an autobiography-第66章

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aged　in　representing　what　I　had　（on　the　spur　of　the　moment　when　first　seeing　them）　described　as　willow…leaf…shaped　objects。　　I　thought　that　his　representation　of　them；　by　scattering　rice　grains　over　his　glue…covered　black　board；　was　apt　and　admirable；　and　so　did　Otto　Struve。　This　chance　meeting　with　these　two　admirable　astronomers　was　one　of　the　little　bits　of　romance　in　my　life。

I　returned　to　England　shortly　after。　　Among　our　visitors　at　Hammerfield　was　Lord　Lyndhurst。　　He　was　in　his　ninetieth　year　when　he　paid　a　visit　to　Tunbridge　Wells。　　Charles　Greville；　Secretary　to　the　Privy　Council；　wrote　to　me；　saying　that　his　Lordship　complained　much　of　the　want　of　society；　and　asked　me　to　call　upon　him。　　I　did　so；　and　found　him　cheerful　and　happy。

I　afterwards　sent　him　a　present　of　some　of　my　drawings。　　He　answered：　〃A　thousand　thanks　for　the　charming　etchings。　　I　am　especially　interested　in　Robinson　Crusoe。　　He　looks　very　comfortable；　but　I　can't　see　his　bed；　which　troubles　me。　　The　election　（'Everybody　for　ever！'）　is　wonderful。　　I　should　not　like　to　be　there。　　I　hope　we　shall　go　to　you　again　one　of　these　days；　and　have　another　peep　into　that　wonderful　telescope。〃

To　return　to　Sir　John　Herschel；　We　returned　his　visit　at　his　house　at　Collingwood；　near　Hawkhurst。　　I　found　him　in　the　garden；　down　upon　his　knees；　collecting　crocus　bulbs　for　next　year's　planting。　　Like　myself；　he　loved　gardening；　and　was　never　tired　of　it。　　I　mention　this　as　an　instance　of　his　simple　zeal　in　entering　practically　into　all　that　interested　him。　　At　home　he　was　the　happy　father　and　lover　of　his　family。　　One　of　his　favourite　pastimes；　when　surrounded　by　his　children　in　the　evening；　was　telling　them　stories。　　He　was　most　happy　and　entertaining　in　this　tranquil　occupation。　　His　masterly　intellect　could　grasp　the　world　and　all　its　visible　contents；　and　yet　descend　to　entertain　his　children　with　extemporised　tales。　　He　possessed　information　of　the　most　varied　kind；　which　he　communicated　with　perfect　simplicity　and　artlessness！　　His　profound　astronomical　knowledge　was　combined　with　a　rich　store　of　mechanical　and　manipulative　faculty；　which　enabled　him　to　take　a　keen　interest　in　all　the　technical　arts　which　so　materially　aid　in　the　progress　of　science。　　I　shall　never　forget　the　happy　days　that　he　spent　with　me　in　my　workshop。　　His　visits　have　left　in　my　mind　the　most　cherished　recollections。　　Our　friendly　intercourse　continued　unbroken　to　the　day　of　his　death。　　The　following　is　the　last　letter　I　received　from　him：

COLLINGWOOD；　March　10；　1871。　〃MY　DEAR　SIRA　great　many　thanks　for　the　opportunity　of　seeing　your　most　exquisite　photographs　from　models　of　lunar　mountains。　　I　hope　you　will　publish　them。　　They　will　create　quite　an　electric　sensation。　Would　not　one　or　two　specimens　of　the　apparently　nonvolcanic　mountain　ranges；　bordering　on　the　great　plains；　add　to　the　interest？　　　Excuse　my　writing　more；　as　I　pen　this　lying　on　my　back　in　bed；　to　which　a　fierce　attack　of　bronchitis　condemns　me。　　With　best　regards　to　Mrs。　Nasmyth；　believe　me　yours　very　truly；

〃　J。　F。　W。　HERSCHEL。〃

Scientific　knowledge　seems　to　travel　slowly；　It　was　not　until　the　year　1875；　more　than　fourteen　years　after　my　discovery　of　the　willow…leaved　bridges　over　the　Sun's　spots　that　I　understood　they　had　been　accepted　in　America。　　I　learned　this　from　my　dear　friend　William　Lassell。　His　letter　was　as　follows：　〃I　see　the　Americans　are　appreciating　your　solar　observations。　　A　communication　I　have　lately　received　from　the　Alleghany　Observatory　remarks　'that　he　（Mr。　Nasmyth）　appears　to　have　been　the　first　to　distinctly　call　attention　to　the　singular　individuality　of　the　minute　components　of　the　photosphere；　and　this　seems　in　fairness　to　entitle　him　to　the　credit　of　an　important　discovery；　with　which　his　name　should　remain　associated。'〃

