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HERSCHEL. 
Wit.iAmM HeErscuet, one of the greatest astronomers 
that ever lived in any age or country, was born at Han- 
over, on the 15th of November, 1738. The name of 
Herschel has become too illustrious for people to neglect 
searching back, up the stream of time, to learn the social 
position of the families that have borne it. Yet the just 
curiosity of the learned world on this subject has not 
been entirely satisfied. We only know that Abraham 
Herschel, great-grandfather of the astronomer, resided at 
Miahren, whence he was expelled on account of his strong 
attachment to the Protestant faith; that Abraham’s son 
Isaac was a farmer in the vicinity of Leipzig; that Isaac’s 
eldest son, Jacob Herschel, resisted his father’s earnest 
desire to see him devote himself to agriculture, that he 
determined on being a musician, and settled at Hanover. 
Jacob Herschel, father of William, the astronomer, 
was an eminent musician; nor was he less remarkable 
for the good qualities of his heart and of his mind. His 
very limited means did not enable him to bestow a com- 
plete education on his family, consisting of six boys and 
four girls. But at least, by his care, his ten children all 
became excellent musicians. The eldest, Jacob, even ac- 
quired a rare degree of ability, which procured for him 
the appointment of Master of the Band in a Hanoverian | 
