Appointment to Chelsea. 153 



ceeded a calm sorrow not less painful, a feeling of hope- 

 lessness in this world which only finds comfort in the 

 prospect of another, which longs for the consummation 

 of all things that we may join those who have gone 

 before. To return to the duties of life is irksome, even 

 to those duties which were a delight when the candle of 

 the Lord shone upon us. I do not arraign the decrees 

 of Providence, hut even in the bitterness of my soul I 

 acknowledge the wisdom and goodness of God, and 

 endeavour to be resigned to His will. It is ungrateful 

 not to remember the many happy years we have enjoyed, 

 but that very remembrance renders our present state 

 more desolate and dreaiy presenting a sad contrast. 

 The great source of consolation is in the mercy of God 

 and the virtues of those we lament ; the full assurance 

 that no good disposition can be lost but must be brought 

 to perfection in a better world. Our business is to 

 render ourselves fit for that blessed inheritance that we 

 may again be united to those we mourn. 



Your affectionate daughter, 



MARY SOMERVILLE. 



Somerville still held his place at the army medical 

 board, and was now appointed physician to Chelsea 

 Hospital ; so we left our cheerful, comfortable house 

 and went to reside in a government house in a very 

 dreary and unhealthy situation, far from all our 

 friends, which was a serious loss to me, as I was not 

 a good walker, and during the whole time I lived 

 at Chelsea I suffered from sick headaches. Still we 



