xxiii 



" I can't go on." He sat down next to Herschel, and another paper was 

 proceeded with ; but Herschel after a little began to whisper to him : at 

 first, in his agony of confusion, he seemed not to hear ; but Herschel per- 

 severed, asked what his views were, spoke well of them, and, as his coun- 

 tenance brightened, asked leave to look over his paper, and having done 

 so, encouraged him to bring it forward next day. But for this wise kind- 

 ness that man might have relapsed into obscurity ; but, as it was, he became 

 ultimately a Fellow of our Society, and one of the highest authorities in a 

 very important branch of mechanical engineering. 



Herschel married Miss Stewart in 1829, and had a large family, of whom 

 two sons are well known to us — Professor Alexander by his study of Me- 

 teorites, and Captain John, attached to the Indian Survey, distinguished 

 by spectroscopic observations of the sun and other heavenly bodies. 



He was created a Baronet in 1838. In 1850 he, as Newton before him, 

 was appointed Master of the Mint. That establishment was undergoing 

 an important change, its emancipation from the old Corporation of 

 Moneyers ; and the whole of its reorganization devolved on him. He also 

 introduced an important check, which, however, has been discontinued since 

 his successor's death. The official assays were controled by others, made 

 by two unofficial chemists, those whom he employed being Graham and 

 Allen Miller. This office his failing health obliged him to resign after 

 five years. 



He was a President of the British Association and of the Astronomical 

 Society. In 1855 he was nominated one of the eight foreign Associates 

 of the French Academy of Sciences, and was a member of almost every 

 Philosophical or Literary Society of Europe. 



His mind continued as clear and active as ever to the very last. He 

 died on the 11th of May, 1871, and he was buried in Westminster Abbey 

 by the side of Newton. — T. R. R. 



