Model Women

tific

AROLINE LUCR

to truth; and assemblies of the learned, through means of just though unusua

Nichol

RON

are brought almost at once to stand face to face with the Infinite. A wonderful study are these old heavens. They have excited the curiosity, and called forth the di

ce from cre

nt's veil

visions yiel

materi

has supplied the clear light of fact. From points, the stars have magni

man, yon azur

lamps that yi

glasses; clear th

nd the former

ions more blaze f

number of more than five billions of stars. If each of these be the sun to a system similar to ours, and if the same number of planets revolve round it, then the whole planets in the universe will be more than fifty-five billions, not reckoning the satellites, which may be even more numerous. That part of the science which gives a description of the motions, figures, peri

GRA

he lived in her native place; and her father and mother seem to have been anxious about her education, but their means were limited; and moreover, Hanover, during the latter end of the last century, did not possess the facilities for the acquirement of literature, science, and art, that it doe

equisition, and was found so useful, that on his removal to Datchet, and subsequently to Slough, she performed the whole of the arduous and important duties of his astronomical assistant-not only reading the clock and noting down all the observations from dictation as an amanuensis, but subsequently executing the whole of the extensive and laborious numerical calculations necessary to render the

of Oxford. During the whole of his distinguished career, Miss Herschel rema

of the nebul? discovered by her renowned brother. She was afterwards chosen an honorary member of that Society, and also a member of the Royal Irish Academy: very unusual honours to be conferred upon a woman. Is it not matter both for wonder and for lamentation, that the guardians of learning, the patrons of literature, and the princes of science, have been so indifferent to the intellectual claims of the femal

chable use of her own fine natural talents. As a woman of intellectual height and strength, and with a field of inexhaustible material over which to expatiate, she laboured with corresponding success; laid open the secrets of nature, and explained her deeper mysteries; enlarged the domain of knowledge; awakened the spirit of inquiry; breathed fresh life into philosophy, and gave to the world the promise of ever-accumulating truth. Her favourite study we hesitate not to place first. No science "so perfectly i

ciences." The labours of Miss Herschel had shed a glory over her country, and the trump of fame now gave her name to the world as a woman of unrivalled attainments. Governments are slow to learn; and certainly they are not the first to appreciate the fruits of genius. The liberal expenditure of the national means for the advancement of science, would shed real glory over every country and every age; and it therefore reflects infinite honour on these German sovereigns, that they took her under their immediate

ote a letter to the Athen?um, in which he stated that notwithstanding her advanced age

learn how to study; the hour of her departure was at hand. Gold cannot bribe death. Human power and grandeur cannot save from the grave. Ge

en cordials

hearts or a

or bribe app

ing roofs an

ng, the unw

l summons

long, a sa

lump of li

re huddled t

d slaves have

without di

heap of me

he ninety-eighth year of her age. Her end was tranqu

less this world is in itself, and to yearn after those dear ones who have gone before us, our own preparation for going hence may be advanced. Such, doubtless, were the feelings of Miss Herschel when returning to her native Hanover after many years of activity spent in various other places. Her funeral took place on the 18th of January; the coffin was adorned with palm branches,

ICAL DIS

ith this instrument she swept the heavens, and discovered eight new comets, in regard to five of which she was the first discoverer. These discoveries were made on August 1st, 1786; December 21st, 1788; January 9th, 1790; April 17th, 1

t between you and my brother, I venture to trouble you in h

sun, in search of comets. And last night, the 1st of August, about ten o'clock, I found an object resembling in colour and brightness the twenty-seventh nebula of the Connoissance des Temps, with the difference, however, of being round. I suspect it to be a comet; but

ike a star out of focus, while the rest are perfectly d

met makes now a perfect isosceles t

as in fig. 3; but it is so hazy that I cannot suffic

s, and the 14th, 15th, and 16th Com? Berenices, and makes an obtuse

ct to the stars A and B, situated as in fig. 4.

ield with it, by placing A in the centre; when the comet and the

of view is 2° 12′. I cannot find the stars A and C in any catalogue, but I suppose they may easily be traced in t

municating these observations to

e honour t

ine He

Windsor, Aug

etected by her. Indeed the unconquerable industry of the sister challeng

ON AST

ea of the extent of the former. In 1798 she completed "A catalogue of 561 Stars from Flamsteed's Observations," contained in the "Historia C?lestis," but which had escaped the notice of those who framed the "British Catalogue." For this valuable work which was published, together with a general

se bodies; and thus bringing to a close half a century spent in astronomical labour, probably unparalleled either in magnitude or importance. But to deliver an eulogy upon her memory is not

OF MISS

he inclemency of the weather, and co-operating towards his triumphs. According to the best of authorities she took down notes of the observations as they fell from his lips; conveyed the rough manuscripts to her cottage at the dawn of day; and

in natural science, see and survey nature in all her operations, and confer a talent for acquiring scientific knowledge. Causality was amply developed in Miss Herschel, an

than she that love is the just debt due to every human being, and the discipline which God has ordained to prepare us for heave

