CHAP, vii.] Her Ninety -first Birthday; 319 



sent her companion, a Mademoiselle H., and a sister, to 

 keep me company till ten o'clock. With difficohy, and the 

 help of Betty, I got into bed, but could get no sleep, nor 

 the whole day after. 



MISS HERSCHEL TO LADY HERSCHEL. 



HANOVER, July 31, 1841. 

 MY DEAREST NIECE, 



If it was not that I ought to thank you for your kind 

 letter of June 9th, I should perhaps not have now the spirit 

 to take up the pen ; but your letters always, especially the 

 last, contain, besides the many consoling expressions, such 

 very interesting information, that I would not for the world 

 risk to lose the monthly sight of your dear handwriting, by 

 omitting to return at least my grateful thanks for your kind 

 communications of what the present philosophers are about. 



I think I can form some idea of the author of the book 

 on philosophy (and godfather of our little Amelia), from 

 what I recollect to have read some years past in some 

 quarterly publication by a Mr. Whewell, in defence of Sir 

 Isaac Newton. In short, it met with my approbation ! 

 There is for you ! What do you say to that ? 



I do not wish to write in what my dear brother William 

 used to call a Dick Doleful style, when our brother Alex- 

 ander was in the dismals, and out of which we often suc- 

 ceeded in laughing him. But I cannot just now turn to 

 anything of a cheering nature, for yesterday, the 30th, our 

 Queen died, and I have been very unwell in consequence of 

 the violent change in the weather 



The following letter refers to the intended removal 

 of Sir J. Herschel and his family to Collingwood, 

 which he had purchased : 



