nd London agreeably enough,
but am rather at a loss for work that I like. Company is not always
pleasing, and I would much rather be polishing a speculum. Last
Friday I was at the king's concert to hear GEORGE play. The king
spoke to me as soon as he saw me, and kept me in conversation for
half an hour. He asked GEORGE to play a solo-concerto on purpose
that I might hear him; and GEORGE plays extremely well, is very much
improved, and the king likes him very much. These two last nights I
have been star-gazing at Greenwich with Dr. MASKELYNE and Mr.
AUBERT. We have compared our telescopes together, and mine was found
very superior to any of the Royal Observatory. Double stars which
they could not see with their instruments I had the pleasure to show
them very plainly, and my mechanism is so much approved of that
Dr. MASKELYNE has already ordered a model to be taken from mine,
and a stand to be made by it to his reflector. He is, however, now
so much out of love with his instrument that he begins to doubt
whether it _deserves_ a new stand.

"I am introduced to the best company. To-morrow I dine at Lord
PALMERSTON'S, next day with Sir JOSEPH BANKS, etc., etc. Among
opticians and astronomers nothing now is talked of but _what they
call_ my great discoveries. Alas! this shows how far they are
behind, when such trifles as I have seen and done are called
_great_. Let me but get at it again! I will make such telescopes,
and see such things--that is, I will endeavor to do so."

TO MISS HERSCHEL.

"_July 3, 1782._"

"DEAR CAROLINA:--

"I have been so much employed that you will not wonder at my not
writing sooner. The letter you sent me last Monday came very safe to
me. As Dr. WATSON has been so good as to acquaint you and ALEXANDER
with my situation, I was still more easy in my silence to you. Last
night the King, the Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal,
Princess SOPHIA, Princess AUGUSTA, etc., Duke of MONTAGUE, Dr.
HEBERDEN, M. DE LUC, etc., etc., saw my telescope, and it was a very
fine evening. My instrument gave general satisfaction. The king has
very good eyes, and enjoys observations with telescopes exceedingly.

"This evening, as the king and queen are gone to Kew, the princesses
were desi