DISCOVERY OF SATELLITE OF SATURN 1 1 3 



although " large stars were a little affected with 

 scattered light, owing to many remaining scratches 

 in the mirror." 



Four years of hard thinking and continuous labour, 

 of battles with not very intelligent workmen, some- 

 times forty in number, and of disappointment with 

 himself, if not also with grumbling from his sister 

 Caroline, ended at last. A triumphant tone may be 

 heard in the words which conclude his short history of 

 the progress of the work. They are : 



"Aug. the 28th, 1789. Having brought the tele- 

 scope to the parallel of Saturn, I discovered a sixth 

 satellite of that planet, and also saw the spots upon 

 Saturn better than I had ever seen them before, so 

 that I may date the finishing of the 40- feet telescope 

 from that time." 



Herschel could now take stock of the " contents of 

 the heavens " as he had never been able to do before. 

 High above the ground, while the tube was coated 

 with ice in winter, or running with streams of 

 moisture in summer, he could dictate through speaking- 

 tubes what his sister was to write down, or how the 

 assistant was to move the telescope. Seated in a little 

 house far below, his sister watched the clock, and 

 entered remarks and measurements with an accuracy 

 and zeal no other assistant could have equalled or sur- 

 passed. Brother and sister were in a position to carry 

 out great ideas, and to put into living shape vast 

 imaginations of genius. 



The cost of this telescope was far more than 



Herschel could be expected to meet. Fortunately, the 



advisers of the King were more reasonable men than 



those who considered 200 a year remuneration enough 



8 