NE ANN TAYLOR

which she professed. Perhaps some surviving relative or friend may be able to throw light on the life and

in The A

IGA

d made their city the great emporium of Eastern and European trade. The Greek states gradually developed the art of navigation, and at the time of the Peloponnesian war, the Athenians seem to have been skilful conductors of vessels at sea. Rome next manifested maritime daring. Time rolled on and the Saxon, Jutish, and Norse prows began to roam the ocean in every direction. The Norsemen extended their voyages to Iceland, Greenland, and Newfoundland. The sea had no terrors for these hardy rovers. The introduction of the mariner's compass made the sailor ind

GRA

am, and about thirteen miles from that ancient and celebrated city. She was the fourth daughter of the Rev. Pet

r girls much older, she became a great favourite with them, and learned much from them. When the very plain, but rigidly virtuous queen, died at Kew, on the 17th of November, 1818, Miss Jonn, was sent by her father to a boarding-school conducted by Mr. and Mrs. Stables, at H

ucation then, and sometimes even now, is simply a little outside polish. It does not teach to think; it does not develope mind;

to it; and must spend the greater part of her time with young and immature minds, only varied by unequal association with the parents or grown-up brothers and sisters of her pupils. The society of her equals in age and position is entirely wanting, and the natural tendency of such mental solitude is to produce childishness, angularity, and narrow-mindedness. It must be a strong character indeed wh

ughfares of that exceedingly picturesque city; we may say that during that journey Mr. George Taylor met her, and on the 1st of Feb., 1830, they were married at the British Ambassador's chapel, at the Hague. On their return to London, Mrs. Taylor commenced teaching navigation, at 104, Minories. In consequence of her singular abilities in that branch of science, she gained the con

. When she enlarged her acquaintance beyond the limits of her girlhood and youth, she did not encounter a cold and unfriendly world, or find that those who had not before known her were disposed to impede her progress, or to throw embarrassments in her path. She came to London with but little experience, and with no such reputation as to make success certain. But b

r majesty was likely to interfere with her family and scientific arrangements, it was declined. In this decision, Edward Maltby, D.D., then Bishop of Durham concurred, and at the first meeting of the British Association held in Newcastle-on-Tyne, in 1838, made honourable mention of her. At the world's great

consideration of their sovereign and the gratitude of their country. In consequence of her valuable services in the fields of science, Mrs. Taylor's name was added to the civil list, and in 1862, she disposed of her business at 104, Minories, and retired to Camberwell Grove, on a pension of ￡50 per annum. Those who desolate nations, stay the progress of arts, m

and beaming with the mild radiance that gave promise of a glorious morning of immortality-in visiting her relatives and friends. On the 15th of January, 1870, she went to Bishop-Aukland, a small town in the middle of her native county of Durham, pleasantly situated on an eminence, nearly 140

which she was held. The funeral took place on the Saturday. A select body of relatives and friends assembled at the vicarage, St. Helen's. As they approached the vault of her brother-in-law, the co

dumb forgetf

anxious being

precincts of t

nging, lingerin

ONS ON NA

ldom hear without a sense of humiliation. There is a lofty and disinterested pleasure in such pursuits which ought to exempt them

his volume enables mariners and others to mark the exact derivation and variation of the barometer, etc., at any hour, by a single dot, and contains a brief description of the different instruments, and the principles on which they are constructed. It was characterised by the Athen?um, as "A useful work with excellent directions," and reached seven editions, or more. In 1851, the ninth edition of "An Epitome of Navigation and Nautical Astronomy, with improved Lunar Tables," was presented to the world. This work is dedicated with heartfelt gratitude to the Hon. the Elder Brethren of the Corporation of Trinity House, London. In this book the tables familiar to the mariner are presented in a very much improved shape; and the rules by which the young sailor is directed in the attainment of that knowledge, which is indispensable to success in his future career, a

her reach. Neither did she furnish her mind by the mere reading of books. In both ways, or in either, it is true, much information may be acquired; but still it may be knowledge only imposed upon the mind, not received within it. Knowledge, to be useful, must be attained by young and old, through an exercise of the reasoning power which very quickly leads to a

D MATHEMATI

not only the influence of a wife and a mother, but also that of a very efficient professional teacher of male pupils. The conduct of a large academy for sailors may seem to many an unsuitable employment for a woman; likely to injure, and to a great extent destroy her beautiful nature. But it is certain that Mrs. Taylor's mind lost none of its refinement by the rude associations with which it was brought into contact, while her great administrative power enabled her

gressively fitted for the highest grade of examinations. She also undertook to place those pupils who had no relations in town, under the care and superintendence of families, where they received every domestic comfort and attention, when not engaged in the academy. Terms, to be paid on entrance. A complete course of navigation, including trigonometry, and its application to navigation, ￡6 6s.; a general course of navigation, ￡4 4s.; algebra, ￡2 2s.

R OF MRS

mense circle of friends and acquaintances all over the Union, so many as ten married ladies, born in this century and in this country, who are perfectly sound, healthy, and vigorous." Mrs. Taylor was rather tall, somewhat slender, and a little defective in muscular development. For many years she was su

rusal and re-perusal. She spent much time and money and care on science. Her quick perceptive faculties ranged the heavens, explored the earth, and fathomed the sea, in search of facts, which her prominen

nd wrong. Perhaps the greatest of her moral attributes was charity. Enjoying only a moderate competence, and obliged to make a decent appearance in life, she nevert