310 Caroline Lucretia HerscheL [1840. 



acquaintance of half a dozen ladies, added to two who were 

 in the habit of visiting me between the hours of twelve at 

 noon and six or seven in the evening ; (for the first two or 

 three hours, after having passed a sleepless night, I am 

 obliged to spend in the manner as perhaps you may have 

 seen Lord Ogleby did in The Clandestine Marriage). 



But now, from seven to eight till between eleven and 

 twelve, I am left to amuse nryself as well as I may, but it is 

 no easy task to tum books into companions by one who has 

 no eyes left ; but there is no help for it. There is neither 

 man, woman, nor child in Hanover to be found but they 

 must spend the evening at balls, plays, routs, clubs, &c., 

 and not a month goes over one's head without a jubilee 

 being celebrated at enormous expense to someone who has 

 fifty years enjoyed title and salaries for doing his duty (any- 

 how, perhaps). 



But what a contrast between a jubilee auf der Borse * at 

 Hanover arid the one at Slough, t described in your letter 

 with which I was made happy January 4th. The company 

 so select for I figure to myself none but angels from above 

 were listening to, and joining their kindred in the choruK 

 below ! . . . . Before I take leave of this jubilee I must 

 beg the excellent poet of the song to accept my hearty 

 thanks for remembering me so kindly in verse 4, and for not 

 letting the poor forty-foot telescope t depart in silence. 



* On the Exchange. 



t The whole family party assembled at Christmas in the tube of the great 

 telescope, and sang a ballad composed for the occasion. 



J "The telescope, as you know, is laid on three stone piers horizontally. 

 It will be fresh painted to-morrow, and afterwards every three or four year.s, 

 as it wants it, and it looks very well. The observatory will remain nearly as 

 it is. The apparatus of the telescope is inside of the tube, and will be riveted 

 up from all intruders. And all the polishing apparatus is fixed on the spot," 

 Letter of Sir John Herschcl, Feb. 28, 1840. 



The great mirror is now put up in the hall of the house "Herschels" at 



