HERSCHEL THE PIONEER. 13 



royalties to Windsor, often after a whole day's 

 work, when rest was absolutely necessary. This 

 tremendous strain, which reflects little credit on 

 the Court, proved too much for the old man. 

 His health began to give way, although his 

 mind was as vigorous as ever. 



Herschel contributed his last paper to the 

 Royal Society in 1818, and three years later 

 sent a list of double stars to the new Astro- 

 nomical Society. He made his last observation 

 on June 1, 1821. His strength had now left 

 him, and to this he could not reconcile himself. 

 As Miss Clerke puts it, "All his old instincts 

 were still alive, only the bodily power to carry 

 out their behests was gone. An unparalleled 

 career of achievement left him unsatisfied with 

 what he had done. . . . His strong nerves 

 were at last shattered." After a prolonged 

 period of failing health he died at Slough, at 

 the age of eighty-three, on August 25, 1822. 

 On September 7 he was buried in the church- 

 yard of St Laurence at Upton. On his tomb- 

 stone are engraved the words " Ccelorum perru- 

 pit claustra" he broke through the barriers of 

 the skies. 



The death of her brother was a terrible blow 

 to Caroline Herschel. Expecting to live only 

 a twelvemonth, she returned to Hanover to 



