rous of seeing my telescope, but wanted to know if it was
possible to see without going out on the grass, and were much
pleased when they heard that my telescope could be carried into any
place they liked best to have it. About eight o'clock it was moved
into the queen's apartments, and we waited some time in hopes of
seeing _Jupiter_ or _Saturn_. Meanwhile I showed the princesses, and
several other ladies who were present, the speculum, the
micrometers, the movements of the telescopes, and other things that
seemed to excite their curiosity. When the evening appeared to be
totally unpromising, I proposed an artificial _Saturn_ as an object,
since we could not have the real one. I had beforehand prepared this
little piece, as I guessed by the appearance of the weather in the
afternoon we should have no stars to look at. This being accepted
with great pleasure, I had the lamps lighted up which illuminated
the picture of a _Saturn_ (cut out in pasteboard) at the bottom of
the garden wall. The effect was fine, and so natural that the best
astronomer might have been deceived. Their royal highnesses and
other ladies seemed to be much pleased with the artifice.

"I remained in the queen's apartment with the ladies till about half
after ten; when in conversation with them I found them extremely
well instructed in every subject that was introduced, and they
seemed to be most amiable characters. To-morrow evening they hope to
have better luck, and nothing will give me greater happiness than to
be able to show them some of those beautiful objects with which the
heavens are so gloriously ornamented."

CAROLINA'S diary goes on:

"Sir WILLIAM WATSON returned to Bath after a fort-night or three
weeks' stay. From him we heard that my brother was invited to
Greenwich with the telescope, where he was met by a numerous party
of astronomical and learned gentlemen, and trials of his instrument
were made. In these letters he complained of being obliged to lead
an idle life, having nothing to do but to pass between London and
Greenwich. Sir WILLIAM received many letters, which he was so kind
as to communicate to us. By these, and from those to ALEXANDER or to
me, we learned that the king wished to see the telescope at Windsor.
At last a letter, dated July 2, arrived from THERESE, and from this
and sever