e. It broke up the traditional conservatism of
astronomers, which had almost refused to regard as possible the
existence of any planets beyond the orbit of Saturn, because for so
many years none had revealed themselves to the watchful gaze. Men's
minds were widened, so to speak, at a bound; their conceptions
strengthened and enlarged; for the discovery of Georgium Sidus--as
the new planet was designated by its discoverer, in honour of George
III.--rendered possible and probable the discovery of other planets,
and thus extended immeasurably the limits of the Solar System. Herschel,
whose reputation as a musician had hitherto been local, now sprang into
world-wide fame as an astronomer. George III., who was a true lover of
science, and not disinclined to bestow his patronage on men and things
of Hanoverian origin, summoned him to his presence; and was so much
pleased with his modest and interesting account of the long labours
which had led to the great result, that, after a brief interval, he
bestowed upon him an annual pension of three hundred guineas, and a
residence, first at Clay Hall, and then at Slough.

But before this well-deserved good fortune fell to him, Herschel
continued his industrious career as both musician and astronomer. During
the concert season, which lasted five or six months, he had never a
night disengaged, but was conducting oratorios at Bath or Bristol,
arranging for public concerts, attending rehearsals, and superintending
the performances of his choir. As soon as a lull came, the indomitable
man, assisted by his faithful sister, returned to his astronomical
pursuits. To gain a fuller and clearer knowledge of the starry worlds
scattered over the vast fields of space, Herschel from the first had
seen that instruments of much greater power were necessary than any
hitherto used by astronomers. He set to work, therefore, on the
construction of a thirty-foot telescope; the metallic mirror of which
must, of course, be of proportionate dimensions. This huge mirror was to
be cast in a mould of loam prepared from horse-dung, of which an
immense quantity was to be pounded in a mortar, and sifted through a
fine sieve; an arduous and almost endless task, undertaken by Caroline
Herschel and her brother Alex. Then a furnace was erected in a back-room
on the ground-floor; and every preparation having been made, a day was
set apart for the casting. The day came, and Herschel and his
collaborateurs looked forward