Page:Hector Macpherson - Herschel (1919).djvu/37

Rh actively employed systematising his observations and coordinating his results, which appeared in the long series of papers contributed to the "Philosophical Transactions" of the Royal Society—collected and published in two volumes in 1912.

It soon became apparent that the work of making telescopes for other observers, though lucrative, was in many respects a waste of time. Herschel had long contemplated the construction of a very large telescope, but this was impossible so long as his spare time was given to the manufacture of smaller instruments, the great majority of which passed into the possession of royal or aristocratic dabblers in astronomy and were practically mere ornaments. A few, however, were supplied to continental astronomers. With a 7-foot, Schröter, the German astronomer, practically inaugurated the systematic study of the Moon's surface.

Caroline Herschel notes that it was her brother's chief object at this time to construct a 30 or 40-foot instrument, "for he was then on the wrong side of forty-five and felt how great an injustice he would be doing to himself and to the cause of astronomy by giving up his time to making telescopes for other observers". But nothing could be done without a grant from the King; Herschel could not bear the expense of constructing a great telescope for himself. After some preliminary spade-work had been done in the proper quarters by his life-long friend, Sir William Watson, Herschel requested Sir Joseph Banks, President of the Royal Society, to make application for a grant from the King. In September, 1785, a grant of £2000 was made, and preparations for the making of the instrument were at once begun. Two years later a second sum of £2000 was granted, and in addition Herschel received, over and above his salary, £200 per annum for the up-keep of the telescope; while a salary of £50 a year was bestowed on Caroline Herschel as her brother's assistant. By this time her name was