| RefNo | HSF/2/3/28 |
| Previous numbers | 600/31/105 and 600/31/105A |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from John Herschel, near Naudair [Nauder], to 'My very dearest dear' [Mary Cornwallis Herschel] |
| Creator | Herschel; John (1837-1921); British army officer and astronomer |
| Date | 4 March 1872 |
| Description | He has read her touching account of crying for him and he fears she has been mistaking his resolution for coldness. He thinks they are 'slaves...of outward circumstance', but his mood is reflective of the temperature. Her letter have taken away the weight of dread in case she was falling ill. He has now reached new ground, near water and with a good place to pitch his tent, with plenty of shade. He describes the heavy postbag but forwards only the Kent letters, with an apology to Esther that her letter has wandered needlessly. He will not attempt legal business that night. He was puzzled by her allusion to the disfigurement of his ring, but recalled it had been tarnished once. He discusses rings, and says that she shall have a diamond ring when they can find a jeweller able to set them. He has read Mr Rawden's letters and he is clearly enfeebled; she has done right in referring the matter to Messrs D & W. He discusses finances, saying he wil return to the matter. Maclear writes with regret that they have missed one another. Eclipse news is descriptive only at the moment and [J Norman] Lockyer's leader in 'Nature' is chatty. The letter from the Editor of the Astronomical Register was intended for Herschel, but he did not write the letter in question. He asks for a loving letter from Mary. |
| Extent | 8p. |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink on paper |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA7955 | Herschel; John (1837 - 1921); Colonel; military engineer, surveyor and astronomer | 1837 - 1921 |