satisfactory, came in so unsatisfactory a way, and were so long in bearing fruit, that something was at work behind the scenes delaying progress. It appeared that the King's private astronomer, Mr. De Mainborg, was dead. Herschel's friends imagined he was to succeed to the vacant post at Kew,[1] for George III. was known for his patronage of astronomy long before he heard of Herschel. In an observatory at Richmond, built under the superintendence of Bevis, 140 feet long and of two storeys, were several grand instruments made by Sisson of London.[2]
Laden "with everything necessary for viewing double stars," Herschel, accompanied by his friend. Sir William Watson, left home on May 8. No letter reached the anxious household at Bath for a fortnight. At last Caroline and Alexander learned that "he had been introduced to the King and Queen, and had permission to come to the concerts at Buckingham House, where the King conversed with him about astronomy." He was also so favoured that "the King gave him leave to come to hear the Griesbachs play at the private concert which he has every evening." Even his brother Alexander was known to the King, and was inquired after in the same breath apparently as he inquired after "the great speculum." Had Miss Burney been telling the story, she would probably have said that "What? what? what?" looked upon the two as creatures of the same kind. But his pupils and Mr. Palmer, the manager of the theatre at Bath, must be told that he could not return till the King had seen the planets with the seven-foot reflector, and given him permission to leave. That telescope had
