CHAP, ii.] Removal from Datchet to Clay Hall. 57 



have time to make and sell telescopes. The King ordered 

 four ten-foot himself, and many seven-foot besides had been 

 bespoke, and much time had already been expended on 

 polishing the mirrors for the same. But all this was only 

 retarding the work of a thirty or forty-foot instrument, which 

 it was my brother's chief object to obtain as soon as possible ; 

 for he was then on the wrong side of forty-five, and felt how 

 great an injustice he would be doing to himself and to the 

 cause of Astronomy by giving up his time to making tele- 

 scopes for other observers. 



Sir William Watson, who often in the lifetime of his 

 father came to make some stay with us at Datchet, saw my 

 brother's difficulties, and expressed great dissatisfaction. 

 On his return to Bath he met among the visitors there 

 'several belonging to the Court (among the rest Mde. 

 Schwellenberg), to whom he gave his opinion concerning 

 his Mend and his situation very freely. In consequence of 

 this my brother had soon after, through Sir J. Banks, the 

 promise that 2000 would be granted for enabling him to 

 make himself an instrument. 



Immediately every preparation for beginning the great 

 work commenced. A very ingenious smith (Campion), who 

 was seeking employment, was secured by my brother, and 

 a temporary forge erected in an upstairs room. 



It soon became evident that the big, tumble-down 

 old house, which had been taken possession of with 

 such eagerness, would not do : the rain came through 

 the ceilings ; the damp situation brought on ague, and 

 in June the brother and sister left it for a place called 

 Clay Hall, Old Windsor. But here again unlooked-for 

 troubles arose in consequence of the landlady being a 



