invade Hanover, which, it will be remembered, belonged at this time
to the British dominions. Young William Herschel had already
obtained the position of a regular performer in the regimental band
of the Hanoverian Guards, and it was his fortune to obtain some
experience of actual warfare in the disastrous battle of Hastenbeck.
He was not wounded, but he had to spend the night after the battle in
a ditch, and his meditations on the occasion convinced him that
soldiering was not the profession exactly adapted to his tastes. We
need not attempt to conceal the fact that he left his regiment by the
very simple but somewhat risky process of desertion. He had, it
would seem, to adopt disguises to effect his escape. At all events,
by some means he succeeded in eluding detection and reached England
in safety. It is interesting to have learned on good authority that
many years after this offence was committed it was solemnly
forgiven. When Herschel had become the famous astronomer, and as
such visited King George at Windsor, the King at their first meeting
handed to him his pardon for deserting from the army, written out in
due form by his Majesty himself.

It seems that the young musician must have had some difficulty in
providing for his maintenance during the first few years of his abode
in England. It was not until he had reached the age of twenty-two
that he succeeded in obtaining any regular appointment. He was then
made Instructor of Music to the Durham Militia. Shortly afterwards,
his talents being more widely recognised, he was appointed as
organist at the parish church at Halifax, and his prospects in life
now being fairly favourable, and the Seven Years' War being over, he
ventured to pay a visit to Hanover to see his father. We can imagine
the delight with which old Isaac Herschel welcomed his promising son,
as well as his parental pride when a concert was given at which some