320 Mary Somerville. 



learnt so much that was new. I am glad to hear that 

 the Queen has been so kind to my friend Faraday ; it 

 seems she has given him an apartment at Hampton 

 Court nicely fitted up. She went to see it herself, and 

 having consulted scientific men as to the instruments 

 that were necessary for his pursuits, she had a laboratory 

 fitted up with them, and made him a present of the whole. 

 That is doing things handsomely, and no once since 

 Newton has deserved it so much. 



FROM MRS. SOMERVILLE TO TV. GREIG, ESQ. 



FLOBENCE, 5th June, 1859. 



All is perfectly quiet ; a large body of 



French troops are now in Tuscany, and many more are 

 expected probably to make a diversion on this side of the 

 Austrian army through Modena ; but nothing is known ; 

 the most profound secrecy is maintained as to all military 

 movements. Success has hitherto attended the allied 

 army, and the greatest bravery has been shown. The 

 enthusiasm among the men engaged is excessive, the 

 King of Sardinia himself the bravest of the brave, but 

 exposes himself so much that the people are making 

 petitions to him to be more careful. The Zouaves called 

 out in the midst of the battle, " Le roi est un Zouave ! " 

 Prince Napoleon keeps very quiet, and avoids shewing 

 himself as much as possible. The French troops are 

 very fine indeed young, gay, extremely civil and well 

 bred. The secrecy is quite curious ; even the colonels 

 of the regiments do not know where they may be sent 

 till the order comes : so all is conjecture The 



