CHAP, in.] Extracts from Diary. 115 



Feb. 19th. My nephew mending, but my brother not 

 well. 



Feb. 26^/i. My brother so ill that I was not allowed to 

 see him, and till March 8 his life was despaired of, and by 



Mar. lOt/t. I was permitted to see him, but only for two 

 or three minutes, for he is not allowed to speak. 



Mar. 22?irf. He went for the first time into his librarjv 

 but could only remain for a few moments. 



April 7th. I went to stay at Slough, my brother going 

 by short stages to Bath, Mrs. H., my nephew, and Miss 

 Baldwin with him. 



May 9th. My brother returned, nearly recovered, but 

 with a violent cold and cough caught on the journey. 



May 24#/i. I went to Slough to be with my brother till 

 the 31st. In fine nights observing ; working in the day- 

 time, and writing a paper on comets, filled up the time, 

 though neither my brother nor myself were well. 



Jane 7th. Was the Montem, of course much company. 



June I3th. I dined at the Castle to meet Lad}^ and Miss 



Banks, Mr. De Luc,* &c. 



# * # * * 



July 1st. Alexander arrived at Slough. Mem. We 

 received very distressing accounts from our brother at 

 Hanover. 



July 21s till 26^/i. My brother was absent, and I was 

 daily at work in the library. 



Sept. 5th. Alexander returned to Bath, leaving his bro- 

 ther far from well. The laborious exertions required for 

 the polishing of the forty-foot mirror, besides the overlook- 

 ing and directing the workmen out of doors, who were at 

 work on the repairs of the apparatus, during the month of 

 August, had again proved too much for him. 



* De Luc was a geologist of high reputation ; an ardent opponent of Hut- 

 tonian views. 



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