Personal Recollections, from Early Life to Old Age, of Mary Somerville   By: Mary Somerville (1780-1872)

FROM EARLY LIFE TO OLD AGE,

OF

MARY SOMERVILLE.

WITH

Selections from her Correspondence.

BY HER DAUGHTER, MARTHA SOMERVILLE.

FIFTH THOUSAND.

LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, 1874.

[ The Right of Translation is reserved. ]

WORKS BY MRS. SOMERVILLE.

THE MECHANISM OF THE HEAVENS. 8vo. 1831.

THE CONNECTION OF THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES. 9th Edition. Post 8vo. 9 s. 1858.

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 6th Edition. Post 8vo. 9 s. 1870.

MOLECULAR AND MICROSCOPIC SCIENCE. 2 vols. Post 8vo. 21 s. 1869.

[Transcriber's Note: commentary by the author, with the exception of her opening and closing words are enclosed in square brackets. In the original text, only an open square bracket was used.]

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. PAGE

INTRODUCTION PARENTAGE LIFE IN SCOTLAND IN THE LAST CENTURY EARLY EDUCATION SCHOOL 1

CHAPTER II.

FREEDOM RELIGIOUS EDUCATION JEDBURGH 24

CHAPTER III.

EDINBURGH YOUTHFUL STUDIES AND AMUSEMENTS POLITICS THE THEATRES OF THE TIME 41

CHAPTER IV.

EDINBURGH SUPPER PARTIES TOUR IN THE HIGHLANDS MUTINY IN THE FLEET BATTLE OF CAMPERDOWN 61

CHAPTER V.

FIRST MARRIAGE (1804) WIDOWHOOD STUDIES SECOND MARRIAGE 73

CHAPTER VI.

SOMERVILLE FAMILY DR. SOMERVILLE'S CHARACTER LETTERS JOURNEY TO THE LAKES DEATH OF SIR WILLIAM FAIRFAX REMINISCENCES OF SIR WALTER SCOTT 83

CHAPTER VII.

LIFE IN HANOVER SQUARE VISIT TO FRANCE ARAGO CUVIER ROME 104

CHAPTER VIII.

EDUCATION OF DAUGHTERS DR. WOLLASTON DR. YOUNG THE HERSCHELS 127

CHAPTER IX.

SOCIETY IN LONDON CORONATION OF GEORGE IV. LETTER TO DR. SOMERVILLE 140

CHAPTER X.

DEATH OF MARGARET SOMERVILLE LETTER FROM MRS. SOMERVILLE TO THE REV. DR. SOMERVILLE LIFE AT CHELSEA THE NAPIERS MARIA EDGEWORTH TOUR IN GERMANY 152

CHAPTER XI.

LETTER FROM LORD BROUGHAM WRITES "MECHANISM OF THE HEAVENS" ANECDOTE OF THE ROMAN IMPROVISATRICE LETTERS FROM SIR JOHN HERSCHEL AND PROFESSOR WHEWELL ELECTED HON. MEMBER OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY NOTICE IN THE ACADÉMIE DES SCIENCES, AND LETTER FROM M. BIOT PENSION LETTER FROM SIR ROBERT PEEL BEGINS TO WRITE ON THE CONNECTION OF THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES VISIT TO CAMBRIDGE LETTERS FROM PROFESSOR SEDGWICK AND LAPLACE 161

CHAPTER XII.

PARIS ARAGO, LAFAYETTE, MM. BOUVARD, POISSON, LACROIX, &C., MARQUISE DE LAPLACE, DUPIN, F. COOPER LEGITIMISTE SOCIETY MAJENDIE VISIT BARON LOUIS LETTER FROM LAFAYETTE 183

CHAPTER XIII.

RETURN TO ENGLAND LETTER FROM HALLAM TREATISE ON THE FORM AND ROTATION OF THE EARTH AND PLANETS SECOND EDITION OF "THE CONNEXION OF THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES" LETTERS FROM MARIA EDGEWORTH, MISS BERRY, LORD BROUGHAM, MRS. MARCET, ADMIRAL SMYTH DOUBLE STARS ECLIPSE OF DOUBLE STARS LETTER FROM ADMIRAL SMYTH SIR WILLIAM HERSCHEL NEBULÆ LETTER FROM LORD ROSSE LETTER FROM SIR JOHN HERSCHEL SIR JAMES SOUTH'S OBSERVATORY MR. JOHN MURRAY MISS BERRY LORD DUDLEY MR. BOWDITCH AND OTHER DISTINGUISHED AMERICANS MRS. BROWNING WASHINGTON LETTER FROM THE REV. DR. TUCKERMAN SIR WILLIAM FAIRFAX ATTACKED BY HIGHWAYMEN 198

CHAPTER XIV.

ROME, NAPLES, AND COMO BADEN WINTER AT FLORENCE SIENA LETTER FROM LORD BROUGHAM MR MOUNTSTEWART ELPHINSTONE LIFE AT ROME CAMPAGNA CATTLE 230