(1.) The favours of monarchs ought to have been mentioned, but once would have been enough. (2 & 3.) Of Alexander and me can only be said that we were but tools, and did as well as we could; but your father was obliged first to turn us into those tools with which we could work for him; but if too much is said in one place let it pass; I have, perhaps, deserved it in another by perseverance and exertions beyond female strength! Well done! With compliments to all friends, particularly Mr. and Mrs. Babbage, I remain, my dearest nephew, Yours most affectionately, CAR. HERSCHEL. Poor Sir William Watson! [whose death had lately been announced to her.] MISS HERSCHEL TO J. F. W. HERSCHEL. HANOVER, _March 7, 1825_. The birthday of my dear nephew! who I wish may enjoy in health and prosperity many returns of this day. I will drink your health, and on the 16th of this month you may return the compliment, for then I shall have completed my seventy-fifth year. I received the parcel, not till the last day of February, which contained your letter of December 4th, with the prints of the King and Queen, which I delivered to the Regierungsrath B——, to forward to his father at Göttingen. The first part of your letter is filled with expressions of the most feeling kindness towards me, and I will pass them over without attempting to describe what I felt on reading the same, and merely for yours and your dear mother’s satisfaction I will answer as in the way of business all you wished to know. November 22nd I received the £50 Lady H. paid over for me to Mr. Goltermann, for which I returned the day after (23rd) the formal receipt in a letter to your mother, and hope it may not have been lost (for I generally write what comes uppermost).... I am ready with the Catalogue of Nebulæ, and have only to write, _not a Preface_, for I shall write what I have to say at the end.... I wish, in case you were not on the spot to receive the box from Mr. Goltermann yourself, you would before you left town beg Mr. G. to keep it _till you called for it yourself_; for I must confess that from the day I let the _eight manuscript books and catalogue of Nebulæ, and catalogue of stars_ drawn out of the eight books of sweeps, go out of my hands, I shall have no peace till I know they are safe in _your own_, where they ought to be. If you can think of anything else I can send you, I beg you will let me know, for a large parcel is no more trouble than a lesser one to put up. But I shall write again when I have packed up the box, and if you still wish for relics of your dear father’s hand-writing, I have a great mind to part with his pocket-book (_to you only_), which he used before we left Bath. There are only a few pencil memoranda, but they show that