About the year 1760, however, we catch another incidental glimpse
of the young musician in his adopted country. By that time, he had
found himself once more a regular post as oboist to the Durham
militia, then quartered for its muster at Pontefract. A certain
Dr. Miller, an organist at Doncaster, was dining one evening at the
officers' mess; when his host happened to speak to him in high
praise of a young German they had in their band, who was really, he
said, a most remarkable and spirited performer. Dr. Miller asked
to see (or rather hear) this clever musician; so Herschel was
called up, and made to go through a solo for the visitor's
gratification. The organist was surprised at his admirable
execution, and asked him on what terms he was engaged to the Durham
militia. "Only from month to month," Herschel answered. "Then
leave them at the end of your month," said Miller, "and come to
live with me. I'm a single man; I think we can manage together;
and I'm sure I can get you a better situation." Herschel frankly
accepted the offer so kindly made, and seems to have lived for much
of the next five years with Miller in his little two-roomed cottage
at Doncaster. Here he took pupils and performed in the orchestra
at public concerts, always in a very quiet and modest fashion. He
also lived for part of the time with a Mr. Bulman at Leeds, for
whom he afterwards generously provided a place as clerk to the
Octagon Chapel at Bath. Indeed, it is a very pleasing trait in
William Herschel's character that to the end he was constantly
engaged in finding places for his early friends, as well as for the
less energetic or less fortunate members of his own family.

During these years, Herschel also seems to have given much
attention to the organ, which enabled him to make his next step in