88 Mary Somerville. 



my conduct was criticised by his family, and I have 

 no doubt by many others ; for as soon as our en- 

 gagement was known I received a most impertinent 

 letter from one of his sisters, who was unmarried, 

 and younger than I, saying, she "hoped I would 

 give up my foolish manner of life and studies, and 

 make a respectable and useful wife to her brother." 

 I was extremely indignant. My husband was still 

 more so, and wrote a severe and angry letter to 

 her; none of the family dared to interfere again. 

 I lived in peace with her, but there was a coldness 

 and reserve between us ever after. I forgot to 

 mention that during my widowhood I had several 

 offers of marriage. One of the persons whilst he 

 was paying court to me, sent me a volume of ser- 

 mons with the page ostentatiously turned down at a 

 sermon on the Duties of a Wife, which were expa- 

 tiated upon in the most illiberal and narrow-minded 

 language. I thought this as impertinent as it was 

 premature ; sent back the book and refused the 

 proposal. 



My uncle, the Rev. Dr. Somerville, was delighted 

 with my marriage with his son, for he was liberal, and 

 sincerely attached to me. We were married by hia 

 intimate friend, Sir Henry Moncreiff Wellwood, and 

 set off for the lakes in Cumberland. My husband's 

 second sister, Janet, resolved to go with us, and she 



