CHAP, ii.] Life in Bath. 45 



except Friday, but what was 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 per- 

 formances of the * Messiah ;' this again took up some of my 

 brother's time 



.... The Tuesday after Whit Sunday, May 8th, my 

 brother left Bath to join Sir William Watson at his father's 

 in Lincoln's Inn Fields, furnished with everything necessary 

 for viewing double stars, of which the first catalogue had 

 just then appeared in the ' Philosophical Transactions.' A 

 new seven-foot stand and steps were made to go in a 

 moderate sized box, to be screwed together on the spot 

 where wanted. Flamsteed's Atlas, in which the stars had 

 during the winter been numbered, catalogues of double 

 stars, micrometers, tables, &c., and everything which could 

 facilitate reviewing objects, had been attended to in the pre- 

 paration for the journey. 



"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, from the letters we received, we could learn 

 nothing but that he had been introduced to the King and 

 Queen, and had permission to come to the concerts at 

 Buckingham House, where the King conversed with him 

 about astronomy." 



It was during his absence at this time that the three 

 following letters were written and received : 



DEAR LINA, 



I have had an audience of His Majesty this morn- 

 ing, and met with a very gracious reception. I presented 

 him with the drawing of the solar system, and had the 

 honour of explaining it to him and the Queen. My 



