appearance at her house, and united with her husband in persuading her to undertake the work. But it was only after much thought and some amount of pressure that she at length promised, and then only upon one condition. "I am afraid," she said, with her usual modesty, "I am incapable of such a task; but as you both wish it so much, I shall do my very best upon condition of secrecy, and that if I fail the manuscript shall be put into the fire." This was agreed to, and with characteristic energy she immediately set about a task which, as she herself observes, changed the whole character and course of her future life.

At

Her own condition of secrecy added somewhat to the difficulties of her task, and during its progress she was subject to many and frequent interruptions. "I rose early," she writes, "and made such arrangements with regard to my children and family affairs that I had time to write afterwards; not, however, without many interruptions. A man can always command his time under the plea of business; a woman is not allowed any such excuse. Chelsea I was always supposed to be at home; and as my friends and acquaintances came so far out of their way on purpose to see me, it would have been unkind and ungenerous not to receive them. Nevertheless, I was sometimes annoyed when, in the midst of a difficult problem, some one would enter and say, 'I have come to spend a few hours with you.' However, I learned by habit to leave a subject and resume it again at once, like putting a mark into a book I might be reading. This was the more necessary as there was no fireplace in my little room, and I had to write in the drawing-room in winter. Frequently I hid my papers as soon as the bell announced a visitor, lest any one should discover my secret."

It was some time before Mrs Somerville completed her task. But in spite of the many and various distractions which hampered the progress, it was at length finished and sent to Lord Brougham, with the request that it might be thoroughly examined and criticised, and if a failure, destroyed. But the competent judges to whom it was submitted declared, one and all, that it was a masterpiece, alike in simplicity of style, in clearness of arrangement, and in point of knowledge. Sir John Herschel himself wrote to the authoress a letter of congratulation, saying, "I have read your manuscript with the greatest pleasure, and will not hesitate to add (because I am sure you will believe it sincere), with the highest admiration. What a pity that La Place has not lived to see this illustration of his greatest work! You will only, I fear, give too strong a stimulus to the study of abstract science by this performance." A copy was sent to Dr Whewell, who, in acknowledging it, said: “I shall have peculiar satisfaction in possessing it as a gift of the

author, a book which I look upon as one of the most remarkable which our age has produced, which would be highly valuable from any one, and which derives a peculiar interest from its writer." And he enclosed in his letter the following sonnet:

"TO MRS SOMERVILLE,

"On her 'Mechanism of the Heavens.' "Lady, it was the wont in earlier days, When some fair volume from a valued pen, Long looked for, came at last, that grateful men Hailed its forthcoming in complacent lays: As if the Muse would gladly haste to praise That which her mother, Memory, long should keep Among her treasures. Shall such usage sleep With us, who feel too slight the common phrase For our pleased thoughts of you, when thus we find That dark to you seems bright, perplexed seems plain,

Seen in the depths of a pellucid mind,

Full of clear thought, pure from the ill and vain That cloud the inward light? An honoured name Be yours; and peace of heart grow with your growing fame."

It was speedily introduced into the course of studies at Cambridge, and the author elected an honorary member of the Royal Astronomical Society (at the same time as Miss Herschel). The Royal Society of London unanimously voted that her bust should be placed in their great hall, and Chantrey was chosen as the sculptor. A great shipbuilder at Liverpool called a fine ship he had just built the "Mary Somerville," and had a copy of her bust as a figure-head; and from the Civil List a pension of £200 a year was granted her by Sir Robert Peel. Those relations and friends who had most severely criticised and ridiculed her on her marriage because of her studies, astonished at her success, were now the loudest of all in her praise; but what most affected her was the heartiness and warmth with which her husband entered into her success.

But while exceedingly pleased at the results of her labours, having, as she herself observes, "once got into the habit of writing, she did not know what to do with her spare time." Her first work, however, soon opened up the way for more. In re-writing the preface of the "Mechanism of the Heavens for a later edition, she was struck by the mutual dependence and connection in many branches of science. This led her to project her second great work, "The Connection of the Physical Sciences." This involved an immense amount of research in both British and foreign authors; and in the midst of the labour thus undertaken, her health, which had never been good at Chelsea, became so bad as to render a change necessary. She was accordingly taken to Paris, partly because it was so near London, that her husband, who could not remain long with her at a time, might have the opportunity of fre

P

quently crossing the Channel for a flying visit. After her arrival she was so weak and ill, that for some little time she remained every day in bed till one o'clock writing, and then either went to sit in the Tuileries gardens or else received visits. As strength returned, and she was better able to undergo the fatigues of society, old friends clustered round her, and new friendships were formed. Every one competent to the task was only too willing to aid her in her work. M. Arago gave her some interesting memoirs, and lent her a mass of manuscripts, with leave to make what extracts she might deem necessary. When the work was completed, the printing proved a somewhat tedious business, as all the corrected proofsheets had to be sent through the embassy.

ance.