I　proceeded　to　do　that　which　Sir　John　Herschel　had　so　earnestly　recommended；　that　is；　to　write　out　my　observations　on　the　Moon。　It　was　a　very　serious　matter；　for　I　had　never　written　a　book　before。　It　occupied　me　many　years；　though　I　had　the　kind　assistance　of　my　friend　James　Carpenter；　then　of　the　Royal　Observatory；　Greenwich。　The　volcanoes　and　craters；　and　general　landscape　scenery　of　the　Moon；　had　to　be　photographed　and　engraved；　and　this　caused　great　labour。

At　length　the　book；　entitled　The　Moon；　considered　as　a　Planet；　a　World；　and　a　Satellite；　appeared　in　November　1874。　　It　was　received　with　much　favour　and　passed　into　a　second　edition。　　A　courteous　and　kind　review　of　the　book　appeared　in　the　Edinburgh；　and　the　notices　in　other　periodicals　were　equally　favourable。　　I　dedicated　the　volume　to　the　Duke　of　Argyll；　because　I　had　been　so　long　associated　with　him　in　geological　affairs；　and　also　because　of　the　deep　friendship　which　I　entertained　for　his　Grace。　　I　presented　the　volume　to　him　as　well　as　to　many　other　of　my　astronomical　friends。　　I　might　quote　their　answers　at　great　length；　from　the　Astronomer…Royal　downwards。　　But　I　will　quote　twoone　from　a　Royal　Academician　and　another　from　a　Cardinal。　The　first　was　from　Philip　H。　Calderon。　　He　said：

〃Let　me　thank　you　many　times　for　your　kind　letter；　and　for　your　glorious　book。　　It　arrived　at　twelve　to…day；　and　there　has　been　no　painting　since。　　Once　having　taken　it　up；　attracted　by　the　illustrations；　I　could　not　put　it　down　again。　　I　forgot　everything；　and；　indeed；　I　have　been　up　in　the　Moon。　　As　soon　as　these　few　words　of　thanks　are　given；　I　am　going　up　into　the　Moon　again。　　What　a　comfort　it　is　to　read　a　scientific　work　which　is　quite　clear；　and　what　a　gift　it　is　to　write　thus！

〃The　photographs　took　my　breath　away。　　I　could　not　understand　how　you　did　them；　and　your　explanation　of　how　you　built　the　models　from　your　drawings　only　changed　the　wonder　into　admiration。　　Only　an　artist　could　have　said　what　you　say　about　the　education　of　the　eye　and　of　the　hand。　You　may　well　understand　how　it　went　home　to　me。　　Ever　gratefully　yours；

PHILIP　H。　　CALDERON。〃

I　now　proceed　to　the　Cardinal。　　I　was　present　at　one　of　the　receptions　of　the　President　of　the　Royal　Society　at　Burlington　House；　when　I　was　introduced　to　Cardinal　Manning　as　〃The　Steam　Hammer！〃　　After　a　cordial　reception　he　suddenly　said；　〃But　are　you　not　also　the　Man　in　the　Moon？〃　Yes；　your　Eminence。　　I　have　written　a　book　about　the　Moon；　and　I　shall　be　glad　if　you　will　accept　a　copy　of　it？〃　　〃By　all　means；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　thank　you　for　the　offer　very　much。〃　　I　accordingly　sent　the　copy；　and　received　the　following　answer：

〃MY　DEAR　MR。NASMYTHWhen　I　asked　you　to　send　me　your　book　on　the　Moon；　I　had　no　idea　of　its　bulk　and　value；　and　I　feel　ashamed　of　my　importunity；　yet　more　than　half　delighted　at　my　sturdy　begging。

〃I　thank　you　for　it　very　sincerely。　　My　life　is　one　of　endless　work；　leaving　me　few　moments　for　reading。　　But　such　books　as　yours　refresh　me　like　a　clover　field。

〃I　hope　I　may　have　an　opportunity　of　renewing　our　conversation。　Believe　me　always　truly　yours；　HENRY；　CARDINAL　MANNING。〃

I　may　also　mention　that　I　received　a　charming　letter　from　Miss　Herschel；　the　daughter　of　the　late　Astronomer。

〃Is　it　possible；〃　she　said；　〃that　this　beautiful　book　is　destined　by　you　as　a　gift　to　my　most　unworthy　self？　　I　do　not　know；　indeed；　how　　sufficiently　to　thank　you；　or　even　to　express　my　delight　in　being　possessed　of　so　exquisite　and　valuable　a　work；　made　so　valuable；　too；　by　the　most　kind　inscription　on　the　first　page！　　I　fear　I　shall　be　very　very　far　from　understanding　the　theories　developed　in　the　book；　though　we　have　been　endeavouring　to　gather　some　faint　notion　of　them　from　the　reviews　we　have　seen；　but　it　will　be　of　the　greatest　interest　for　us　to　try　and　follow　them　under　your　guidance；　and　with　the　help　of　these　perfectly　enchanting　photographs；　which；　I　think；　one　could　never　be　tired　of　looking　at。

