Herschel helped by making tidal observations off the coast of South Africa, and, as he complained to Whewell, he was knocked off the docks during a violent high tide for his trouble.
Herschel hjalp med at lave observationer over tidevandet ud for Sydafrikas kyst, og, som han beklagede til Whewell, blev han væltet ned fra dokken under et voldsomt højvande.