I feel gratified in particular when I think of the stipulation I was making when you were taking measure of the distance [apart] of my eyes: viz., that if you in future should change in opinion, and not think me worthy of the present, not to bestow it on me.
Mrs. Maskelyne’s good-natured looks, and all she said at the time, come now again to my remembrance, and seeing not only the binocular (which I had but a conditional expectation of receiving), but also the night-glass, makes me hope that during the time I had the honour of being in the company of such esteemed friends, I have suffered no loss in their former good opinion of me, which was a circumstance I often feared might have happened; for I have too little knowledge of the rules of society to trust much to my acquitting myself so as to give hope of having made any favourable impressions.
You see, dear sir, that you have done me more good than you were perhaps aware of: you have not only enabled me to peep at the heavens, but have put me into good humour with myself.
With my respectful compliments to Mrs. and Miss Maskelyne,
I remain, with many thanks, Dear sir,
Your much obliged and humble servant,
C. Herschel.
The following is from a friend who took the deepest interest in the career of both brother and sister:—
ED. PIGOTT, ESQ. TO MISS HERSCHEL.
Bath, St. James’s Square,