〃How　well　I　remember　the　original　photographs；　and　the　oil　painting　which　you　sent　for　dear　papa's　inspection；　and　which　he　did　so　enjoy！　and　also　the　experiment　with　the　glass　globe；　in　which　he　was　so　interested；　at　your　own　house。　　We　cannot　but　think　how　he　would　have　appreciated　your　researches；　and　what　pleasure　this　lovely　book　would　have　given　him。　　Indeed；　I　shall　treasure　it　especially　as　a　remembrance　of　that　visit；　which　is　so　completely　connected　in　my　thoughts　with　him；　as　well　as　with　your　cordial　kindness；　as　a　precious　souvenir；　of　which　let　me　once　more　offer　you　my　heartfelt　thanks。　I　remain；　my　dear　sir；　yours　very　truly　and　gratefully；

〃ISABELLA　HERSCHEL。〃

I　cannot　refrain　from　adding　the　communication　I　received　from　my　dear　old　friend　William　Lassell。　　〃I　do　not　know；〃　he　said；　〃how　sufficiently　to　thank　you　for　your　most　kind　letter；　and　the　superb　present　which　almost　immediately　followed　it。　　My　pleasure　was　greatly　enhanced　by　the　consideration　of　how　far　this　splendid　work　must　add　to　your　fame　and　gratify　the　scientific　world。　The　illustrations　are　magnificent；　and　I　am　persuaded　that　no　book　has　ever　been　published　before　which　gives　so　faithful；　accurate；　and　comprehensive　a　picture　of　the　surface　of　the　Moon。　　The　work　must　have　cost　you　much　time；　thought；　and　labour；　and　I　doubt　not　you　will　now　receive　a　gratifying；　if　not　an　adequate　reward。〃

After　reading　the　book　Mr。　Lassell　again　wrote　to　me。　　〃I　am　indebted　to　your　beautiful　book；　〃he　said；　〃for　a　deeper　interest　in　the　Moon　than　I　ever　felt　before。。。。　　I　see　many　of　your　pictures　have　been　taken　when　the　Moon　was　waning；　which　tells　me　of　many　a　shivering　exposure　you　must　have　had　in　the　early　mornings；。。。　　I　was　sorry　to　find　from　your　letter　that　you　had　a　severe　cold；　which　made　you　very　unwell。　　I　hope　you　have　ere　this　perfectly　recovered。　　I　suppose　maladies　of　this　kind　must　be　expected　to　take　rather　severe　hold　of　us　now；　as　we　are　both　past　the　meridian　of　life。　　I　am；　however；　very　thankful　for　the　measure　of　health　I　enjoy；　and　the　pleasure　mechanical　pursuits　give　me。　　I　fully　sympathise　with　you　in　the　contempt　（shall　I　say？）　which　you　feel　for　the　taste　of　so　many　people　who　find　their　chief　pleasure　in　'killing　something；'　and　how　often　their　pleasures　are　fatal！　　Two　distinguished　men　killed　only　the　other　day　in　hunting。　　For　my　part　I　would　rather　take　to　the　bicycle　and　do　my　seventeen　miles　within　the　hour。〃

He　proceeds：　　〃I　have　no　doubt　your　windmill　is　very　nicely　contrived；　and　has　afforded　you　much　pleasure　in　constructing　it。　The　only　drawback　to　it　is；　that　in　this　variable　climate　it　is　apt　to　strike　work；　and　in　the　midst　of　a　job　of　polishing　I　fear　no　increase　of　wages　would　induce　it　to　complete　its　task！　　If　water　were　plentiful；　you　might　make　it　pump　up　a　quantity　when　the　wind　served；　to　be　used　as　a　motive　power　when　you　chose。〃

This　reference　alludes　to　a　windmill　which　I　erected　on　the　top　of　my　workshop；　to　drive　the　apparatus　below。　　It　was　the　mirror　of　a　reflecting　telescope　which　was　in　progress。　　The　windmill　went　on　night　and　day；　and　polished　the　speculum　while　I　slept。　　In　the　small　hours　of　the　morning　I　keeked　through　the　corner　of　the　window　blinds　and　saw　it　hard　at　work。　　I　prefer；　however；　a　small　steam…engine；　which　works　much　more　regularly。

It　is　time　to　come　to　an　end　of　my　Recollections。　　I　have　endeavoured　to　give　a　brief　resume　of　my　life　and　labours。　　I　hope　they　may　prove　interest