I am, &c.,
C. H.
1790. Letters about the Third Comet.
MISS HERSCHEL TO ALEX. AUBERT, ESQ.
Slough, April 18, 1790.
Dear Sir,—
I am almost ashamed to write to you, because I never think of doing so but when I am in distress. I found last night, at 16h 24ʹ sidereal time, a comet, and do not know what to do with it, for my new sweeper is not half finished; and besides, I broke the handle of the perpendicular motion in my brother’s absence (who is on a little tour into Yorkshire). He has furnished me to that instrument a Rumboides, but the wires are too thin, and I have no contrivance for illuminating them. All my hopes were that I should not find anything which would make me feel the want of these things in his absence; but, as it happens, here is an object in a place where there is no nebula, or anything which could look like a comet, and I would be much obliged to you, sir, if you would look at the place where the annexed eye-draft will direct you to. My brother has swept that part of the heavens, and has many nebulæ there, but none which I must expect to see with my instrument. I will not write to Sir J. Banks or Dr. Maskelyne, or anybody, till you, sir, have seen it; but if you could, without much trouble, give my best respects and that part of this letter which points out the place of the comet to Mr. Wollaston, you would make me very happy.
I am, dear sir, &c., &c.,
C. H.
SIR JOSEPH BANKS TO MISS HERSCHEL.