264 Mary Somerville. 



as clear and the spirits as buoyant as ever. You -will 

 be glad to hear that she even has it in her thoughts 

 to write a new work, and has the plan of it nearly 

 arranged. These will be nothing new in the story 

 itself, but the purpose and treating of it will be new, 

 which is, perhaps, a better thing. In our retired way of 

 living, we know little of what goes on in the literary 



world I was, however, in town for a few hours 



the other da} T , and called upon a lady of rank who has 

 fashionable learned folks coming about her, and she in- 

 formed me that there are new ideas regarding philosophy 

 entertained in the world, and that Sir John Herschel 

 was now considered as a slight, second-rate man, or 

 person. Who are the first-rate she did not say, and, I 

 suppose, you will not be much mortified to hear that your 

 name was not mentioned at' all. So much for our learning. 

 My sister was much disappointed the other day when, in 

 expectation of a ghost story from Mr. Dickens, she only 

 got a grotesque moral allegory ; now, as she delights in 

 a ghost and hates an allegory, this was very provoking. 



Believe me, 

 My dear Mrs. Somerville, 



Yours with admiration and esteem, 



J. BAILLIE. 



FROM MISS JOANNA BAILLIE TO MRS. SOMERVILLE. 



HAMPSTEAD, January $th, 1851. 

 MY DEAR FRIEND, 



My dear Mary Somerville, whom I am proud to 

 call my friend, and that she so calls me. I could say 

 much on this point, but I dare not. I received your 



