All during his life he was placing some of the less fortunate and energetic members of his family.
We cannot be too grateful to Dr. MILLER, who, seeing his opportunity, used it. Their frank friendship does honor to both. HERSCHEL'S organ-playing, which no doubt had been begun when his brother was the organist of the garrison chapel at Hanover, must have been perfected at this time, and it was through his organ-playing that he was able to leave the needy life in Yorkshire.
He was sure to have emerged sooner or later, but every year spared to him as a struggling musician was a year saved to Astronomy.
During all this period, a constant correspondence was maintained between the family at Hanover and the absent son.
Many of WILLIAM'S letters were written in English, and addressed to his brother JACOB, and treated of such subjects as the Theory of Music, in which he was already far advanced.
His little sister was still faithful to the memory of her _dearest_ brother, and his father, whose health was steadily declining, became painfully eager for his return. In 1764 (April 2), he returned to Hanover on a very brief visit. He was attached to England, he was prospering there, and he had no inclination towards returning to a life in Hanover. His sister says:
"Of the joys and pleasures which all felt at this long-wished-for meeting with my--let me say my _dearest_--brother, but a small portion could fall to my share; for with my constant attendance at church and school, besides the time I was employed in doing the drudgery of the scullery, it was but seldom I could make one in the group when the family were assembled together.
"In the first week, some of the orchestra were invited to a concert, at which some of my brother WILLIAM'S compositions, overtures, etc., and some of my eldest brother JACOB'S were performed, to the great delight of my dear father, who hoped and expected that they would be turned to some profit by publishing them, but there was no printer who bid high enough.
"Sunday, the 8th, was the--to me--eventful day of my confirmation, and I left home not a little proud and encouraged by my dear brother WILLIAM'S approbation of my appearance in my new gown."
The engagement of HERSCHEL at Halifax did not long continue. In 1766 he obtained an advantageous engagement as oboist at Bath, and soon after the position of organist at the Octagon Chapel was offered to him and accepted. This was a great and important change.