In time, by care and the most loving attention of her daughters, a measure of health was at length restored to her, and she returned again to England and home. As soon as she was once more settled at Chelsea, her "Connection of the Physical Sciences" made its appearThe first edition was dedicated to Queen Adelaide, and was received by those capable of appreciating its beauties of style and matter with great favour. The fame of its gifted author was greatly extended, and after it had run through eight editions, the Quarterly Review in an able article thus spoke of it: "Unassuming in form and pretensions, but so original in design and perfect in execution, as well to merit the success of eight editions, each carefully embodying all of augmentation that science had intermediately received. Though rich in works on particular sciences, and richer still in those eminent discoveries which establish the relations amongst them, yet had we not before in English a book professedly undertaking to expound these connections, which form the greatest attainment of present science, and the most assured augury of higher knowledge beyond. Mrs Somerville held this conception steadily before her, and admirably fulfilled it. Her work, indeed, though small in size, is a true Cosmos in the nature of its design, and in the multitude of materials collected and condensed into the history it affords of the physical phenomena of the universe. In some respects, her scheme of treating these topics so far resembles that since adopted by Humboldt, that we may give Mrs Somerville credit for partial priority of design, while believing that she would be the last person to assert it for herself."

No sooner had this new book made its appearance in the world of science, than Mrs Somerville, at the suggestion of M. Poisson, commenced writing a volume on the form and rotation of the earth and planets, as a kind of complement to the "Mechanism of the Heavens." This work also included the analytical attraction of spheroids, the form and rotation of the earth, the tides of the ocean and

atmosphere, and small undulations. This finished, the active mind projected, and the no less active fingers accomplished, a work of 246 pages, on curves and surfaces of the second and higher order. While writing this last, as she observes, "con amore, a new edition of the Physical Sciences' was much needed, so I put on high pressure and worked at both." The two manuscripts above mentioned, however, were put on one side and forgotten, and it was not till years afterwards the author found them among her papers; and in her eighty-ninth year she amused herself by repairing the timeworn parts, surprised to find that she still retained facility in the calculus.

Mrs Somerville was already meditating and collecting materials for her work on "Physical Geography," when the dangerous illness of her husband and her own delicate health necessitated removal to a more genial climate than England, and the family accordingly went to Rome; and from that time she never again remained for any long continued period in her own country, and visits were very few, the after portion of her life being principally spent in Italy. Rome, Florence, Albano, Venice, Naples, were each and all favoured in turn. And wherever her temporary abode for the time might be, she seemed the chief attraction to men of science, literature, and art. To merely recapitulate the names of those illustrious by birth or attainments who, either as friends or acquaintances, entered into her life, would take up far more space than we can spare.

In Florence, an American friend invited her to an evening party, to meet an American authoress, who was desirous of making her acquaintance. On the evening in question the lady was placed beside her, that she might have an opportunity of conversing. Mrs Somerville addressed her several times, and gained nothing but very dry answers in return; at length the lady fairly turned her back upon her, and took no further notice. But the rudeness of the American authoress was far more than compensated for, by an introduction to Mrs Browning, "distinguished," says Mrs Somerville, “as much by her high mental qualities and poetical genius as by her modesty and simplicity."

Staying for a month at Bellaggio (then a most lonely village) on Lake Como, and one day making a boat excursion to Menaggio, at the upper end of the lake, she and her family encountered a storm that nearly proved fatal; it blew quite a gale, and the lake was one sheet of foam. The terrified boatmen, instead of attending to their boat, fell down on their knees in prayer to the Madonna. Mr Somerville himself was compelled to seize the helm and lower the sail, or all would have been drowned.

