"_February 9th_.--Still very ill; and my brother obliged to go
on with the polishing of the great mirror, as every arrangement
had been made for that purpose.--_Mem_. I believe my brother
had reasons for choosing the cold season for this laborious
work, the exertion of which alone must put any man into a
fever, if he were ever so strong.

"_February 10th_.--From this day my nephew's health kept on
mending.

"_February 19th_.--My nephew mending, but my brother not well.

"_February 26th_.--My brother so ill that I was not allowed to
see him, and till March 8th his life was despaired of; and by
March 10th I was permitted to see him, but only for two or
three minutes, as he was not allowed to speak.

"_March 22nd_.--He (Sir William) went for the first time into
his library, but could only remain for a few moments."

[Footnote 1: Afterwards Sir John Herschel.]

From this dangerous attack Sir William recovered, but thenceforth it
was clear to his friends that his strength gradually decreased, though
not his enthusiasm or his industry. He persevered in his life-long
labours with all his old intellectual force. What failed him was neither
his tender affections nor his mental powers; but his body refused to
answer all the demands made upon it by the resolute will,--the sword was
slowly but surely wearing out the scabbard. Under the date of April 2,
1819, we meet with an ominous entry in his loving and faithful sister's