Women in Science. 231 



less closely touches my own. I shall not, therefore, be at all ex- 

 haustive. But I cannot refrain from saying a few words of Mary 

 Somerville whom I believe to have been not onh' the most eminent 

 woman in Science of her time, but of all time. Her love of science 

 was not the outg^rowth of a regard for some person whom she 

 might assist as was the case with her contemporary, Caroline 

 Herschel, and most women who have entered the field of science. 



Indeed, love of scientific study, especially higher mathematics, 

 led her to persevere against the wishes of her friends and the 

 popular prejudice against the higher education of women which her 

 first husband shared. 



She did not, however, begin to publish until urged to do so by 

 friends who wished her to contribute a volume to the Society for 

 Diffusing Useful Knowledge. In his letter to Dr. Somerville asking if 

 Mrs. Somerville could not be prevailed upon to write an account of 

 Laplace's Mechanism of the Heavens, which should give to the un- 

 learned some insight into this work. Lord Brougham paid her the 

 high compliment of saying that it must be left undone unless Mrs. 

 Somerville would undertake it, as there was none other capable of 

 doing it. At the earnest solicitation of her husband she finally con- 

 sented to undertake the work. Of it she herself has written : 'Thus 

 suddenly and unexpectedly- the whole course of my life was changed. 

 I rose earh^ and made such arrangements with regard to my chil- 

 dren and famiU' aft'airs that I had time to write afterAvards ; not, 

 however, without many interruptions. A man can alwaA^s com- 

 mand his time under the plea of business, a woman is not allo\ved 

 any such excuse.' In this last expression has Mrs. Somerville shown 

 why so few women have become eminent in science. While she was 

 thorough^ a vi^omanly woman devoted to her family, enjoj^ng 

 societj' and mingling freely in it, fond of the theatre and of travel, 

 she despised the small talk of the gossip, and was one not to indulge 

 in frittering away her time. I must also call your attention to the 

 fact that Mrs. Somerville's second husband, himself a classical 

 scholar and a scientist, had no ambition for himself but chose to 

 assist his illustrious wife in revising her MSS., correcting the proofs 

 and verif3'ing her results — in short, to do for her what most women 

 of ability do for their husbands. 



Dr. Maria Mitchell, professor of astronomy at Vassar, has so 

 recenth" been brought to the notice of everyone at her death that it 

 is not necessary to recount her achievements. 



The direct influence of woman upon the natural and physical 

 sciences has been little felt ; but indirectly women have done a great 

 deal. First, as helpers of their masculine friends; secondly, by 



