CHAP, vi.] On her Diary. 233 



of mine where I have twice this summer refused an in- 

 vitation. 



So, God bless you, my dearest nephew, and he assured 

 of my affectionate regard. 



C. HERSCHEL. 



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



LONDON, Dec. 9, 1828. 

 MY DEAR AUNT, 



I received your most valuable diary and all the papers 

 you sent me by Mr. Goltermami quite safe, and I most sin- 

 cerely thank you for them. You speak of " exposing your- 

 self " by presenting them to me, but I am so far from con- 

 sidering it in that light, that I feel proud to possess them, 

 and if anything could increase the regard and esteem I 

 entertain for their writer, it would have been their perusal. 

 Your promised Christmas " scraps and lucubrations " will 

 not be less welcome. 



The Journals also came safe and well to hand, but in the 

 series you have sent me I cannot find that for December, 

 1827, which prevents my binding up the set. If you can 

 procure this and enclose it with the next, I shall be very 

 glad. 



I trust to my cousin Mary for telling you all the news of 

 family matters. Astronomy goes on pretty well. My 

 sweeps accumulate. I am very sorry that anything I said 

 should have put you out of humour with the medal, which 

 was a well-merited distinction, and so far as the Astrono- 

 mical Society is concerned, most honourably conferred. All 

 voices are agreed on that, and on the propriety of the 

 thing, so pray don't suffer yourself to be put out of conceit 

 with it by my nonsense, which after all only went to the 

 manner, not the matter. Our friend S. means well, but 

 Avants discretion. 



