The last accounts we have of you are that you are elected a member of the Astronomical Society, and that to keep you in countenance, and prevent your being the only lady among so many gentlemen, you have for a colleague and sister member, Mrs. Somerville. Now this is well imagined, and we were not a little pleased to hear it. May you long enjoy your well-earned laurels! As I presume our news will interest you more than comments upon what goes on in Europe, in the first place be it known to you, that we are all well and, thank Heaven, happy. The children, one and all, thrive uncommonly.... The stars go on very well, though for the last two months the weather has been chiefly cloudy, which has hitherto prevented me seeing Halley’s comet. Encke’s (_yours_) escaped me, owing to trees and the Table Mountain, though I cut away a good gap in our principal oak avenue to get at it. However, Maclear, at the Observatory, succeeded in getting three views of it with the fourteen-foot Newtonian of my father’s (the Glasgow telescope) on the 14th, 19th, and (?) 24th of September. If you have an opportunity of letting this become known to Encke, pray do so—(I shall write to him shortly myself). It was _in_ or _near_ the calculated place, but no measures could be got. I have now very nearly gone over the whole southern heavens, and over much of it often. So that after another season of reviewing, verifying, and making up accounts (reducing and bringing in order the observations) we shall be looking homewards. In short, I have, to use a homely phrase, broken the neck of the work, and my main object now is to _secure_ and perfect what is done, and get all ready to begin printing the moment we arrive in England; or, if that is not possible, at least to have no more calculation to do.... [Sidenote: 1835. _Duke of Cambridge._] FROM H.R.H. THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE. HANOVER, _Nov. 19, 1835_. The Duke of Cambridge hastens to acknowledge the receipt of Miss Herschel’s very obliging note, and to return his many thanks for her attention in sending him some of the Constantia she has lately received from her nephew. He seizes this opportunity of assuring her of the satisfaction he felt at hearing that Mr. Herschel and his family were in good health, and he sincerely hopes that the climate of the Cape will agree with them. FRANCIS BAILY TO MISS HERSCHEL. 37, TAVISTOCK PLACE, LONDON, _Jan. 29, 1836_. MY DEAR MADAM,— I forwarded some time since, to Professor Schumacher, a copy of my “Account of Flamsteed,” to be sent to you; and which he says was duly transmitted. I am anxious to know whether it has arrived safe, for, as only a limited number of copies were printed (which are _all_ distributed) it cannot be purchased.