CHAP, vi.] Letters. 232 



known among them. Besides, as in December our concerts 

 begin, where the Duke of Cambridge, on seeing me, gene- 

 rally makes some inquiry after my nephew and family, and 

 what is going on in the philosophical world, one does not 

 always like to stand with one's mouth open, or to say I 

 cannot tell ! . . . . 



Mrs. and Miss Beckedorff send their kind love 



Mr. Q., 63, he owns himself, marries a young lady in her 

 teens, but she owns 23 ; she could not withstand his pretty 

 equipage. He is grown very old and nasty, and good for 

 nothing but to injure his children and grand- children. 

 God be with you, my dear Lady H. 



Believe me your most affectionate sister, 



C. HERSCHEL. 



TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL, ESQ. 



HANOVEB, January 11, 1830. 

 MY DEAREST NEPHEW, 



I am sorry it was not in my power to send a letter 

 by way of announcing the Journals, &c., which you will, I 

 hope, receive soon by the messenger who left Hanover the 

 27th of December. I have been very ill and confined to 

 my room now three weeks, but it seems der Wurg Engel* ist 

 noch einmal voruber gegangen, at which I am very glad, 

 because I wish to be a little better prepared for making my 

 exit than I am at present. 



I intend to amuse myself between this and Easter with 

 collecting and packing up those books which were to be 

 sent to you after my death, and perhaps if I have withstood 

 this terrible winter I may have the pleasure of hearing that 

 you have received them safe, and live in the enjoyment of a 

 few months more, in which I hope to hear of the happy 

 increase to your family, and prosperity in general. 



So I am to be godmother ! with all my heart ! I am now 



* The Destroying Angel has once more passed by. 



