Birth and education of Sir John Herschel--Honours at Cambridge--First publication--Continues his scientific studies--His numerous literary contributions--His devotion to his father's reputation--The forty-foot telescope--Herschel's observations on the double and triple stars--On the refraction and polarization of light--Catalogue of nebulae and star-clusters--Voyage to Cape Town--Letter to Miss Herschel--Study of the southern heavens--Return to England--Distinctions conferred upon him--His "Familiar Lectures on Scientific Subjects"--His description of volcanoes and earthquakes--Continual changes in the configuration of the earth--Violent earthquakes--Phenomena of volcanic eruptions--In Mexico--In the island of Sumbawa--Herschel's theory of volcanic forces--His character
Caroline Herschel's devotion to her brother William--Her grief and solitariness at his death--Reflections on the mutability of human things--Aunt and nephew--A parsimonious government--Miss Herschel's gold medal--South on Sir William's discoveries--On Miss Herschel's devotion--Her own astronomical discoveries--Her life at Hanover--Her wonderful memory--Anecdotes of Sir John Herschel--Correspondence between aunt and nephew--The path of duty--Sir John's visit to Miss Herschel--Reminiscences of early years--A nonogenarian--A Christmas in Hanover--Last days of Caroline Herschel--Her death--Her epitaph