Page:Memoir and correspondence of Caroline Herschel (1876).djvu/148

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124
Caroline Lucretia Herschel.
[1815-16.

hope it might not be true, le General said he had buried him himself at Paris, and had erected to him a little monument as long as seven years ago.

Sept. 20th.—I came to my home again, but under the greatest concern at being obliged to leave my brother without my little help. But I have since been with him every morning till he told me he should leave off. His strength is now, and has for the last two or three years not been equal to the labour required for polishing forty-foot mirrors. And it was only by little excursions and absence from his workrooms, he for some time recovered from the effects of over-exertion.

Nov. 15th.—I went to work with my brother, which chiefly consisted of calculations and constructing new tables for the Georgian satellites, &c., &c.

Nov. 29th.—Mrs. H. returned, and I continued calculating and copying at home. *****

Aug. llth.—Alexander left Slough, my eldest brother with him, going on to Dawlish to recruit his strength again. His declining health had a sad effect on Alexander's spirits, and I was in continual fear of the consequences; for nothing but the thoughts of the yearly meeting had till now kept up his spirits. From what is yet to follow, it will be seen that our next meeting was not only the last, but a very distressing one.

Sept. llth.—I went to be with my brother, and remained with him till the 12th of October. The first fortnight of my being with him he was not able to do anything which required strength. ***** *****

Jan. 2nd.—I was obliged to attend at Slough by eight