250 Caroline Lucretia HerscheL [1832. 



me infinite pleasure to see that Babbage and Brewster have 

 also been honoured with notice. As for the news of my dear 

 nephew's appointment, she came too late, for on the 9th I 

 was honoured by a note written by the Duke of Cambridge's 

 own hands, informing me of it. 



MISS HERSCHEL TO SIR JOHN HERSCHEL. 



HANOVER, December 25, 1831. 



DEAREST NEPHEW, 



More than two months are elapsed since I was made 

 happy by your dear letter of October 15th .... I hope 

 that perhaps some good account is on its passage and may 

 reach me before the rivers are frozen up, as at this time of 

 the year the posts are often interrupted. 



I have of late been veiy little from home, except two 

 evenings in the week to the play, for I cannot walk the 

 streets without being led, as I cannot trust my eyes to avoid 

 obstacles, besides a total loss of strength ; so that the chief 

 connection I keep up with this world depends on what I by 

 imperfect glimpses can gather from the newspaper and a 

 little talk sometimes with Mrs. Beckedorff. But a few 

 weeks ago I exerted myself, fearing if I delayed much 

 longer I might not be able at all to pay my respects to our 

 good Duchess of Cambridge, and I wished to make good a 

 blunder I had committed two years ago, when I was con- 

 versing with her at the Landgrafin's for half an hour 

 together, taking her all the while to be an officer's lady, as 

 she came accompanied by her brother, the Prince of Hesse, 

 who wore a moustache. It is the case in general, that I 

 do not know my most intimate friends except by their 

 voices. I was, however, very much gratified by my visit. 

 A lady, who is in the habit of going to Court, left my name 

 along with her own with the lady-in-waiting, and the next 

 Sunday we were appointed to be there at half-past one (a 



