Page:Hector Macpherson - Herschel (1919).djvu/68

62 years later, in conversation with the poet Campbell, Herschel contradicted this report. "No," he said, "the First Consul did surprise me by his quickness and versatility on all subjects, but in science he seemed to know little more than any well-educated gentleman, and of astronomy much less, for instance, than our own King. His general air was something like affecting to know more than he did know. I remarked his hypocrisy in concluding the conversation on astronomy by observing how all these glorious views gave proofs of an Almighty wisdom." With his keen, quick intuition, Herschel perceived the incongruity of the man of overweening pride and vainglory taking the Divine name upon his lips and simulating a mock piety. The chief result of Herschel's visit to Paris was his election in 1802 as one of the eight foreign associates of the French Institute.

Summer holidays were usually spent at Dawlish, with his lifelong friend, Sir William Watson, and at Tunbridge Wells, Brighton, and Ramsgate. Nevertheless, his health began to fail by gradual stages. His duties as King's Astronomer, nominal so far as scientific work was concerned, were somewhat exacting, and as he grew older he was less able to spend several hours in an evening explaining the heavenly bodies to groups of royal and aristocratic visitors. In October, 1806, the appearance of a bright comet attracted a large number of visitors to Slough. On the evening of the 4th, Caroline Herschel narrates, "two parties from the Castle came to see the comet, and during the whole month my brother had not an evening to himself. As he was then in the midst of polishing the 40-foot mirror, rest became absolutely necessary after a day spent in that most laborious work; and it has ever been my opinion that on the 14th of October his nerves received a shock from which he never got the better afterwards; for on that day (in particular) he had hardly dismissed his troop of men, when visitors assembled, and from the time it was dark till