CHAP, v.] Settled in Hanover. 159 



FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. 



HANOVER, Dec. 18, 1822. 



MY DEAR LADY HERSCHEL, 



At last I am enabled to inform you of the safe arrival 

 of my boxes and trunks, which only came the day before 

 yesterday, and then I was obliged to wait till the keys were 

 sent by to-day's post, but I have the satisfaction to find 

 that every article is exactly as I had packed them with my 

 own hands. For the last three weeks, I was despairing 

 of ever seeing them again, for the vessel had been no 

 less than three weeks at sea, and then had been obliged to 

 unload six German miles beyond Bremen for want of water 

 in the Weser. The country is in general much distressed 

 for want of water ; our large rivers may be passed on foot, 

 &c. But of these things you are perhaps informed by the 

 .newspapers, and of many other circumstances ; such as the 

 mice eating the corn as soon as sowed, so that sowing it 

 three times over was without effect, till the mice were 

 destroyed by a pest coming among them. 



I would give anything if I at this moment could see with 

 my own eyes how you and my dear nephew are ; tell him 

 that on the clay after Christmas (Dec. 26th) the messenger 

 will leave Hanover, and will take the book for Mr. Babbage, 

 and one in two volumes for my nephew ; also two or three 

 letters of his father's which I have found among some papers 

 of my brother Alex. 



I know not if I mentioned it in my last that I selected all 

 his last receipts when he left England, and shall keep them 

 yet a little longer. 



As yet I lead but a dull sort of life ; the town is much 

 too gay for me plays, concerts, card parties, walking, &c. 

 I cannot take part in any; my cold in my head is still very 

 bad, and my poor brother is frequently unwell, and for want 



