258 Caroline Lucretia Herschcl. [1833. 



perusal of which I look forward as a solace during the time 

 you will be on your way far, far from us. But these 

 treasures cause me no little thinking about in whose hands 

 I shall leave them when I cannot see them any longer, but 

 cannot think of anyone I should like to leave them in pre- 

 ference to the Duke of Cambridge. 



I cannot find words which would express sufficient thanks 

 to my dear nephew for his last letter, every line of which 

 conveys a comfort. 



***** 



P.S. Dear Nephew, as soon as your instrument is erected 

 I wish you would see if there was not something remarkable 

 in the lower part of the Scorpion to be found, for I remem- 

 ber your father returned several nights and years to the 

 same spot, but could not satisfy himself about the uncom- 

 mon appearance of that part of the heavens. It was some- 

 thing more than a total absence of stars (I believe). But 

 you will have seen by the register that those lower parts 

 could only be marked half swept. I wish you health and 

 good success to all you undertake, and a happy return to a 

 peaceful home in old England. God bless you all ! 



TO THE SAME. 



Sept. 6, 1833. 



MY DEAR NIECE, 



Eight days are already gone since the arrival of your 

 dear letter of August 21st, and I can hardly muster up com- 

 posure enough at this moment to reply to it, because my 

 ideas are still, what they ever have been, more occupied 

 with future or past events than what passes immediately 

 about me. At present my thoughts are wholly fixed on the 

 . busy scenes with which you are at present surrounded, and 

 regretting that I am not with you to afford you any assis- 



