Chapter I: Front Matter

THE STORY OF THE HERSCHELS

A FAMILY OF ASTRONOMERS.

SIR WILLIAM HERSCHEL SIR JOHN HERSCHEL CAROLINE HERSCHEL.

"Stars
Numberless, as thou seest, and how they move;
Each has his place appointed, each his course."

MILTON.

1886

PREFATORY NOTE

From the best available sources have been gathered the following biographical particulars of a remarkable family of astronomers--the Herschels.

They will serve to show the young reader how great a pleasure may be found in the acquisition of knowledge, and how solid a happiness in quietly pursuing the path of duty.

On the value of biography it is unnecessary to insist. It is now well understood that we may learn to make our own lives good and honest and true, by carefully and diligently following the example of the good and honest and true who have gone before us. And certain it is that the lessons taught by the lives of the Herschels are such as young readers will do well to lay to heart.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.

The study of astronomy a source of intellectual pleasure--By
contemplating the heavens, the mind is led to wonder and adore--A
proof of the existence of a Creator is afforded by creation--"We
praise thee, O Lord!"--The beauty of Nature--Intellectual
curiosity--"Order is Heaven's first law"--Value of astronomical
study

CHAPTER II.

Herschel's parents--The two brothers--A musical family--An
inventive genius--The brothers in England--Herschel as an
organist--A laborious life--Mechanical ingenuity of William
Herschel--Telescope-making--A Sunday misadventure--Constructing a
twenty-foot telescope--A domestic picture--Discovery of a new
planet--Herschel's combined musical and astronomical pursuits--A
thirty-foot telescope--Casting the mirror--An explosion

CHAPTER III.

The house at Datchet--Housekeeping details--A devoted sister--Life
at Datchet--Herschel's astronomical observations--Testing and
trying "eyepieces"--The colossal telescope--Miss Herschel's
accident--Removed to Slough--Constructing a forty-foot
telescope--Brother and sister--Heroic self-denial--Occupations at
Slough--Royal liberality--An astronomer's triumphs--About the
nebulae--Investigation of the sun's constitution--The solar spots,
and their influence--Physical constitution of the moon--Lunar
volcanoes--Arago's explanation--Herschel's study of the
planets--Satellites of Saturn--Discovery of Uranus--And of its six
satellites--Study of Pigott's comet and the comet of
1811--Description of the latter--An uneventful life--Herschel's
marriage--His honours--Extracts from his sister's diary--Decaying
strength--Herschel removes to Bath--Last days of an
astronomer--Illustration of the ruling passion--Death of Sir
William Herschel--His achievements

CHAPTER IV.

Birth and education of Sir John Herschel--Honours at
Cambridge--First publication--Continues his scientific studies--His
numerous literary contributions--His devotion to his father's
reputation--The forty-foot telescope--Herschel's observations on
the double and triple stars--On the refraction and polarization of
light--Catalogue of nebulae and star-clusters--Voyage to Cape
Town--Letter to Miss Herschel--Study of the southern
heavens--Return to England--Distinctions conferred upon him--His
"Familiar Lectures on Scientific Subjects"--His description of
volcanoes and earthquakes--Continual changes in the configuration
of the earth--Violent earthquakes--Phenomena of volcanic
eruptions--In Mexico--In the island of Sumbawa--Herschel's theory
of volcanic forces--His character

CHAPTER V.

Caroline Herschel's devotion to her brother William--Her grief and
solitariness at his death--Reflections on the mutability of human
things--Aunt and nephew--A parsimonious government--Miss Herschel's
gold medal--South on Sir William's discoveries--On Miss Herschel's
devotion--Her own astronomical discoveries--Her life at
Hanover--Her wonderful memory--Anecdotes of Sir John
Herschel--Correspondence between aunt and nephew--The path of
duty--Sir John's visit to Miss Herschel--Reminiscences of early
years--A nonogenarian--A Christmas in Hanover--Last days of
Caroline Herschel--Her death--Her epitaph

THE STORY OF THE HERSCHELS.