168 Caroline Lucretia Herschcl. [1823. 



FROM MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL, ESQ. 



HANOVER, July 14, 1823. 

 MY DEAREST NEPHEW, 



As a proof of my being still among the number of 

 the living, you will perhaps not dislike to see my own hand- 

 writing added to that of the three gentlemen who signed my 

 certificate. But I am at a loss for a subject which should 

 be interesting to you, because, hearing so seldom from you, 

 I begin to fear my correspondence may turn out to be 

 troublesome. But still I long to hear a little oftener that 

 you and your dear mother are well ; for since April eleventh 

 (date of Lady H.'s letter) I have had no assurance of the 



same on which I could depend. 



***** 



I wish often that I could see what you were doing, that I 

 might give you a caution (if necessaiy) not to overwork 

 yourself like your dear father did. I long to hear that the 

 forty-foot instrument is safely got down ; your father, and 

 Uncle A. too, have had many hair-breadth escapes from 

 being crushed by the taking in and out of the mirror ; but 

 God preserve you, my dear nephew, says 



Your most affectionate aunt, 



CAR. HERSCHEL. 



P.S. My brother and family join me in many compli- 

 ments to you and your dear mother. They are all well ; I 

 am the only one who is complaining, but I think I have a 

 right to that preference, for I am the oldest. 



FROM J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. 



DOWNING STREET, August 1, 1823. 

 DEAR AUNT, 



I have been long threatening to send you a long 

 letter, but have always been prevented by circumstances 



