.HAP. in.] . Letters from Astronomers. 89 



REV. DR. MASKELYNE TO MISS HERSCHEL. 



GREENWICH, April 22, 1790. 

 DEAR Miss HERSCHEL, 



* If I misunderstand anything I shall be obliged 

 to you for an explanation. The weather has not permitted 

 , me to see anything of the comet yet, but it seems now 

 mending, and I hope to be able to make something of it to- 

 morrow morning. Your second communication, at the same 

 time that it gives me fresh spirits as to the certaintj' of its 

 being a comet, will certainly assist me in more readily 

 finding it. I feared that your using your new telescope 

 might make that a bright comet to you which might prove 

 but a very faint one, if at all visible, in a common night- 

 glass, which is what we first use to discover a comet with. 

 As soon as I shall have seen it I will send you a line. I 

 sent intelligence >of your discover}^ to M. Mechain, at Paris, 

 last Tuesday, and will send to him your farther communica- 

 tion next Friday. Mr. Maskelyne joins me in best compli- 

 ments to yourself and Mrs. Herschel, and Dr. Herschel on 

 . his return. Dr. Shepherd sent advice of it from me last Tues- 

 day to the Master of Trinitj 7 ', at Cambridge, who perhaps 

 may convey the agreeable intelligence to your brother. 

 I remain, dear Miss Herschel, 

 My worthy sister in astronomy, 



Your faithful and obliged humble servant, 



N. MASKELYNE. 



J. DE LA LANDE TO CAROLINE HERSCHEL. 



RUE COLLEGE ROYAL, le 12 Juillet, 1790. 

 MA CHERE ET SAVANTE CoMMERE, 



J'ai re^u avec la plus delicieuse satisfaction la premiere 



