34 Caroline Lucrctia Herschcl. [1774-1775. 



Introductions to her brother's scholars led to occa- 

 sional evening parties, where her voice was in demand 

 as well for single songs as to take part in duets and 

 glees, and one of these ladies, Mrs. Colebrook, invited 

 her to go to London on a visit. This visit was 

 prolonged for several weeks owing to the deep snow, 

 which rendered the roads impassable. The Duchess of 

 Ancaster is said to have offered any sum to have a 

 passage cut near Devizes, but without success, her Grace 

 was in consequence unable to be present on the 1 8th 

 January, when the Queen's birthday was kept. Operas, 

 plays, auctions, and all the usual amusements of the 

 town, gave Miss Herschel a glimpse of the gay world ; 

 but the expense of dress and chairmen troubled her 

 spirit too much to allow of her finding pleasure in 

 these dissipations; and although Mrs. Colebrook is 

 allowed to be both " learned and clever," her society 

 does not appear to have contributed much more to 

 her happiness than that of some younger ladies whose 

 companionship was offered, but whose visits she did 

 not encourage, because, as she bluntly explains, she 

 " thought them very little better than idiots." 



" The tune when I could hope to receive a little more 

 of my brother's instmction and attention was now drawing 

 near; for after Easter, Bath becomes very empty; only a few of 

 his scholars whose families were resident in the neighbour- 

 hood remaining. But, I was greatly disappointed ; for, in 

 consequence of the harassing and fatiguing life he had led 



