40 Caroline Lucretia Herschel. [1775-1732. 



then proprietor of the Bath theatre) to be an ornament to 

 the stage. And as to acquitting myself in giving my songs 

 und recitatives in the 'Messiah,' 'Judas Maccabaeus,' &c., 

 I had the satisfaction of being complimented by my friends, 

 the Marchioness of Lothian, &c., who were present at 

 the rehearsals, for pronouncing my words like an English- 

 woman." 



It is evident that had she chosen to persevere, her 

 reputation as a singer would have been secure. The 

 following year she was first singer at the concerts, and 

 was offered an engagement for the Birmingham Festival, 

 which she declined, having resolved only to sing in 

 public where her brother was conductor. At this time 

 he had repeated proposals from London publishers to 

 bring out some of his vocal compositions, but with the 

 exception of " The Echo " catch, none of them ever 

 appeared in print. Besides the regular Sunday services, 

 concerts and oratorios had to be prepared for and per- 

 formed in steady routine, sometimes at Bristol also, 

 while the poor prima-donna-housekeeper " hobbled on " 

 with one dishonest servant after another, until Whit 

 Sunday, 1782, when both brother and sister played 

 and sung for the last time, in St. Margaret's Chapel. 

 On this occasion, their last performance in public, the 

 anthem selected for the day was one of the last com- 

 positions, of which mention has been made above. 



The name of William Herschel was fast becoming 

 famous, as a writer, a discoverer, and the possessor and 



