As in his earlier researches at home, the attention of the great
astronomer at the Cape of Good Hope was chiefly directed to the
measurement of the relative positions and distances apart of the
double stars, and to the close examination of the nebulae. In the
delineation of the form of these latter objects Herschel found ample
employment for his skilful pencil. Many of the drawings he has made
of the celestial wonders in the southern sky are admirable examples
of celestial portraiture.
The number of the nebulae and of those kindred objects, the star
clusters, which Herschel studied in the southern heavens, during four
years of delightful labour, amount in all to one thousand seven
hundred and seven. His notes on their appearance, and the
determinations of their positions, as well as his measurements of
double stars, and much other valuable astronomical research, were
published in a splendid volume, brought out at the cost of the Duke
of Northumberland. This is, indeed, a monumental work, full of
interesting and instructive reading for any one who has a taste for
astronomy.
Herschel had the good fortune to be at the Cape on the occasion of
the periodical return of Halley's great comet in 1833. To the study
of this body he gave assiduous attention, and the records of his
observations form one of the most interesting chapters in that
remarkable volume to which we have just referred.
[PLATE: COLUMN AT FELDHAUSEN, CAPE TOWN, to commemorate Sir John
Herschel's survey of the Southern Heavens.]
Early in 1838 Sir John Herschel returned to England. He had made
many friends at the Cape, who deeply sympathised with his self-
imposed labours while he was resident among them. They desired to
preserve the recollection of this visit, which would always, they
considered, be a source of gratification in the colony. Accordingly,
a number of scientific friends in that part of the world raised a
monument with a suitable inscription, on the spot which had been
occupied by the great twenty-foot reflector at Feldhausen.
His return to England after five years of absence was naturally an
occasion for much rejoicing among the lovers of astronomy. He was
entertained at a memorable banquet, and the Queen, at her coronation,
made him a baronet. His famous aunt Caroline, at that time aged
eighty, was still in the enjoyment of her faculties, and was able to
estimate at its true value the further lustre which was added to the
name she bore. But there is reason to believe that her satisfaction
was not quite unmixed with other feelings. With whatever favour she
might regard her nephew, he was still not the brother to whom her
life had been devoted. So jealous was this vigorous old lady of the
fame of the great brother William, that she could hardly hear with
patience of the achievements of any other astronomer, and this
failing existed in some degree even when that other astronomer
happened to be her illustrious nephew.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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