210 HERSCHEL AND HIS WORK 



prehended, its master appeared, a cheerful old man, 

 aged eighty-one. How unassumingly did he make 

 his communications ! How lightly did he ascend the 

 steps to the gallery ! With what calm pleasure did 

 he seem to enjoy the success of his efforts in life ! All 

 accounts from his native country appeared to please 

 him, although the German language had become 

 somewhat less familiar to his ear. After a short 

 conversation, we took our leave, charged with friendly 

 greetings to all beyond the sea, who might still remem- 

 ber him. 



" Herschel is unmarried, but his sister Caroline resides 

 with him, not only as a superintendent of his house- 

 hold, and support of his old age, but also as a partaker 

 of his studies. She has been his constant assistant 

 in his labours, and has made some discoveries herself, 

 among which were five comets in the years 1786, 

 1791, a dissertation on which she laid before the 

 Royal Society. Both of them enjoy the love and 

 esteem of all that approach them. 



"Herschel's earthly labour is now, I presume, at 

 an end, and the time cannot be far distant when we 

 shall be able to say of him, 



'Candidas consuetum miratur limen Olympi, 

 Sub pedibusque, nubes et sidera videt."' 



In terms of his appointment as King's Astronomer, 

 Herschel was bound to receive visitors sent from 

 Windsor Castle, and to explain to them his instruments, 

 as well as to act the part of showman of the heavens. 

 Probably this dangling at the heels of titled nothings 

 brought him money from the sale of telescopes, but it 

 was a tax on his time and strength, which his sister 



