> 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 <em>outshone</em> by your <em>labours</em>.”</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f61'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r61'>61</a>. He who first cries “Kick!” shall have the apple.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f62'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r62'>62</a>. The astronomers for ever!</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f63'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r63'>63</a>. Her 93rd birthday.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f64'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r64'>64</a>. Thank God.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f65'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r65'>65</a>. Railway.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f66'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r66'>66</a>. The fellow is a fool!</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f67'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r67'>67</a>. The days on which this periodical arrived are always noted in the Day-books.</p> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f68'> -<p class='c011'><a href='#r68'>68</a>. The inscription is given in the Appendix.</p> -</div> - -<div class='tnotes'> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='large'><b>Transcriber’s Note</b></span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c013'>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 <a href='#f21'>Footnote 21</a>; its placement has been -assumed. Further corrections are noted below:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>p. <a href='#unge'>91</a> Ungeshick -> Ungeschick</div> - <div class='line'>p. <a href='#gott'>125</a> Gottingen -> Göttingen</div> - <div class='line'>p. <a href='#like'>181</a> liknesses -> likenesses</div> - <div class='line'>p. <a href='#von'>212</a> Von -> von</div> - <div class='line'>p. <a href='#hersch'>226</a> Herchel's -> Herschel's</div> - <div class='line'>p. <a href='#except'>240</a> excpet -> except</div> - <div class='line'>p. <a href='#neb'>266</a> nebulæ -> nebula</div> - <div class='line'>p. <a href='#hohen'>304</a> Hohembaum -> Hohenbaum</div> - <div class='line'>p. <a href='#of'>312</a> to of the age -> to the age of</div> - <div class='line'>p. <a href='#four'>326</a> fouteeth -> fourteenth</div> - <div class='line'><a href='#common'>Footnote 18</a> ommon -> common</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -</div> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<hr class="full" /> -<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMOIR AND CORRESPONDENCE OF CAROLINE HERSCHEL***</p> -<p>******* This file should be named 52923-h.htm or 52923-h.zip *******</p> -<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> -<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/5/2/9/2/52923">http://www.gutenberg.org/5/2/9/2/52923</a></p> -<p> -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed.</p> - -<p>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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