First Marriage. 75 



respecting the tides, and what important results any 

 advance in that subject would have. I hope, through 

 your Russian friends, you may have the means of 

 bringing this memorandum to the notice of the adminis- 

 tration of their navy, so as to lead to some steps being 

 taken, in the way of directing observations to be 

 made. The Russian Government has shown so much 

 zeal in promoting science, that I hope it will not be 

 difficult to engage them in a kind of research so easy, 

 BO useful practically, and so interesting in its theoretical 

 bearing. 



Believe me, dear Mrs. Somerville, 

 Very faithfully yours,. 



"W. WHEWELL. 



My husband had taken me to his bachelor's house 

 in London, which was exceedingly small and ill 

 ventilated. I had a key of the neighbouring square, 

 where I used to walk. I was alone the whole of the 

 day, so I 'continued my mathematical and other 

 pursuits, but under great disadvantages; for although 

 my husband did not prevent me from studying, I 

 met with no sympathy whatever from him, as he 

 had a very low opinion of the capacity of my sex, 

 and had neither knowledge of nor interest in science 

 of any kind. I took lessons in French, and learnt 

 to speak it so as to be understood. I had no car- 

 riage, so went to the nearest church ; but, accus- 



