astronomy.

Herschel had the good fortune to be at the Cape on the occasion of
the periodical return of Halley's great comet in 1833. To the study
of this body he gave assiduous attention, and the records of his
observations form one of the most interesting chapters in that
remarkable volume to which we have just referred.

[PLATE: COLUMN AT FELDHAUSEN, CAPE TOWN, to commemorate Sir John
Herschel's survey of the Southern Heavens.]

Early in 1838 Sir John Herschel returned to England. He had made
many friends at the Cape, who deeply sympathised with his self-
imposed labours while he was resident among them. They desired to
preserve the recollection of this visit, which would always, they
considered, be a source of gratification in the colony. Accordingly,
a number of scientific friends in that part of the world raised a
monument with a suitable inscription, on the spot which had been
occupied by the great twenty-foot reflector at Feldhausen.

His return to England after five years of absence was naturally an
occasion for much rejoicing among the lovers of astronomy. He was
entertained at a memorable banquet, and the Queen, at her coronation,
made him a baronet. His famous aunt Caroline, at that time aged
eighty, was still in the enjoyment of her faculties, and was able to
estimate at its true value the further lustre which was added to the
name she bore. But there is reason to believe that her satisfaction
was not quite unmixed with other feelings. With whatever favour she
might regard her nephew, he was still not the brother to whom her
life had been devoted. So jealous was this vigorous old lady of the