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_.

... 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.

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