"
[Footnote 1: Afterwards Sir John Herschel.]
From this dangerous attack Sir William recovered, but thenceforth it
was clear to his friends that his strength gradually decreased, though
not his enthusiasm or his industry. He persevered in his life-long
labours with all his old intellectual force. What failed him was neither
his tender affections nor his mental powers; but his body refused to
answer all the demands made upon it by the resolute will,--the sword was
slowly but surely wearing out the scabbard. Under the date of April 2,
1819, we meet with an ominous entry in his loving and faithful sister's
diary:--
"My brother left Slough, accompanied by Lady Herschel, for
Bath, he being very unwell; and the constant complaint of
giddiness in the head so much increased, that they were obliged
to be four nights on the road both going and coming. The last
moments before he stepped into the carriage were spent in
walking with me through his library and workrooms, pointing
with anxious looks to every shelf and drawer, desiring me to
examine all, and to make memorandums of them as well as I
could.
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