received and read Sir John Herschel's great work, "Cape
Observations,"--a noble monument of the perseverance and strenuous
labour of genius; but of twofold interest to her, because it not only
testified to the eminent qualities of her nephew, but brought to a noble
conclusion the vast undertaking of that nephew's father and her own
beloved brother--the survey of the nebulous heavens.

A letter written by her friend Miss Becksdorff, on the 6th of January
1848, describes Caroline Herschel's last days:--


"Her decided objection to having her bed placed in a warmer
room had brought on a cold and cough; and so firm was her
determination to preserve her old customs, and not to yield to
increasing infirmities, that when, upon her doctor's positive
orders, I had a bed made up in her room, before she came to sit
in it one day, it was not till two o'clock in the night that
Betty could persuade her to lie down in it. Upon going to her
the next morning, I had the satisfaction, however, of finding
her perfectly reconciled to the arrangement; she now felt the
comfort of being undisturbed, and she has kept to her bed ever
since. Her mental and bodily strength is gradually declining.
But a few days ago she was ready for a joke. When Mrs. Clarke
told her that General Halkett sent his love, and 'hoped she
would soon be so well again that he might come and give her a
kiss, as he had done on her birthday,' she looked only archly
at her, and said, 'Tell the general that I have not tasted
anything since I liked so well.' I have just left her, and upon
my asking her to give me a message for her nephew, she said,
'Tell them I am good for nothing,' and went to sleep again."