I spent the evening in looking at engravings, sipping tea, and
talking. Sir John is like the elder Mr. Bond, except that he
talks more readily; but he is womanly in his nature, not a
tyrant like Whewell. Sir John is a better listener than any man
I have met in England. He joins in all the chit-chat, is one of
the domestic circle, and tells funny little anecdotes. (So do
Whewell and Airy.)
The Herschels know Abbot Lawrence and Edward Everett--and
everywhere these two have left a good impression. But I am
certainly mortified by anecdotes that I hear of "pushing"
Americans. Mrs. ---- sought an introduction to Sir John Herschel
to tell him about an abridgment of his Astronomy which she had
made, and she intimated to him that in consequence of her
abridgment his work was, or would be, much more widely known in
America. Lady Herschel told me of it, and she remarked, "I
believe Sir John was not much pleased, for he does not like
abridgments." I told her that I had never heard of the
abridgment.
There are other guests in the house: a lady whose sister was
among those killed in India; and her husband, who is an officer
in the army. We have all been playing at "Spelling" this
evening, with the letters, as we did at home last winter.
Sunday, 15th. I thought of going to London to-day, but was
easily persuaded to stay and go with Lady Herschel to-morrow.
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