226 Miscellanies. 
“ Ramage, about 1820, constructed telescopes of 15 inches diameter 
and 25 feet focal length—they were Lemairans. One of them was 
many years in the court-yard of the Royal Observatory of Greenwich, 
where its performance was much taunted. At the request of my late 
friend, Dr. Wollaston, | examined it whilst it was there. Sir J. Her- 
schel accompanied me, and with an aperture beyond 7 inches it was 
good for nothing. It has, 1 am told, recently been purchased for the 
Observatory of Glasgow. 
“From the late Earl of Stanhope’s endeavors, all who knew him 
expected much,—for some 30 years before his decease he occupied 
himself very much in endeavoring to produce large reflecting telescopes. 
Although, however, he was a sound mathematician, and a most power- 
ful mechanic, his failure was complete. After his decease, his manu- 
scripts on scientific subjects having become the property of the Royal 
Institution, I thought that even the errors of such a man must be instruc- 
tive ; | have therefore recently waded through all that relate to the 
manufacture of reflecting telescopes, and I think there isscarcely amongst — 
them a single hint which is worth remembering. 
‘“* Having dwelt so long on the telescope itself, I have only space to 
say that the mechanism for using it is worthy of the telescope and of 
him who made it. All appertaining to the telescope, except its prin- 
ciple, is original. ‘The only master who might have left something like 
a copy for imitation was Sir W. Herschel—for any information, how- 
ever, which the Earl of Rosse, or any one else, except his son, (who 
has for nearly a quarter of a century kept it to himself,) has derived 
from Sir W. Herschel’s experience in making large telescopes, Sir 
William might as well never have been born. Information which 
might have been in the highest degree important if communicated to the 
world at a proper season, can now, thanks to Providence for having 
given us the Earl of Rosse, who is openness itself, (for his own fame, 
perhaps, even to a fault,) be easily dispensed with; whilst a hint is 
given to those who, like Short and Sir W. Herschel, kept their secrets 
even unto death, that others will succeed them, the success of whose 
energies, industry and talents will most assuredly eclipse theirs; and 
who, by following conduct as generous as theirs was selfish, will be 
regarded as benefactors to mankind. 
‘“‘ Far be it from me to say a disrespectful word of the late Sir W. 
Herschel. Whilst he lived, I loved him; now dead, I venerate his 
memory—nay, I respect the very ground he worked on; his integrity as 
aman and as an observer | implicitly confide in. I cannot, however, 
refrain from saying, that if it be true that the 6th and 7th satellites of 
Saturn were not discovered by the 40 feet telescope made by him at 
the expense of George III, as from his own words, found in the Philo- 
