Page:Hector Macpherson - Herschel (1919).djvu/39

Rh the existence of two new satellites of Saturn: and to the ringed planet he turned his great instrument on numerous occasions. But it was cumbersome and difficult to manipulate, and the speculum on which so much care had been bestowed preserved its original polish for no more than two years. In Herschel's later years, he rarely made use of it, although it remained standing until seventeen years after its maker's death. In 1839, it was dismantled by Sir John Herschel, and laid in a horizontal position, which it occupied for many years, until a falling tree destroyed all but ten feet of the tube.

The completion of the 40-foot was the climax of Herschel's career as a maker of telescopes. The fame of the great instrument spread over the world. Princes, dukes, and courtiers visited Slough in order to view one of the wonders of the age. Astronomers, too, came from all parts of the world—Lalande, Méchain, Legendre, Cassini from Paris, Oriani from Milan, Piazzi from Palermo, Sniadecki from Cracow. Slough became a place of pilgrimage, not only for astronomers, but also for large numbers who had only a slight interest in, or curiosity about, the science. Herschel did not abandon telescope-making altogether but it was not now so necessary for pecuniary reasons. On 8th May, 1788, Herschel was married to Mrs. Pitt, widow of John Pitt, Esq., and daughter of Mr. Adee Baldwin, a London merchant. Miss Burney, the novelist, has left on record her meeting with Herschel and his wife soon after the marriage. "His newly-married wife was with him, and his sister. His wife seems good-natured; she was rich, too! And astronomers are as able as other men to discern that gold can glitter as well as stars." Whether or not there is any ground for this hint as to a motive for Herschel's marriage, there can be no doubt that he was now relieved from all financial care. There can