270 Mary Somerville. 



were cultivated. I was highly gratified and proud 

 of being godmother to Rosa, the daughter of Sir 

 John and Lady Herschel. Among other places near 

 Collingwood I was taken to see an excellent observa- 

 tory formed by Mr. Dawes, a gentleman of inde- 

 pendent fortune ; and here I must remark, to the 

 honour of my countrymen, that at the time I am 

 writing, there are twenty-six private observatories in 

 Great Britain and Ireland, furnished with first-rate 

 instruments, with which some of the most important 

 astronomical discoveries have been made. 



[I received the following letter from my mother -while 

 we were at Genzano. It is one of several which record 

 in her natural and unaffected words my mother's profound 

 admiration for Sir John Herschel. 



MES. SOMERVILLE TO MISS SOMERVILLE. 



SYDENHAM, 1st September, 1844. 

 Sunday Night. 



MY DEAR MARTHA, 



.... We go to the Herschels' to-morrow, and there I 

 shall finish this letter, as it is impossible to get it in 

 time for Tuesday's post, but I have so much to do now 

 that you must not expect a letter every post, and I had 

 no time to begin this before, and I am too tired to sit up 

 later to-night 



COLLINGWOOD, Monday. 



This appears to be a remarkably beautiful place, with 

 abundance of fine timber. . . . W. brought your dear nice 



