“In the evening we walked upon the terrace, where I was most graciously noticed by their Majesties, who both talked to me a considerable time. Both, also, condescended to inquire much after my health, and seemed to observe with pleasure that I looked better than I had done in the spring. ‘Yes;’ I answered; ‘the fine weather has been more propitious to me than medicine.’
“‘I dare say it has!’ cried the King with quickness, and an expression that implied much of scepticism as to physic.
“In the evening, by the advice of Herschel, I accompanied him to the King’s concert at the castle. The performance, which was all of sacred music from Handel’s oratorio of Joseph, was begun before we arrived. At the end of the first part, his Majesty discovered, and graciously came up to us; and, after some remarks on the excellence of the choruses, [Pg 263] the King suddenly cried: ‘How goes on Astronomy, Dr. Burney?’
“This question quite astonished me, as I did not believe that any one hut Herschel knew what I had been about. I stared a little, but answered, ‘We must ask Dr. Herschel, Sir, the state of the heavens.’—‘O, but I know,’ cried he, moving his hand as if it held a pen, ‘that you are doing something!’
“On my bowing very humbly at the implied interest of such an inquiry, he said: ‘Well, you’ll make it entertaining, whatever it is. But how do you find time to write?’
“‘I make time, Sir;’ I replied; ‘I have a sinking fund.’
“‘What!’
“‘I take it out of my sleep, Sir, for extra occasions.’
“He seemed too kind to laugh, and only very seriously said: ‘But you’ll hurt your health.’”
