CHAI-. vi.] Last Illness of Lady Herschel. 251 



very inconvenient hour for me, for I only begin to be alive 

 when other folks go to sleep). But no reception could be more 

 friendly. I was made take my place by her on the sofa, and 

 after some conversation, the little Princess Augusta was 

 called to tell me that she had seen you at Slough ; you had 

 shown her the telescope and described how it was moved by 

 the handle round about. I asked her if she had seen the 

 little girls. The Duchess explained that her call had been 

 unexpected, and regretted that she had not had an oppor- 

 tunity of coming to Slough herself. Then the Princess was 

 sent to call her father, whom I presented with your book, 

 and he went to fetch his spectacles, and was much pleased 

 with the subject, saying, " I shall read it, for I like such 

 things." After I had read the whole book myself mind, I 

 say the whole, though you recommended me to read only 

 the first and last chapters and knowing no one who is 

 worthy to look into it, I had it handsomely bound and 

 wrote in the top margin " To His Royal Highness, the 

 Duke of Cambridge." At the side of Sir Francis Bacon 

 stands "from " and in the margin at the bottom, " Caroline 

 Herschel, aunt of the author." By this means, I know it 

 secured from contamination in the Duke's library, where 

 anybody who is desirous of reading it will find it. 



December 26tk. 



MY DEAREST NIECE, 



So far I wrote last night, thinking to fill this page 

 to-day, with such news as I should like to communicate to 

 my nephew if he was present ; but now all is fled from my 

 memory, for my dear sister is ill, and perhaps still in danger, 

 and my only trust is in your goodness of sending me a 

 speedy account, which may confirm the hope you seem to 

 entertain of her recoveiy. For there is nothing I so 

 ardently desire as to be spared the pain of mourning for a 



