"First Comet," "Second Comet," etc. She announced the discovery of her second comet to Dr. Maskelyne, the royal astronomer, in the following letter, with a postscript by her brother:
"Dear Sir: Last night, December 21st, at 7h 45', I discovered a comet, a little more than one degree south, preceding β Lyræ. This morning, between five and six, I saw it again, when it appeared to have moved about a quarter of a degree toward 6 of the same constellation. I beg the favor of you to take it under your protection.
"Mrs. Herschel and my brothers join with me in compliments to Mrs. Maskelyne and yourself, and I have the honor to remain,
| "Dear sir, your most obliged, humble servant, |
| "Caroline Herschel. |
| "Slough, December 22, 1788." |
"P.S.—The comet precedes β Lyræ 7' 5" in time, and is in the parallel of the small star (β being double). See fifth class, third star, of my catalogue.
| "William Herschel." |
Her brother announced her discovery to Sir J. Banks and Sir H. Englefield, and from these gentlemen she received the most cordial congratulations. Two years later, on January 7, 1790, the third comet was discovered, and on the 17th of April, the same year, when her brother was absent, she announced her fourth comet to Sir Joseph Banks in the following words:
"April 19th.
"Sir: I am very unwilling to trouble you with incomplete observations, and for that reason did not acquaint you yesterday with the discovery of a comet. I wrote an account of it to Dr. Maskelyne and Mr. Aubert, in hopes that one of them would furnish me with the means of pointing it out in a proper manner. But as several days may pass before my letters are answered, or my brother returns, I would not be thought neglectful, and if you think the following description sufficient, and that more of my brother's astronomical friends should be made acquainted with it, I should be very happy if you would be so kind as to do it for the sake of astronomy."
Then follows an account of the comet. The letter, written on the day previous, to Mr. Aubert, we give entire:
"Slough, April 18, 1790.
"Dear Sir: I am almost ashamed to write you, because I never think of doing so but when I am in distress. I found, last night, at 16h 24', sidereal time, a comet, and do not know what to do with it, for my new sweeper is not half finished; and, besides, I broke the handle of the perpendicular motion in my brother's absence (who is on a little tour in Yorkshire). He furnished me to that instrument a rhomboides, but the wires are too thin, and I have no means for illuminating them. All my hopes were that I should find nothing to make me feel the want of these things in his absence; but, as it happens, here is an object in a place where there is no nebula, or anything which could look like a comet, and I would be much obliged to you, sir, if you would look at the place where the annexed eye-draft will direct you to. My brother has swept that part of the heavens, and has many nebulæ there, but none which I must expect to see with my instrument. I will not write to Sir J. Banks or Dr. Maskelyne,
