[26]. The following notice is from a Bristol paper:
“Died, March 15th, 1821, at Hanover, Alexander Herschel, Esq., well-known to the public of Bath and Bristol as a performer and elegant musician; and, who for forty-seven years was the admiration of the frequenters of concerts and theatres of both those cities, as principal violoncello.
“To the extraordinary merits of Mr. Herschel was united considerable acquirement in the superior branches of mechanics and philosophy, and his affinity to his brother, Sir William Herschel, the illustrous astronomer, was not less in science than blood. To a large circle of professional friends the uniform gentlemanly manners of Mr. Herschel have rendered him at once an object of their warmest regard and respect.” Alexander Herschel returned to Hanover in September, 1816, and was enabled to live in comfortable independence until his death at the age of seventy-six, through the never failing generosity of his elder brother.
[27]. Although Miss Herschel was endowed by nature with a fine healthy constitution, she suffered much in various ways during the last twenty-five years of her life; and there is little doubt that her health was injured, to a considerable extent, by the excessive fatigue and serious accidents to which she was exposed in her earlier days, when she often denied herself rest that was imperatively needed, in order to be at hand when her brother required her services.
[28]. A younger sister of Mrs. Beckwith, niece of Lady Herschel.
[29]. This passage is a later note, added Sept. 26, 1828.
[30]. At this time W. Herschel frequently gave thirty-five and thirty-eight lessons a week to lady pupils.
[31]. It was not an unknown circumstance for the ink to freeze while she was attending to take down her brother’s observations.
[32]. These words had apparently to be sought for in the dictionary, as they are inserted in pencil in blank spaces left for the purpose.
[33]. To her brother, in Upton Church, near Slough.