Page:Memoir and correspondence of Caroline Herschel (1876).djvu/145

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Chap. IV.]
Extracts from Diary.
121

Herschel and Miss Baldwin followed my nephew to Cambridge to assist him in settling his occasional residence there. ***** *****

May 3rd.—I intended to pay a long-promised visit to Mrs. Goltermann, but found my brother too busy with putting the forty-foot mirror in the tube, the carriage having broke down between the polishing-room and the tube. Therefore I postponed my journey till I was sure I should not be wanted at home.

May 10th.—I went to London, and met with a friendly reception at Mrs. Goltermann's.

May llth.—I went with Mrs. G. and a Mrs. Kramer to Kensington. I remained with Miss Wilson whilst they paid a charitable visit to the two ladies attendant on the Duchess of Brunswick, who were left in a very distressed situation by the death of their mistress.

The evening we spent at Buckingham House with Mrs. Beckedorff.

May 12th.—The forenoon and early part of the afternoon were spent in shopping and visiting, the evening again at Buckingham House, where I just arrived as the Queen and Princesses Elizabeth and Mary, and the Princess Sophia Mathilda of Gloucester, were ready to step into their chairs going to Carlton House, full dressed for a fete, and meeting me and Mrs. Goltermann in the hall, they stopped for near ten minutes, making each in their turn the kindest enquiries how I liked London, &c., &c.

On entering Mrs. Beckedorffs room I found Madame D'Arblay (Miss Burney), and we spent a very pleasant evening.

May 15th.—I went to the Exhibition; the evening at Baron Best's, where I met the Beckedorffs. On my return home I found a letter from my brother with Sir William