54 Caroline Lucre tia Her sc fie 1. [i/ss. 



double stars with the same micrometers with which former 

 measures had been taken, and the small twenty-foot was 



given me for that purpose I had also to ascertain 



their places by a transit instrument lent for that purpose 

 by Mr. Dalrymple, but after many fruitless attempts it was 

 seen that the instrument was perhaps as much in fault as 

 my observations. 



Jidy 8. I began to use the new Newtonian small sweeper, 

 (for a description of this instrument see note to Neb. No. 1, 

 V. class, at the end of the catalogue of first 1000 Neb. and 

 Cl.), but it could hardly be expected that I should meet 

 with any comets in the part of the heavens where I swept, 

 for I generally chose my situation b}* the side of my bro- 

 ther's instrument, that I might be ready to run to the clock 

 or write down memorandums. In the beginning of Decem- 

 ber I became entirely attached to the writing-desk, and 

 had seldom an opportunity after that time of using my 

 newly-acquired instrument. 



My brother began his series of sweeps when the instru- 

 ment was yet in a very unfinished state, and my feelings 

 were not very comfortable when every moment I was 

 alarmed by a crack or fall, knowing him to be elevated 

 fifteen feet or more on a temporary cross-beam instead of a 

 safe gallery. The ladders had not eVen their braces at the 

 bottom ; and one night, in a very high wind, he had hardly 

 touched the ground before the whole apparatus came down. 

 Some labouring men were called up to help in extricating 

 the mirror, which was fortunately uninjured, but much work 

 was cut out for carpenters next day. 



That my fears of danger and accidents were not wholly 

 imaginary, I had an unlucky proof on the night of the 

 31st December. The evening had been cloudy, but about 

 ten o'clock a few stars became visible, and in the greatest 

 hurry all was got ready for observing. My brother, at the 



