I took pleasure in finding out the roots or
radixes of words, and from time to time I added foreign
dictionaries to my little library. But I took most pleasure in
astronomy.
"The perusal of Sir John Herschel's 'Outlines of Astronomy,' and
of his 'Treatise on the Telescope,' set my mind on fire. I
conceived the idea of making a telescope of my own, for I could
not buy one. While reading the Mechanics' Magazine I observed
the accounts of men who made telescopes. Why should not I do the
same? Of course it was a matter of great difficulty to one who
knew comparatively little of the use of tools. But I had a
willing mind and willing hands. So I set to work. I think I
made my first telescope about twenty years ago. It was
thirty-six inches long, and the tube was made of pasteboard. I
got the glasses from Liverpool for 4s. 6d. Captain Owens, of the
ship Talacra, bought them. He also bought for me, at a
bookstall, the Greek Lexicon and the Greek New Testament, for
which he paid 7s. 6d. With my new telescope I could see
Jupiter's four satellites, the craters on the moon, and some of
the double stars. It was a wonderful pleasure to me.
"But I was not satisfied with the instrument. I wanted a bigger
and a more perfect one. I sold it and got new glasses from
Solomon of London, who was always ready to trust me. I think it
was about the year 1868 that I began to make a reflecting
telescope.
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