216 Mary Somerville. 



of the annular nebula in Lyra. I have sent drawings 

 of a few of these objects to the Royal Society, they 

 were forwarded a few days ago. We have upon the 

 whole as yet observed but little with the telescope of 

 3 feet aperture. You recollect Herschel said that it 

 was a good observing year, in which there were 100 

 hours fit for observing, and of the average of our hours 

 I have not employed above 30. We have been for the 

 last two years engaged in constructing a telescope of 

 6 feet aperture and 52 feet focus, and it would have 

 been impossible to have bestowed the necessary atten- 

 tion upon it had we made a business of observing. 

 That instrument is nearly finished}" and I hope it will 

 effect something for astronomy. The unequal refrac- 

 tion of the atmosphere will limit its powers, but how 



far remains to be ascertained Lady Rosse joins 



me in very kind remembrances and believe me to be, 

 Dear Mrs. Somerville, 



Yours very truly and ever, 



ROSSE. 



[Sir John Herschel wrote to my father from the 

 Cape : 



FROM SIR JOHN HERSCHEL TO MR. SOMERVILLE. 



FELDHAUSEN, NEAB WYNBEBO, C.G.H., July lltJi, 1830. 

 MY DEAR SOMERVILLE, 



Since our arrival here, I have, I know in many 

 instances, maintained or established the character of a 

 bad correspondent ; and realty it is not an inconvenient 

 character to have established. Only, in your case, I 



