rom all ostentation,
free from self-pride, free from the arrogance of superior knowledge, and
as ready to unbend himself to a child as to discourse with men of
science.

His career was a tranquil and a prosperous one, and, apart from the
record of his discoveries and his honours, presents nothing of interest.
He was peculiarly happy in his domestic relations; and in the wide
circle of friends attracted by the mingled charm of his intellect and
manners. A devout Christian, a man of generosity and culture, a
philosopher of great breadth of view and infinite patience of
research,--we can place few better or brighter examples before our
English youth than Sir John Herschel.

CHAPTER V.

We could not conclude our notice of this remarkable family without some
further allusion to its not least remarkable member--Caroline Lucretia
Herschel.

To her varied accomplishments, her astronomical researches, and, above
all, to her unwearied and unselfish devotion to her brother William, we
have already made frequent allusion. She seemed to live for him and in
him, to live for his fame and prosperity; and she poured out at his feet
the treasures of an inexhaustible affection. To assist him in his
labours, at whatever sacrifice, was her sole object in life; and she was
certainly more careful for his reputation than was he himself. During
his declining years she was his principal stay and support, and she was
in daily attendance to note down or to calculate the results of his
observations. His death was a severe blow to her; but, with
characteristic courage, she retired to Hanover, gave herself up to
scientific pursuits, and in comparative solitude spent her later years.

Her biographer writes:--

"When all was over, her only desire seems to have been to hurry
away. Hardly was her brother laid in his grave than she
collected the few things she cared to keep, and left for ever
the country where she had spent fifty years of her life, living
and toiling for him and him only. 'If I should leave off making
memorandums of such events as affect or are interesting to me,
I should feel like what I am,--namely, a person that has
nothing more to do in this world.' Mournful words! doubly
mournful, when we know that the writer had nearly half an
ordinary lifetime still between her and that grave which she
made haste to prepare, in the hope that her course was nearly
run. Who