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.
- ↑ 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.
