Part 3 (2/2)

”He was now frequently interrupted by visitors ere introduced by so whom I remember Sir HARRY ENGELFIELD, Dr BLAGDEN, and Dr MASKELYNE With the latter he was engaged in a long conversation, which to , and the first words one were: 'That is a devil of a fellow'

”I suppose their naotten; for it was not till the year 1782 or 1783 that a ht of””My brother now applied hiarden a stand for his twenty-foot telescope; many trials were necessary before the required motions for such an unwieldy machine could be contrived

Many attempts were made by way of experiment before an intended thirty-foot telescope could be co the observations with seven, ten, and twenty-foot, and writing papers for both the Royal and Bath Philosophical Societies), gauges, shapes, weight, etc, of the mirror were calculated, and trials of the co else and heard nothing else talked of but these things when ether ALEX was always very alert, assisting when anything neas going forward, but he wanted perseverance, and never liked to confine hiether And so it happened that ed to ues, tables, etc, and someti theue of CHRISTIAN MAYER, in Latin, which kept ht When I found that a hand was sometimes wanted when any particular measures were to be made with the lamp micrometer, etc, or a fire to be kept up, or a dish of coffee necessary during a long night's watching, I undertook with pleasure what others ht a hardshi+pSince the discovery of the _Georgiu or consequence left Bath before they had seen and conversed with its discoverer, and thought the him at home on their repeated visits Sir WILLIAM WATSON was almost an inti to communicate from the letters which he received from Sir JOSEPH BANKS, and other members of the Royal Society, from which it appeared that old medal The end of Nove hied so that they set out with the diligence at night, and by that means his absence did not last above three or four days, whenwith his father

”Now a very busy winter was coed himself to conduct the oratorios conjointly with RONZINI, and had ed perforh in the opinion of every one he had to deal with (He lost considerably by this arrangeh at times much harassed with business, the mirror for the thirty-foot reflector was never out of hisfro one the slip, he called at home to see how the men went on with the furnace, which was built in a rooarden

”The mirror was to be cast in a mould of loam, of which an immense quantity was to be pounded in a h a fine sieve It was an endless piece of work, and served me for many an hour's exercise; and ALEX frequently took his turn at it, for ere all eager to do so Even Sir WILLIAM WATSON would sometimes take the pestle from me when he found me in the work-room, where he expected to find his friend, in whose concerns he took soallowed to pay for the metal But I do not think my brother ever accepted pecuniary assistance from any one of his friends, and on this occasion he declined the offer by saying it was paid for already

”Aentlemen who used to frequent the levees at St James's, when in town Colonel WALSH, in particular, informed my brother that from a conversation he had had with His Majesty, it appeared that in the spring he was to co Sireat impression nor caused any interruption in his occupation or study, and as soon as the season for the concerts was over, and the , and the an to leak at the , and both ed to run out at opposite doors, for the stone flooring (which ought to have been taken up) flew about in all directions as high as the ceiling Before the second casting was atte which could insure success had been attended to, and a very perfect metal was found in the ement now took place, and nearly six or seven months elapsed before my brother could return to the undisturbed enjoy in Passion Week, as Sir WILLIAM WATSON ithjourney to town, ht the confirmation that his uncle was expected with his instruht in the week, except Friday, but as set apart for an oratorio either at Bath or Bristol Soon after Easter, a new organ being erected in St James's Church, it was opened with two perforain took up some of my brother's time”

In May of 1782 HERSCHEL went to London

”But when almost double the time had elapsed which my brother could safely be absent from his scholars, ALEX, as well as myself, were much at a loss how to answer their inquiries, for, fro but that he had been introduced to the king and queen, and had perha conversed with hi his absence at this ti letters ritten and received:

”DEAR LINA:--

”I have had an audience of His Majesty this racious reception I presented hi of the solar syste it to hio to Richmond, and ly carry it to-day So you see, LINA, that youme in less than a month I shall write to Miss LEE myself; and other scholars who inquire for me, you may tell that I cannot wait on theive me leave to return, or rather to dismiss me, for till then I must attend I will also write to Mr PALMER to acquaint hireat hurry, therefore can write nolooks very likely as if I were to stay here The king inquired after hiave me leave to come to hear the GRIESBACHS play at the private concert which he has every evening My having seen the king need not be kept a secret, but about , but only that I must remain here till His Majesty has observed the planets with my telescope

”Yesterday I dined with Colonel WALSH, who inquired after you There were Mr AUBERT and Dr MASKELYNE Dr MASKELYNE in public declared his obligations to h powers, for Mr AUBERT has so much succeeded with them that he says he looks down upon 200, 300, or 400 with conteins with 800 He has used 2,500 very completely, and seen , with the postscript and all, and are allowed to be very valuable You see, LINA, I tell you all these things You know vanity is not my foible, therefore I need not fear your censure Farewell

”I am, your affectionate brother,

”WM HERSCHEL

”Saturday Morning,

”probably _May 25, 1782_”

TO MISS HERSCHEL

”Monday Evening, _June 3, 1782_

”DEAR LINA:--

”I pass h, but am rather at a loss for work that I like Co, and I woulda speculu's concert to hear GEORGE play The king spoke to me as soon as he saw me, and kept me in conversation for half an hour He asked GEORGE to play a solo-concerto on purpose that I ht hear him; and GEORGE plays extre likes hi at Greenith Dr MASKELYNE and Mr

AUBERT We have coether, and mine was found very superior to any of the Royal Observatory Double stars which they could not see with their instruments I had the pleasure to show them very plainly, and my mechanism is so much approved of that Dr MASKELYNE has already ordered a model to be taken from mine, and a stand to be made by it to his reflector He is, however, now so ins to doubt whether it _deserves_ a new stand

”I am introduced to the best company To-morrow I dine at Lord PALMERSTON'S, next day with Sir JOSEPH BANKS, etc, etc A now is talked of but _what they call_ reat discoveries Alas! this sho far they are behind, when such trifles as I have seen and done are called _great_ Let ain! I will s--that is, I will endeavor to do so”