three miles yesterday in a wind that I thought would have blown me out of this planet, and afterwards danced nine hours, and then walked back again. Did you ever see or hear of anything half so wonderful? And what is still more so, I am not dead." Clearly she was no girl-pedant, no morose and ungenial "blue-stocking," but a healthy maiden, with a capacity for keen enjoyment and a hearty delight in the pleasures that sweeten labour. She pushed her application, however, beyond the verge of prudence. Throughout life she remained an early riser, getting up at four or five in summer in her youth, and between six and seven in old age; but, unfortunately, she kept late hours at night. And what was worse, she resorted to all kinds of ingenuities to prevent herself from falling asleep; such as taking snuff, chewing green tea and coffee, and wrapping a wet towel round her head and body,-practices against which the young reader must be warned as of a very injurious and even dangerous character.

Her industrious life was unmarked by any romantic incidents. She had many opportunities of marriage, for she was handsome and attractive as well as accomplished; but she preferred the independence of single life and its leisure for study. Once she seemed to favour a suitor; she was, perhaps, really in love; but the gentleman had published some verses which, though not absolutely immoral, yet seemed to show too light and licentious a turn of mind. After wavering for some time, she decided against him, from a feeling of duty and

religious principle. For Elizabeth Carter was truly and deeply religious, not only in the conventional, but in the highest sense of the word. She adored Socrates, Plato, and Epictetus; but she remained a devout Christian and loyal Churchwoman throughout the whole course of her existence," her piety being of the right kind, infusing not only resignation and an unwavering sense of duty into every action, but cheerfulness, nay, joyousness, from early youth till the last."

Before she was out of her teens, Elizabeth Carter became famous. Some published translations from her pen attracted general commendation, and one, "Sir Isaac Newton's Philosophy Explained, for the use of Ladies, in six Dialogues on Light and Colour," translated from the Italian of Algarotii, was favourably noticed by Dr. Birch, a competent authority. "This work," he says, "is now rendered into our language, and illustrated with several curious notes by a young lady (daughter of Dr. Nicholas Carter of Kent), a very extraordinary phenomenon in the republic of letters, and justly to be ranked with the Sulpitias of the ancients, and the Schurmans and Daciers of the moderns."*

On the whole, I think the life of Elizabeth Carter may rightly be held up to English maidens as a very useful and pleasant example. We can wish them nothing better than that, like her, they may be studious and

* Sulpitia was a Latin poetess in the time of Tiberius; Anna Maria Schurman, a scholar of some repute, died in 1678; Anne Dacier, who translated Homer into French, died in 1720.

accomplished, yet not indisposed to enjoy the innocent amusements of life; a dutiful and loving daughter; a true friend; active in all works of benevolence; and firmly confident in the great and holy truths of the Christian religion.

CAROLINE HERSCHEL.

It has been well said that " 'great men and great causes have always some helper, of whom the outside world knows but little." Of the noble company of unknown, or, at all events, little-known helpers, Caroline Herschel was one. "She stood beside her brother, William Herschel, sharing his labours, helping his life. She loved him, and believed in him, and helped him with all her heart and with all her strength." A more remarkable instance of complete self-abnegation, of selfsacrifice for another's sake, biography does not record. She lived for and in her brother, and cared only to see him happy and famous. "She might have become a distinguished woman on her own account, for with the 'seven-foot Newtonian sweeper' given her by her brother she discovered eight comets first and last. But the pleasure of seeking and finding for herself was scarcely tasted. She 'minded the heavens' for him."

Caroline Lucretia Herschel was born at Hanover in 1750. She came of a Protestant family, long distinguished by its musical gifts. Isaac, her father, was a musician, and paid vigilant attention to the musical training of his sons, while he left his daughters to

discharge the domestic duties. The little Caroline, the youngest, grew at an early age to great proficiency in the art of stocking-knitting; and in later years would proudly describe how her first pair touched the floor as she stood up finishing them off. She learned also a little music; though this was in opposition to the wishes of her mother, who held, I suppose, the old belief that the arts and sciences and letters were exclusively intended for "the other sex." The three elder sons, Jacob, William, and Alexander, soon displayed an exceptional musical talent; and Jacob and William, while Caroline was still in her childhood, carried their gift to England, in the hope of turning it to profit. They returned home on a visit at the end of twelve months; Jacob with "a quantity of English clothes made according to the latest fashion," and William with a copy of Locke's dull "Essay on the Human Understanding." William stayed in England until recalled five years later by his father's declining health. The family received him with a welcome which might well have tempted him to remain for life in the bosom of a family so devoted to him. As for Caroline, her devotion approached almost to a fanaticism:-"Of the joys or pleasures," she afterwards wrote, "which all felt at this long-wished-for meeting with my-let me say dearest brother, but a small portion could fall to my share, for with my constant attendance at church (which was rendered necessary by her being prepared for confirmation) and school, besides the time I was employed in