Page:Memoir and correspondence of Caroline Herschel (1876).djvu/195

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Chap. V.]
Astronomical.
171

resting my waking thoughts and nightly dreams. I was going to give you an idea of what they are; but why should I communicate grief?

The paper for Gauss is gone to Göttingen. I have directed it to Professor Harding, who is the next to Gauss in the astronomical department, as Gauss is not yet returned from his journey of measurements. I made a few extracts from the paper[1] by way of having something to be delighted with, hut am glad such a thing was not invented fifty years ago, for then my existence would have been of no use at all at all.

I am amusing myself with having the seven-foot mounted by Hohenbaum, though I have not even a prospect of a window for a whole constellation, but it shall stand in my room and be my monument—as the forty-foot is yours. When Hohenbaum comes for a trifling direction, we generally do not separate till dinner, or some other interruption puts a stop to our conversation; for this man is never tired when speaking of your father's inventful imaginations and the readiness with which everything was executed.

I have not above six hours' tolerable ease out of the twenty-four, and not one hour's sleep, and yet I wish to live a little longer, that I might make you a more correct catalogue of the 2,500 nebulæ, which is not even begun, but hope to be able to make it my next winter's amusement.

I was much pleased with the partial success of Mr. Babbage in having something granted towards going on with his grand ideas.

With many compliments and best wishes, &c.,
Your most affectionate aunt,
Car. Herschel.

  1. The paper referred to is probably one on "The Aberrations of Compound Lenses and Object Glasses," read at the Royal Society on the 22nd March, 1821.