Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 8.djvu/765

 for both the Royal and Bath Philosophical Societies ), gauges, shapes, weights, etc., of the mirror were calculated and trials of the composition of the metal were made. In short, I saw nothing else and heard nothing else talked of but about these things when my brothers were together. Alexander was always very alert, assisting when any thing new was going forward, but he wanted perseverance, and never liked to confine himself at home for many hours together. And so it happened that my brother William was obliged to make trial of my abilities in copying for him catalogues, tables, etc., and sometimes whole papers which were lent him for perusal. I was thus kept employed when my brother was at the telescope at night. When I found that a hand was sometimes wanted, when any particular measures were to be made with the lamp, micrometer, etc., or a fire to be kept up, or a dish of coffee necessary during a long night's watching, I undertook with pleasure what others might have thought a hardship."

Although the sister's references to the labors and discoveries of her brother are full of interest, we have no space for them here. Suffice it that, after the discovery of "the Georgium Sidus in 1781, the name of William Herschel became famous, and he was soon released from the necessity of giving any of his time to music. He was sent for to come with his seven-foot telescope to the king, and the result was that he was chosen royal astronomer, at a salary of 200 a year." One or two extracts, from the letters written by William Herschel to his sister during this preliminary visit to London, will give some idea of the intimate relation she held in his life. He writes on May 25th:

And again, June 3d, he writes:

The letter ends abruptly.

Such, in brief, was the intellectual and moral preparation of Miss Herschel for the life of an astronomer. An account of her experiences in this field will be given in our next number.