view, with a clear blue ghost-like outline; and that night we cast anchor within the Bay.  Next morning early we landed, under escort of Dr. Stewart, M——­’s brother, and you may imagine the meeting.  We took up our quarters at a most comfortable lodging-house (Miss Robe’s), and I proceeded, without loss of time, to unship the instruments.  This was no trifling operation, as they filled (with the rest of our luggage) fifteen large boats; and, owing to the difficulty of getting them up from the hold of the ship, required several days to complete the landing.  During the whole time (and indeed up to this moment) not a single south-east gale, the summer torment of this harbour, has occurred.  This is a thing almost unheard of here, and has indeed been most fortunate, since otherwise it is not at all unlikely that some of the boats, laden as they were to the water’s edge, might have been lost, and the whole business crippled.

     [Footnote 1:  Herschel married a Miss Stewart in February 1826.]

“For the last two or three days we have been looking at houses, and have all but agreed for one—­a most beautiful place within four or five miles out of town, called ‘The Grove.’  In point of situation it is a perfect paradise, in rich and magnificent mountain-scenery, and sheltered from all winds, even the fierce south-easter, by thick surrounding woods.  I must reserve for my next all description of the gorgeous display of flowers which adorns this splendid country, as well as of the astonishing brilliancy of the constellations, which the calm, clear nights show off to great advantage.”

Mr. Herschel settled at Feldhausen, about 142 feet above the sea, and in long. 22 deg. 46’ 9".11 E., and lat. 33 deg. 58’ 26".59 S. Here he entered upon his great series of observations of the southern heavens, which he continued with unwearied ardour for a period of four years.  The results were afterwards published, at the cost of the Duke of Northumberland, in a work entitled “Results of Astronomical Observations made in 1834-35-36-37-38, at the Cape of Good Hope.”  In this superb work, which placed its author on an equality with the most brilliant and illustrious astronomers, he defined and described 4015 of the nebulae and star-groups in the southern hemisphere, and 2995 of the double stars; besides entering into a variety of valuable particulars relative to Halley’s comet, the solar spots, the satellites of Saturn, and the measurement of the apparent magnitude of stars.

On his return to England (in 1838) the astronomer received a noble welcome.  Honours poured in upon him.  The Gold Medal of the Astronomical Society was conferred upon him for a second time.  William IV. had previously distinguished him with the Hanoverian order of K.H.; but, on the coronation of Queen Victoria, he received a baronetcy; and in 1839 the University of Oxford made him a D.C.L.