My dear friends, Mrs. and Miss Beckedorff, are assisting me in my final preparations for going to that bourn from whence none ever returned, but let me hope that you, my dear nephew, with my dear niece and the whole of your young family, will return to your dear relatives and friends after having seen all your wishes and expectations crowned with success. Though, if I may not be among those who will greet your return, I can assure you their number will be _great_, judging from the sensation the account of your safe arrival at the Cape has caused among all our friends; and (as Dr. M—— will have it) “the whole intelligent and scientific world in general are participating in our feeling.” Poor Mrs. Beckedorff, to whom I read your letter, sat trembling and crying for joy; for I now find that my friends had not been without fear for your safety on account of the storms (and their sad consequences) which prevailed for a long time immediately after your departure, and the same evening a note was despatched to her Royal Highness the Landgräfin to communicate the news; for from the Duke’s and her Royal Highness’s constant inquiries when I expected to hear from you, I knew the account of your safe arrival would give pleasure. * * * * * The feelings of joy I experienced the first few days after the arrival of your letter are nearly evaporated, and I begin to feel already that the essential information required for making me reconciled to the immense space which divides me from you is still wanting; which is, that I cannot now, as formerly, receive so frequent accounts concerning the health of my dear niece and the children, not even from Miss B., who used to describe their little ways so prettily, for she, too, cannot now observe them. I look with impatience for the next account ... of the health of my dear niece, yours, and the dear little beings. Caroline and Isabella and I are old friends, but is William Herschel the second likely to live (if not beyond) at least to the age of his grandfather? Perhaps you will receive the “Göttingsche Gelehrte Anzeigen” of 16th and 19th December, 1833, containing what is said of your book on Natural Philosophy (by Gauss they say). God bless you _all_, and believe, my dear nephew, Ever your most affectionate aunt, CAR. HERSCHEL. FROM J. F. W. HERSCHEL TO MISS HERSCHEL. FELDHAUSEN, _June 6, 1834_. MY DEAR AUNT,—