It was during a visit to her relations on the

banks of the Tweed, when for a short period in England, that her "Physical Geography" was completed, and preparations were being made for its publication when Humboldt's “Cosmos' appeared. She at once determined to put her own manuscript in the fire; fortunately her husband thought otherwise, and said, "Do not be rash-consult some of our friends-Herschel, for instance." Sir John advised her by all means to publish it; and the favour with which it was received, and the success it met with on its appearance, justified the eminent astronomer's advice. Sir Henry Holland favourably reviewed it in the Quarterly. This was the third great work with which Mrs Somerville had enriched the world of science and letters, and six editions of the work were required during the author's lifetime. Its success, however, would perhaps have been greater but for one reason. "No one," says Mrs Somerville, "has attempted to copy my Connection of the Physical Sciences,' the subjects are too difficult; but soon after the publication of the Physical Geography,' a number of cheap books appeared, just keeping within the letter of the law, on which account it has only gone through five editions. However, a sixth is now required."

Mrs Somerville was residing in Florence when the Italian war of liberation broke out, and saw the entry of the French troops under Prince Jerome Napoleon, with the enthusiastic welcome they received from the inhabitants, who hailed them as their deliverers from the Austrians. She likewise witnessed the entry of Victor Emmanuel into Florence, from the balcony of her friend, the Marchesa Lajatico. Indeed, she took a most lively interest in the affairs of Italy, throwing all her sympathies into the popular cause; her letters to her son fully prove this, and her account of the universal sorrow felt by the Italians on the death of Cavour is very touching. "Italy," she writes, "has been thrown into the deepest affliction by the death of Cavour. In my long life I never knew any event whatever which caused so universal and deep sorrow. There is not a village or town throughout the whole peninsula which has not had a funeral service, and the very poorest people, who had hardly clothes on their backs, had black crape tied round their arm or neck. It was a state of consternation, and no wonder!"

In June 1860, Mrs Somerville lost her husband after only three days' illness, a loss she felt severely; and in 1865 her beloved son suddenly expired. But between those two dates a work had been commenced and finished-her fourth great work, "Molecular and Microscopic Science." Speaking of it herself, she says she made a great mistake in writing it, and repented doing so, adding, "Mathematics are the natural bent of my mind. If I had devoted myself exclusively to that study, I might probably have

written something useful, as a new era had begun in that science."

Extreme old age did not for one moment damp the intellectual ardour of this remarkable woman; no social or scientific question was started but received her instant and earnest attention, whether merely of passing or deeper and more permanent interest. She could alike feel interest in the problems of higher algebra, the speculations of Darwin, or the fate of Mr Herbert's bill for the protection of land birds. The beauties and glories of the earth, sea, and sky were always an unfailing source of delight to her, and her love for all living creatures never, while life lasted, ceased. Hear her beautiful confession, written in her eightyninth year:

"I have lately entered my eighty-ninth year, grateful to God for the innumerable blessings He has bestowed on me and my children; at peace with all on earth, and I trust that I may be at peace with my Maker when my last hour comes, which cannot now be far distant. The short time I have to live naturally occupies my thoughts. In the blessed hope of meeting again with my beloved children, and those who were and are dear to me on earth, I think of death with composure, and perfect confidence in the mercy of God. Yet to me, who am afraid to sleep alone on a stormy night, or even to sleep comfortably any night unless some one is near, it is a fearful thought that my spirit must enter that new state of existence quite alone. We are told of the infinite glories of that state, and I believe in them, though it is incomprehensible to us; but as I do comprehend, in some degree at least, the exquisite loveliness of the visible world, I confess I shall be sorry to leave it. I shall regret the sky, the sea, with all the changes of their beautiful colouring, the earth with its verdure and flowers; but far more shall I grieve to leave animals who have followed our steps affectionately for years, without knowing for certainty their ultimate fate, though I firmly believe the living principle is never extinguished. Since the atoms of matter are indestructible, as far as we know, it is difficult to believe that the spark which gives to their union life, memory, affection, intelligence, and fidelity, is evanescent. Every atom in the human frame, as well as in that of animals, undergoes a periodical change by continual waste and renovation; the abode is changed, not its inhabitant. If animals have no future, the existence of many is most wretched; multitudes are starved, cruelly beaten and loaded during life; many die under a barbarous vivisection. I cannot believe that any creature was created for uncompensated misery; it would be contrary to the attributes of God's mercy and justice. I am sincerely happy to find that I am not the only believer in the immortality of the lower animals."

