Our intimacy had increased, and we had arranged
to get married. He was twenty-four, and I was nineteen, when we
were happily united. I was then his pupil for life.
"Professor Phillips saw his first telescope, with the
object-glass made out of the thick tumbler bottom, and he was so
much pleased with it that my husband made it over to him. But he
also got an order for another, from Mr. Gray, solicitor, more by
way of encouragement than because Mr. Gray wanted it, for he was
a most kind man. The object-glass was of four-inch aperture, and
when mounted the defining power was found excellent. My husband
was so successful with his telescopes that he went on from
smaller to greater, and at length he began to think of devoting
himself to optics altogether. His knowledge of mathematics had
led him on, and friends were always ready to encourage him in his
pursuits.
"During this time he had continued his teaching at the school in
the day-time; and he also taught on his own account the sons of
gentlemen in the evening: amongst others the sons of Dr. Wake and
Dr. Belcomb, both medical men. He was only making about 100L. a
year, and his family was increasing. It was necessary to be very
economical, and I was careful of everything. At length my uncle
Milner agreed to advance about 100L. as a loan. A shop was taken
in Stonegate in 1836, and provided with optical instruments.
Pages:
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433