_May 15th._—I went to the Exhibition; the evening at Baron Best’s, where I met the Beckedorffs. On my return home I found a letter from my brother with Sir William Watson’s direction that I might give them the meeting in town. The next morning I spent a few hours with them, and next day Sir William, with Lady Watson and Miss Jay, called on me in Charles Street. Baron Best also called and brought me the place of a comet from the “Hamburger Zeitungen.” [Sidenote: 1814. _Extracts from Diary._] _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. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * _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. _Mem._—The winter was uncommonly severe. My brother suffering from indisposition, and I, for my part, felt I should never be anything else but an invalid for life, but which I very carefully kept to myself, as I wished to be useful to my brother as long as possibly I could.... _Feb. 7th._—I was obliged to move to a small cottage in Slough, at a considerable distance from my brother. I began to move, and slept there for the first night, the 22nd. _April 1st._—My brother went to Bath to see his brother and Sir William Watson. His cough still very bad, and the 12th, when he came home, we learned that he had been taken very ill on the road and suffered much when at Bath. It was not till many weeks after, when the warm weather came on, that he felt relieved. A few days after his return from Bath, we received notice by a message from the Queen of the Duchess of Oldenburg’s intention of coming to see my brother’s instruments. Everything was put in readiness for either a morning or evening visit, but the weather being very bad, the visit was put off till the arrival of the Emperor. _May 4th._—I went to be with my brother. Mrs. H. and Miss B. went to meet my nephew in town, who was keeping a term in the Temple, where he had commenced to be a student for the law in February.