44 HERSCHEL AND HIS WORK 



oratorios even at Bristol, was a favourite at Court, 

 and was famous throughout Europe. Truly it may U 

 said to Herschel what the passing traveller said to 

 Archytas, 



" Nee quidquam tibi prodest 

 Acriaa tentaase domoe aiiiiii'.|ur rotund tun 

 PercurrisBe polum morituro." 



Still, there can be no doubt that his disco v< riee l"-came 

 the talk of London and tin- world. IVrli 

 many a British patriot, in indignant condemnation 

 of the folly and tyranny which alienated the Unit.,1 

 States of America from the parent stock, was echoing 

 the words of Horace Walpole, "Mr. Herscln -1 will 

 content me if he can discover thirteen provij 

 among his twenty millions of worlds, " well inhabited 

 by men and women, and protected by the law of 

 nations, and can annex them to the crown of Great 

 Britain, in lieu of those it has lost beyond the 

 Atlantic." l 



1 Letters, vi. 258. On Hcreclicl's lire in England, and especially in 

 Ball), see Ap)>endix. 



