824 Mary Somerville. 



most important event in their lives, as it was to her even 

 in her grief. The true Italian taste appeared to per- 

 fection in every street through which the procession 

 passed to the Duomo, and thence to the Palazzo Pitti. 

 Those who saw it declare nothing could surpass the 

 splendour of the cathedral when illuminated; but that 

 we could not see, nor did we see the procession again; it 

 was impossible to penetrate the crowd. They say there 



are 40,000 strangers in Florence I was much 



too tired to go out again to see the illuminations and the 

 fireworks on the Ponte Carraja ; your sisters saw it all, 

 so I leave them to tell you all about it. The King and 

 Prince are terribly early ; they and Kicasoli are on horse- 

 back \>yfive in the morniug ; the King dines at twelve, 

 and never touches food afterwards, though he has a 



dinner party of 60 or 80 every day at six 



Now, my dearest Woronzow, I must end, for I do not 

 wish to miss another post. I am really wonderfully well 

 for my age. 



Your devoted mother, 



MARY SOMERVILLE. 



FEOM MES. SOMERVILLE TO W. GEEIG, ESQ. 



FLOKENCE, 19z!A June, 1861. 



. . Italy has been thrown into the deepest 

 affliction by the death of Cavour. In my long life I never 

 knew any event whatever which caused so universal and 

 deep sorrow. There is not a village or town throughout 

 the whole peninsula which has not had a funeral service, 

 and the very poorest people, who had hardly clothes on 

 their backs, had black crape tied round their arm or neck. 



