CH.VP. v.] Astronomical. 171 



resting my waking thoughts and nightly dreams. I was 

 going to give you an idea of what they are ; but why should 

 I communicate grief? 



The paper for Gauss is gone to Gottingen. I have 

 directed it to Professor Harding, who is the next to Gauss 

 in the astronomical department, as Gauss is not j r et returned 

 from his journey of measurements. I made a few extracts 

 from the paper * by way of having something to be delighted 

 with, but am glad such a thing was not invented fifty years 

 ago, for then my existence would have been of no use at all 

 at all. 



I am amusing myself with having the seven-foot mounted 

 by Hohenbaum, though I have not even a prospect of a 

 window for a whole constellation, but it shall stand in my 

 room and be my monument as the foity-foot is yours. 

 When Hohenbaum comes for a trifling direction, we gene- 

 rally do not separate till dinner, or some other interruption 

 puts a stop to our conversation ; for this man is never tired 

 when speaking of your father's inventful imaginations and 

 the readiness with which everything was executed. 



I have not above six hours' tolerable ease out of the 

 twenty-four, and not one hour's sleep, and yet I wish to 

 live a little longer, that I might make you a more correct 

 catalogue of the 2,500 nebulae, which is not even begun, but 

 hope to be able to make it my next winter's amusement. 



I was much pleased with the partial success of Mr. Bab- 

 bage in having something granted towards going on with 

 his grand ideas. 



With many compliments and best wishes, &c., 

 Your most affectionate aunt, 



CAR. HERSCHEL. 



* The paper referred to is probably one on "The Aberrations of Compound 

 Lenses and Object Glasses," read at the Royal Society on the 22nd March, 1821. 



