Dr. Whewelts Sonnet. 171 



I am charged also to return the thanks of the Philosophi- 

 cal Society here for the copy presented to them. I have 

 not thought it necessary to send the official letter con- 

 taining the acknowledgment, as Mrs. Somerville will 

 probably have a sufficient collection of specimens of such 

 character. 1 nave also to thank her on the part of our 

 College for the copy sent to the library. I am glad that 

 our young mathematicians in Trinity will have easy access 

 to the book, which will be very good for them as soon as 

 they can read it. When Mrs. Somerville shows herself 

 in the field which we mathematicians have been labouring 

 in all our lives, and puts us to shame, she ought not to 

 be surprised if we move off to other ground, and betake 

 ourselves to poetry. If the fashion of * commendatory 

 verses' were not gone by, I have no doubt her work 

 might have appeared with a very pretty collection of 

 well-deserved poetical praises in its introductory pages. 

 As old customs linger longest in places like this, I hope 

 she and you will not think it quite extravagant to send a 

 single sonnet on the occasion. 



" Believe me, 



"Faithfully yours, 



"W. WHEWELL." 



TO MRS. SOMERVILLE, 

 ON HER "MECHANISM OP THE HEAVENS." 



LADY, it was the wont in earlier days 

 When some fair volume from a valued pen, 

 Long looked for, came at last, that grateful men 

 Hailed its forthcoming in complacent lays : 

 As if the Muse would gladly haste to praise 

 That which her mother, Memory, long should keep 

 Among her treasures. Shall such usage sleep 

 With us, who feel too slight the common phrase 



