86 Mary Somerville. 



LETTEE FROM MRS. SOMERVILLE TO THE 

 BEV. DR. SOMERVILLE. 



EDINBURGH, 1st June, 1812. 

 MY DEAR SIR, 



I have this moment been gratified and de- 

 lighted with your excellent and affectionate letter ; the 

 intercourse we have so long enjoyed has always been a 

 source of the purest pleasure to me, and the kind interest 

 you have taken from my infancy in my welfare was at all 

 times highly flattering, and much valued ; but now that 

 the sacred name of Father is added, nothing is wanting 

 to complete my happiness ; and you may rest assured 

 that William is not more anxious to hasten our visit to 



Jedburgh than I am With the affectionate 



love of all here, 



I remain your ever most affectionate daughter, 

 MARY SOMERVILLE. 



P.S. I am much flattered by the Latin quotation, 

 and feel happy that your instructions have enabled me to 

 read it. 



[I will now proceed with the extracts from my mother's 

 Recollections : 



My husband had been present at tbe taking of the 

 Cape of Good Hope, and was sent by the authorities 

 to make a treaty with the savage tribes on the 

 borders of the colony, who had attacked the boors, 

 or Dutch farmers, and carried off their cattle. In 



