May 18th.—I went home and found a great deal of work prepared for me. The evening was spent in sweeping for the comet, but I could not find it, the weather was not clear.
June 14th.—I returned to continue my works in the daytime at my own rooms, and the fine evenings assisting my brother when observing, but we were much interrupted by Mrs. H. being seriously ill. She was confined to her room and bed from the 25th of June till the 8th of August before perfectly recovered.
July 24th.—Alexander arrived at Slough to spend the summer and work with his brother.
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Nov. 13th.—I had a call from Miss Joanna Baillie.
Nov. 29th.—Mr. Rehberg brought the first letter from our brother Dietrich, dated November 10th, which, though still written with great caution, gave us, after a lapse of sixteen months, the assurance that he and his family were living.
Dec. 4th.—I met Madame D’Arblay and Mr. Rehberg, &c., at the Castle.
Jan. 1st.—My nephew, John Herschel, brought me, for a New Year’s present, a new publication by him.