In her ninetieth year, Professor Peirce of

America sent her a "lithographed copy of a very profound memoir in linear and associative algebra." In reading the work, she met with a few difficulties, and from Mr Spottiswoode procured some books to lend her assistance in overcoming them. "Now I got exactly what I wanted," she writes, "and I am very busy for a few hours every morning; delighted to have an occupation so entirely to my mind. I thank God that my intellect is still unimpaired. I am grateful to Professor Peirce for giving me an opportunity of exercising it so agreeably. During the rest of the day I have recourse to Shakespeare, Dante, and more modern light reading, besides the newspapers, which always interested me much. I have resumed my habit of working, and can count the threads of a fine canvas without spectacles. I receive every one who comes to see me, and often have the pleasure of a visit | from old friends very unexpectedly. In the evening I read a novel, but my tragic days are over. I prefer a cheerful conversational novel to the sentimental ones. I have recently been reading Walter Scott's novels again, and enjoyed the broad Scotch in them. I play a few games of bézique with one of my daughters, for honour and glory, and so our evenings pass pleasantly enough."

Her remarkable powers of activity both of mind and body remained almost unimpaired to the close. A few months before her death, and in her ninety-second year, she drove about to see the splendid eruption of Vesuvius of 1872, of which she has left a very graphic account. And in this ninety-second year of her age she thus writes: “I am now in my ninety-second year, still able to drive out for several hours. I am extremely deaf, and my memory of ordinary events, and especially of the names of people, is failing, but not for mathematical and scientific subjects. I am still able to read books on the higher algebra for four or five hours in the morning, and even to solve the problems. Sometimes I find them difficult, but my old obstinacy remains; for if I do not succeed to-day, I attack them again on the morrow. I also enjoy reading about all the new discoveries and theories in the scientific world, and on all branches of science."

But even Mary Somerville, whose life extended over so many years, was loath to say farewell to the world. She regretted she should not live long enough to see several things accomplished and several mooted questions settled. "Though far advanced in years," she writes, "I take as lively an interest as ever in passing events. I regret that I shall not live to know the result of the expedition to determine the currents of the ocean, the distance of the earth from the sun,

determined by the transits of Venus, and the source of the most renowned of rivers, the discovery of which will immortalise the name of Dr Livingstone. But I regret most of all that I shall not see the suppression of the most atrocious system of slavery that ever disgraced humanity-that made known to the world by Dr Livingstone and by Mr Stanley, and which Sir Bartle Frere has gone to suppress by order of the British Government."

But in the next and concluding paragraph of her "Personal Recollections," we find words of submission, resignation, and gratitude for a life so long preserved. "The Blue Peter has been long flying at my foremast, and now that I am in my ninety-second year, I must soon expect the signal for sailing. It is a solemn voyage, but it does not disturb my tranquillity. Deeply sensible of my utter unworthiness, and profoundly grateful for the innumerable blessings I have received, I trust in the infinite mercy of my Almighty Creator. I have every reason to be thankful that my intellect is still unimpaired; and although my strength is weakness, my daughters support my tottering steps, and by incessant care and help, make the infirmities of age so light to me that I am perfectly happy."

The end soon came; quietly and gently she passed from life unto death. Those around her were scarcely conscious when the great change

came.

She passed away in her sleep on the morning of the 29th of November 1872. Her grave is in the English Campo Santo of Naples.

Such was the life of Mary Somerville, a life without reproach. Profoundly and sincerely religious, with a solemn, deep-rooted faith, influencing thought and action, in the God she reverenced and loved, "which gave her strength to endure many sorrows, and was the mainspring of that extreme humility which was so remarkable a feature of her character," she was not one to talk glibly of her feelings and faith, holding them far too sacred to be talked of lightly, but with dear and intimate friends she spoke of them freely. She was indeed censured by name from the pulpit of York Cathedral; but all whom the pulpit has censured and condemned have not been infidels or unbelievers-perhaps in most instances, at least in many, better Christians even than those fulminating against them. Surely it is not the holding of this or that doctrine that makes the Christian, but instead, a life of consistency, purity, of duty cheerfully fulfilled, and of love towards God and His earthly children. And such was Mary Somerville's faith, and such her life. May her memory long be preserved among us, and her life carefully studied!