HAP. vii.] Sir J . Herschel at Home again. 297 



been very inconvenient to him. To which may be added 

 the change of weather from excessive heat to very cold 

 and wet, to which at this present moment (as far as I know) 

 they are still exposed, for I think they must be now in 

 Hamburg 



SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. 



LONDON, Aug. 6, 1838. 

 MY DEAR AUNT, 



Willie and I arrived in London safe and hearty on 

 Friday night about eight o'clock, and I am happy to say we 

 found all here quite well both mamma and all the little 

 folks, who, as you may easily imagine, were in great joy, and 

 full of enquiries about you and about all our adventures in 

 foreign parts. Grandmamma Stewart, and all her circle 

 also, with exception of poor James S. (who is, however, 

 much better, and we hope permanently), are well, and join 

 us in kind enquiries after you. I found here my cousin, 

 Thomas Baldwin, and his excellent and most amiable wife. 

 Cousin Mary had left us, and was returned to Anstey. 



I found Dr. Olbers well, and have to thank you, in his 

 name, for the Cape wine, a bottle of which was produced at 

 dinner the day I dined there. I assure you it was drank in 

 good company, being associated (not mixed) with Hock of 

 240 years of age ! ! Dr. O. is weak and corpulent, but is 

 otherwise in the full enjoyment of his mental faculties, and 

 in good spirits. 



I could not persuade myself to encounter a regular parting 

 with you, and, in fact, I found the distance to Bremen so 

 much greater, on enquiry, than I had fancied it, that it was 

 necessary to leave Hanover at four a.m., which, of course, 

 prevented all further meeting. We shall be most anxious 

 to hear from you. M. will write in a day or two (and so 

 will the children) to thank you for all your kind remem- 



