20G Caroline Lucrctia Herschcl. [1S26. 



first that went after the 18th Aug. In the parcel I found 

 also the letter you wrote hefore leaving England, which I 

 concluded to have heen lost, but now all is safe. 



Sun and Comet. At Hanover totally cloud} r , and by what 

 I can leani from a certain astronomical gossip, Prof. Wild, 

 it has been so throughout all Germany, for he has had no 

 account that anything lias been seen on the 18th Nov. On 

 the 17th it is mentioned (in the Zeitungen, 1 believe) a large 

 spot on the sun to have been observed at Frankfort, but the 

 18th being cloudy it could not be pursued. 



In your observations with the tw r enty-foot you mention a 

 Mr. Ramage as having observed with you ; and in another 

 place 3 r ou speak of his twenty-five -foot reflector. Pray tell 

 me something about this gentleman, for I never heard his 

 name before, and if I had not been so fortunate as to have 

 seen Babbage and South just before I left England, I should 

 not now have the comfort 'to know you had so estimable 

 friends to communicate with ; and I shall rejoice to know 

 that the number of valuable men I have known, and are no 

 more, might be replaced by some who are worthy to be con- 

 temporary with the son of your father ! 



You ask, as it were, if I were satisfied with the way in 

 which you have mentioned me in that paper ? If I should 

 answer honestly I should say not quite, for you set too great 

 u value on what I have done, and by saying too much is say- 

 ing too little of my brother, for he did all. I was a mere tool 

 which JiC had the trouble of sharpening and to adapt for the 

 purpose he wanted it, for lack of a better. A little praise is 

 very comfortable, and I feel confident of having deserved it 

 for my patience and perseverance, but none for great abilities 

 or knowledge. But of this you will perhaps be a judge, as 

 I am now gathering from loose memorandums a little liistory 

 of my life during the years from 1772 to 1788 



