. vii.] Anecdote of the Old Telescope. 309 



I will only thank you once more for your charming letter, 

 and beg to be kindly remembered to all who are dear to you, 

 and to give an embrace extraordinary to the dear little ones 

 around you, and not forgetting to include my dear nephew 

 in the general hug ! and believe me, 

 My dearest niece, 



Yours' and his most affectionate aunt, 



CAR. HERSCHEL. 



P.S. One anecdote of the old tube (if you have not 

 heard it) I must give you. Before the optical parts were 

 finished, many visitors had the curiosity to walk through it, 

 among the rest King George III., and the Archbishop of 

 Canterbury, following the King, and finding it difficult to pro- 

 ceed, the King turned to give him the hand, saying, " Come, 

 my Lord Bishop, I will show you the way to Heaven ! " 



This was in the year 1787, August 17th, when the King 

 and Queen, the Duke of York and some of the Princesses 

 Avere of the company. 



I hope the book Avhere the visitors were noted, has been 

 preserved ? Some time after it was kept by other hands ; 

 but before I parted with it, I copied some pages which put 

 me sometimes in mind of persons who were interesting to 

 me. 



These scribblings will come to you among the rest of 

 my scraps. Good-bye ! 



MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. 



HANOVER, Jan. 10, 1840. 

 MY DEAREST NIECE, 



***** 



.... For the last month past I have been so much 

 disturbed and fatigued by visitors who came to wish me a 

 happy New-year, &c., for I have of late gained the 



