Though my poor brother seemed to have no hands in the education of his only son, I know, from having been present at many private conversations he had with Dr. Gretton, that nothing was done without his approbation and advice.
... The Astronom. Nachrichten have latterly been filled with tables and too much mathematics (for me). The last numbers, 450, 451, contain an account, by Struve, of the purchase of Olbers’ books, &c., for the library of the Observatory at Pulkowa. This puts one in mind of Olbers saying somewhere, I had discovered five comets. Who wanted him to give the number of my comets when he knew them no better? As far as I recollect, Dr. Maskelyne has observed them all, and his observations on them are, I daresay, all printed in the volumes of the Greenwich Observations—at least of some he has shown me the proof sheets. I never called a comet mine till several post days were passed without any account of them coming to hand. And after all, it is only like the children’s game, “Wer am ersten kick ruft, soll den Apfel haben! Wo sie denn alle rufen kick! kick! und so,”[[61]] &c., &c.
I long for the return of the messenger, for I heard to-day that Bessel and Encke were gone to the philosophical meeting in England, and I expect to hear a great deal of news. But first and foremost I wish to see in your next that yourself and my dear nephew, with all the dear little, little ones, continue to be well and happy....
P.S.—My head is full of my History, and I go on but slowly, because I cannot sit up for any length of time. I am only at my fourteenth year, and have just parted from my brother, William Herschel I., who is returned after a fourteen nights’ visit to us, to England, Leeds in Yorkshire (where he must be left for some time), and I cannot go on till I have recovered from the parting scene.
You remember, you take the work in whatever state I may leave it, and make the best of it at your leisure. Adieu.
TO SIR J. F. W. HERSCHEL.
Hanover, August 4, 1842.
My dearest Nephew,—
... Major Müller is not yet returned, and is not expected till September, from his measuring business, and besides him there is not one astronomer, or, I may say, rational man in Hanover to whom I could apply for information in matters which are above my understanding. But in my next I hope to say more, or rather a great deal about your “Chrysotype,” for I had a visit to-day from a Berg-Rath-W., who seems to be much interested in these discoveries.... How I envy you having seen Bessel—the man who found us the parallax of 61 Cygni....
... I believe I have water on my brains, and all my bones ache so that I can hardly crawl; and besides sometimes a whole week passes without anybody coming near me, till they stumble on a paragraph in the newspaper of Grüthousen’s discoveries, or Lord Queenstown’s great telescope, which shall beat Sir William Herschel’s all to nothing, and such a visit sometimes makes me merry for a whole day.