iv.] Extracts from Diary. 131 



the other. I have much to do and can do but little beyond 

 going daily to my brother, and often we are both unable to 

 look about business. The present hot weather bears hard 

 on enfeebled constitutions. Thermometer most days above 

 80 degrees. 



Oct. 15th. I went to my brother, his family being in town. 



Oct. 29th. I returned to my home. 



A small slip of yellow paper, containing the follow- 

 ing lines, traced by a tremulously feeble hand, belongs 

 to this year : 



" LINA, There is a great comet. I want you to assist 

 me. Come to dine and spend the day here. If you can 

 come soon after one o'clock we shall have time to prepare 

 maps and telescopes. I saw its situation last night it has 

 a long tail." 



July 4tk, 1819. 



Then follows : 



" I keep this as a relic ! Every line now traced by the 

 hand of my dear brother becomes a treasure to me. 



" C. HERSCHEL." 

 \ 



The next year opens, as so many previous ones have 

 done. The bare facts of the steadily narrowing life 

 being set down with the same brevity and unswerving 

 attention to the one object. The family was in much 

 anxiety on account of the failing health of Mrs. Beck- 

 with, the niece of Lady Herschel, of whom, as Miss 

 Baldwin, frequent mention has been made. The spring 

 and summer were passed in taking the sufferer to dif- 



K 2 



