352 Mary Somerville. 



posed my name, and for a very kind letter, in- 

 forming me of the honour conferred upon me. 

 * # * # * 



I have still (in 1869) the habit of studying in 

 bed from eight in the morning till twelve or one 

 o'clock ; but, I am left solitary ; for I have lost my' 

 little bird who was my constant companion for eight 

 years. It had both memory and intelligence, and 

 such confidence in me as to sleep upon my arm 

 while I was writing. My daughter, to whom it 

 was much attached, coming into my room early, 

 was alarmed at its not flying to meet her, as it 

 generally did, and at last, after a long search, the 

 poor little creature was found drowned in the jug. 



On the 4th October, while at dinner, we had a 

 shock of earthquake. The vibrations were nearly 

 north and south ; it lasted but a few seconds, and 

 was very slight ; but in Calabria, &c., many villages 

 and towns were overthrown, and very many people 

 perished. The shocks were repeated again and 

 again ; only one was felt at Naples ; but as it 

 occurred in the night, we were unconscious of it. 

 At Naples, it was believed there would be an 

 eruption of Vesuvius ; for the smoke was particu- 

 larly dense and black, and some of the wells were 

 dried up. 



