although "large stars were a little affected with scattered light, owing to many remaining scratches in the mirror."
Four years of hard thinking and continuous labour, of battles with not very intelligent workmen, sometimes forty in number, and of disappointment with himself, if not also with grumbling from his sister Caroline, ended at last. A triumphant tone may be heard in the words which conclude his short history of the progress of the work. They are:—
"Aug. the 28th, 1789.—Having brought the telescope to the parallel of Saturn, I discovered a sixth satellite of that planet, and also saw the spots upon Saturn better than I had ever seen them before, so that I may date the finishing of the 40-feet telescope from that time."
Herschel could now take stock of the "contents of the heavens" as he had never been able to do before. High above the ground, while the tube was coated with ice in winter, or running with streams of moisture in summer, he could dictate through speaking-tubes what his sister was to write down, or how the assistant was to move the telescope. Seated in a little house far below, his sister watched the clock, and entered remarks and measurements with an accuracy and zeal no other assistant could have equalled or surpassed. Brother and sister were in a position to carry out great ideas, and to put into living shape vast imaginations of genius.
The cost of this telescope was far more than Herschel could be expected to meet. Fortunately, the advisers of the King were more reasonable men than those who considered £200 a year remuneration enough
