With my respectful compliments to the ladies, your sisters, I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient, humble servant,
Car. Herschel.
DR. BLAGDEN TO MISS HERSCHEL.
Gower Street, Bedford Square,
August 5, 1786.
Mr. Aubert's letter, as well as that with which you favoured me, both arrived safe. The evening was fine on Thursday, but Mr. Aubert was prevented from going to Loam Pit Hill, and I have no opportunity of making astronomical observations here, so that I believe the comet has not yet been seen by anyone in England but yourself. Yesterday the visitation of the Royal Observatory at Greenwich was held, where most of the principal astronomers in and near London attended, which afforded an opportunity of spreading the news of your discovery, and I doubt not but many of them will verify it the next clear night. I also mentioned it in a letter to Paris, and in another I had occasion to write to Munich, in Germany. If the weather should be favourable on Sunday evening, it is not impossible that Sir Joseph Banks and some friends from his house may wait upon you to beg the favour of viewing this phenomenon through your telescope.
Accept my best thanks for your obliging attention in communicating to me the news, and believe me to be, with great esteem,
Your obedient, humble servant,
C. Blagden.
