Sir John Herschel. 265 



letter from Mr. Greig last night, and thank you very 

 gratefully. If my head were less confused I should do it 

 better, but the pride I have in thinking of you as philoso- 

 pher and a woman cannot be exceeded. I shall read your 

 letter many times over. My sister and myself at so great, 

 an age are waiting to be called away in mercy by an 

 Almighty Father, and we part with our earthly friends as 

 those whom we shall meet again. My great monster 

 book is now published, and your copy I shall send to your 

 son who will peep into it, and then forward it to your- 

 self. I beg to be kindly and respectfully remembered to 

 your husband ; I offer my best wishes to your daugh- 

 ters 



Yours, my dear Friend, 



Ver^ faithfully, 



JOANNA BAILLIE. 



My sister begs of you and all your family to accept her 

 best wishes. 



FROM SIR JOHN HERSCHEL TO MRS. SOMERVILLE. 



18<7t March, 1844. 

 MY DEAR MRS. SOMERVILLE, 



To have received a letter from you so long ago, and 

 not yet to have thanked you for it, is what I could hardly 

 have believed myself if the rapid lapse of time in the 

 uniform retirement in which we live were not pressed upon 

 me in a variety of ways which convince me that as a man 

 grows older, his sand, as the grains get low in the glass, 

 slips through more glibly, and steals away with accele- 

 rated speed. I wish I could either send you a copy of 

 my Cape observations, or tell you they are published 



