260 HERSCHEL. 



Smith. This treatise, either explicitly or implicitly, sup- 

 posed the reader to possess some knowledge of algebra 

 and of geometry, which Herschel did not possess, but of 

 wl ' i himself master in a very short time. 



\terschel obtained the appointment of organ- 

 igon Chapel at Bath. This was a more 



/st than that of Halifax, but new obligations 



' ^D 



.ved on the able pianist. He had to play inces- 



either at the Oratorios, or in the rooms at the 



WILT at the theatre, and in the public concerts. Then, 



that a g immersed in the most fashionable circle in England. 



ovejerschel could no longer refuse the numerous pupils who 



Hei^bftd to be instructed in his school. It is difficult to 



searc ]j;ne how, among so many duties, so many distractions 



posiyarious kinds, Herschel could continue so many studies, 



ci.vhich already at Halifax had required in him so much 



bresolution, so much perseverance, and a very uncommon 



Hlegree of talent. We have already seen that it was by 



Miusic that Herschel was led to mathematics ; mathe- 



amatics in their turn led him to optics, the principal and 



Lertile source of his illustrious career. The hour finally 



entruck, when his theoretic knowledge was to guide the 



clyoung musician into a laborious application of principles 



cquite foreign to his habits ; and the brilliant success of 



which, as well as their excessive hardihood, will excite 



reasonable astonishment. 



fui ^ telescope, a simple telescope, only two English feet 

 very ngth, falls into the hands of Herschel during his 

 plete tice at Bath. This instrument, however imperfect, 

 four ginim a multitude of stars in the sky that the naked 

 becamenot discern ; shows him also some of the known 

 quired but now under their true dimensions ; reveals 

 the app him that the richest imaginations of antiquity 



