456 Sir George H. Danvin [April 26, 



King's meanness ; but I think this was hardly fair. It must have 

 been well known that Herschel had deserted from the Hanoverian 

 Guards, and while the King might consent to forget this, it was a 

 strong measure to take the deserter into his service. At a later date, 

 moreover, when the King was informed by Sir Joseph Banks of 

 Herschel's financial difficulties, he granted him £2000, afterwards 

 increased to £4000, for the construction of the great 40-ft. telescope, 

 with the condition that he should retain it for his own use. To 

 this was added a further £200 a year for maintenance, and a pension 

 of £50 a year to Caroline Herschel. And besides he was allowed to 

 make specula for sale, and half the observatories of Europe were so 

 furnished by him at prices which were then thought considerable. 



At any rate Herschel jumped at the offer, which, by relieving him 

 from his musical slavery, allowed him to follow the wish of his life. 

 The Herschels then came to the neighbourhood of AVindsor, and after 

 several removals they finally settled at Slough. The change was de- 

 lightful for him, since he now had space for his telescopes and work- 

 shops, but the difficulties of housekeeping in arambling and dilapidated 

 house rendered the change somewhat less agreeable to his sister. 



The closeness to AYindsor was perhaps a necessity of the case, but 

 it had its disadvantages, since he was frequently summoned to take his 

 telescope to "Windsor, or large parties from the Castle would visit him 

 at his house in order to see the wonders of the heavens. When his 

 time had been wasted in this way he would make up for the loss by 

 redoubled labour. 



The fury, as I may call it, with which they worked may be gathered 

 from Caroline's journal, and the work was not free from danger, be- 

 cause in his eagerness Herschel would not always delay his obser\'a- 

 tions until the telescope was properly fixed. To stand in the dark on 

 a platform without a railing, when your attention is distracted from 

 your position, cannot be very safe, and they both met with a good 

 many accidents which might easily have proved fatal. 



The incessant work, together with the interruptions by the visitors 

 from the Castle, began at length to tell on Herchel's health. His 

 sister notes that on the 14th of October, 1806, after working all day, 

 he was out from sunset till past midnight surrounded by fifty or sixty 

 persons, without food or proper clothing, and that he never seemed to 

 recover completely from this great strain on his strength. 



But I have passed by an event of importance in the lives of both 

 brother and sister, for in 178o he married Mrs. Pitt, a lady of 

 singularly amiable and gentle character. To the sister, however, the 

 marriage was a great blow, for, although she continued to be his 

 secretary and assistant, she moved into neighbouring lodgings, and 

 was no longer so closely associated with him as theretofore. Mrs. 

 John Herschel writes : " It is not to be supposed that a nature so 

 strong and a heart so affectionate should accept the new state of 

 things without much and bitter suffering," and tradition confirms 



