I am working still hard at my book (of which you will have by this time received the first four hundred pages), but I cannot get on quite so fast as I would, and I greatly fear it will not be out by Christmas.
SIR JOHN HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL.
July 11, 1847.
My dear Aunt,—
I send to the messenger who will take this, a copy of my “Cape Observations” for you, and I hope it will not be too large for him to take.
You will then have in your hands the completion of my father’s work—“The Survey of the Nebulous Heavens.”
I hope you will be able to look at the figures (the engravings of the principal nebulæ). As to the letter-press, the Introduction will perhaps interest you, and I daresay Miss Beckedorff or Mde. Knipping will be kind enough to read it to you—a little at a time.
A copy is on its way I presume by this time to His Majesty the King of Hanover, as a testimony of respect to a sovereign who has shown you on many occasions such kind attentions.
Louisa sends you all our news, and the autographs of Struve and Adams, who, with M. Leverrier, are now at Collingwood.
Adieu, dear aunt,