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15, 1860.] was the model of a hostess, well dressed, genial and hospitable, apparently with the constant blessings of a good cook, a neat house, and a perfect knowledge on her own part how to keep it. Her harp was in the corner, and her pictures on the walls; and there was the best society in London in her drawing-room.

This was when the impression of her first great work was fresh. Some experiments that she had made, showing the magnetic influence of the violet rays of the solar spectrum, had before directed the attention of some philosophical inquirers to her capabilities; and when the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge was set up, she was invited to prepare for it a popular version of Laplace’s “Mécanique Céleste.” She accomplished the task, but not in a form suitable for the Society; and her work was published independently under the title of “The Mechanism of the Heavens.” It was a radical mistake to set Mrs. Somerville to work on popular versions of scientific works. A different quality and character of mind is required for discovering abstract truths, and for putting them into a form which unscientific minds may comprehend. From her gentleness and simplicity, Mrs. Somerville was tractable, and undertook what she was told would be most useful; but the work was perplexing to her. When her first and second editions were sold in a wonderfully short time, her publisher asked her, with all due deference, whether she could not simplify some parts of the book, so as to bring them down to the comprehension of ordinary readers. She tried, and declared it the most difficult thing she had ever attempted. What the publisher and others called simplifying, seemed to her to be obscuring and perplexing her sense. When she quitted the precision and brevity of scientific terms, she could never tell what the matter would spread out to. This should have put an end to all interference with her course, as it proved the error of expecting the same mind to supply the two methods of exposition—the scientific and the popular.

If her first great work indicated her mathematical powers, her next exhibited the course of her philosophical tastes. She had given a brief account of her view of the Connexion of the Physical Sciences in the introduction to the “Mechanism of the Heavens:” and this view formed the groundwork of her second book. It is very interesting in its disclosures to unlearned persons, and as indicating the direction and variety of her studies; but it is defective in the masterly closeness, directness, and precision which her mind was capable of when dealing with mathematical truths. Its popularity amazed her, and delighted her friends; who, for the most part were unaware of the extent to which the country could furnish a reading public for scientific works, and who had mistaken the reasons for the failure of the publications of the Diffusion Society. One edition after another had to be prepared; and most conscientiously did Mrs. Somerville apply herself to improve each one as it was demanded. She was not the sort of author to write more books than she otherwise would, because she was sure of a favourable reception for anything she would publish. As far as I know, there is only one more book of hers; and that was issued many years later, when she had long resided abroad. This work, “Physical Geography,” appeared in 1848.

A characteristic feature of Mrs. Somerville’s taste appears in the dedications of her books, and indeed in their being dedicated at all. Not only recoiling from innovation in almost all ways, but somewhat old-fashioned in her habits of mind, she has through life taken pains to do what was proper, and in that anxiety has made such few and superficial mistakes as she has made. They are not worth a reference except for the light they cast on the force of her abstract faculties. She who dedicated her works (one to the Queen, and another to Sir J. Herschel), in the fashion of a former age, when author and readers had not been brought face to face; she who, because she was advised, not only went to Court, but took her daughters there; she who allowed her portrait to be prefixed to one of her own works; she who has always carefully kept abreast of a cautious conventionalism, and dreaded manifesting any originality except in one direction, has been so inspired in that direction as to be unconscious of the peculiarity which all the world was admiring. Hence her security from being spoiled. In 1835, she was chosen an honorary member of the Royal Astronomical Society; and the learned Societies of every civilised country followed this lead, till, as I said, she had a deep drawer full of diplomas; but neither this nor any other form of homage ever made the slightest difference in her manners, or seemed to occupy any part of her thoughts. Sitting beside old Dr. Dalton, on the sofa, talking of the atomic theory, or what not, she never perceived that the eyes of many strangers were upon her, and that the great men of the scientific world were trying to catch the tones of her voice. Her partial absence of mind is another evidence of the character and action of her intellect. No one can be further from what is called “absent” in society. No one can be more awake and alive to the conversation and the interests of others; yet her husband used to amuse himself, and astonish an occasional guest by proving how long it took to stir her up from her studies. She did not need an elaborate privacy for her pursuits. She used the family sitting room, when studying or writing; and, as soon as she was fairly engaged, her husband would begin libelling her in extravagant terms, and in a loud voice, without making her look up, till, at last, when he shouted her name, she would ask if he was speaking to her, and be surprised to see everybody laughing. Hers is the strongest and clearest case possible of a special intellectual organisation, compelling its own exercise in simplicity and honour.

Mrs. Somerville has been lost sight of, though never forgotten, for many years. About twenty years since, the health of Dr. Somerville caused the removal of the family to Italy, whence they have never returned, Dr. Somerville having died at the age of 93, a few weeks ago.

Their friends felt a sort of indignation at an incident which occurred soon after their departure. Of all people in Europe, Mrs. Somerville was the one who could by no means obtain a proper view of the comet of 1843. The only accessible