CHAP, vi.] Letter to her Nephew. 219 



from the conversation I had with him during the four years 

 between 1809 and 1813, when last in England, I found he 

 had not the least notion, or had purposely formed a very 

 erroneous one. 



But in the last hope of finding in Dietrich a brother to 

 whom I might communicate all my thoughts of past, pre- 

 sent, and future, I saw myself disappointed the very first 

 day of our travelling on land. For let me touch on what 

 topic I would, he maintained the contrary, which I soon 

 saw was done merely because he would allow no one to 

 know anything but himself. .... Of course, about these 

 papers I could never have any conversation with him nor 

 anybody else, and I send them to you for your perusal, 

 because I do not wish to keep them any longer, and you 

 may put them in the fire after having read them over. 

 Adieu, dear Nephew, believe me ever, 



Your most affectionate Aunt, 



CAR. HERSCHEL. 







MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL. 



Dec. 22, 1827. 



***** 



.... Of Dr. Olbers, I hear frequently through a sister 

 and niece here at Hanover; the last was that he was 

 lamenting at Captain Muller not having brought the paper 

 you had intended for him ; the poor man, I hear, is grown 

 corpulent and short-breathed, so that he cannot mount 

 up to his observatory without difficulty. 



I heard from Capt. Muller (what I had been thinking 

 before) that poor Encke has not changed his situation for 

 the better. I do not mean with regard to income, for I 

 believe his salary is four or five thousand thalers per year, 

 which is equal, or even more, than that of a Prime Minister ; 

 but he has no instruments. Much is promised, but he gets 



