CHAPTER. VII.
CLOSING YEARS.
By the beginning of the nineteenth century, Herschel's extraordinary activity began somewhat to abate. Not that his mind had become less acute, or his interest in astronomy less marked. But it was physically impossible for any man to maintain the standard of activity which had been his for thirty years. He had now completed his comprehensive surveys of the heavens, and accordingly his studies became more and more specialised. The Sun and Saturn, the newly-discovered asteroids, and several comets, and last but not least, his experiments on light, occupied more and more of his time. But he now allowed himself intervals of rest between his investigations; he found more time for music, always one of his chief delights, and in addition he gave himself more opportunities for holidays. In July, 1801, accompanied by his wife and his son John, then a lad of nine, he visited Paris. Here he made the acquaintance of Laplace, with whom he had many important conversations, and was introduced to Napoleon, then First Consul. At 7 o'clock on 8th August the Minister of the Interior conducted Herschel, along with Laplace and Count Rumford, to Napoleon's palace at Malmaison. Herschel records in his journal that the First Consul, who met the party in the garden, politely put some questions on astronomical subjects. It was reported at the time that Napoleon's astronomical knowledge had astonished Herschel. Such was apparently not the case. Twelve
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