labour," and "an extraordinary monument of the unextinguished ardour of a lady of seventy-five in the cause of abstract science."
Although the Recollections cease in 1788, there are some volumes recording the nature and results of her nightly "sweepings," which Miss Herschel kept very regularly, and, as an unique example of a lady's journal, a few of the entries may be of interest.
***** Dec. 8th.—I swept for a comet which was announced in the papers as having been discovered the 26th of November by Mr. Messier. According to the observations of that date, it should have been within a few degrees of the Pole star (by my brother's calculation), but though I swept with great attention a space of at least ten or twelve degrees all around the pole over repeatedly, I could find nothing.
Another night of unavailing search, with thermometer 20°.[1]
1790. Jan. 7th.—I have swept all this evening for my [third] comet in vain. My brother showed me the G. Sidus in the twenty-foot telescope, and I saw both its satellites very plainly.
1791. Aug. 2nd.—I began to sweep at 1.30, from the- ↑ It was not an unknown circumstance for the ink to freeze while she was attending to take down her brother's observations.
