well-deserved poetical praises in its
introductory pages. As old customs linger longest in places like
this, I hope she and you will not think it quite extravagant to send
a single sonnet on the occasion.

"Believe me,
"Faithfully yours,
"W. WHEWELL."

TO MRS. SOMERVILLE,

ON HER "MECHANISM OF THE HEAVENS."

Lady, it was the wont in earlier days
When some fair volume from a valued pen,
Long looked for, came at last, that grateful men
Hailed its forthcoming in complacent lays:
As if the Muse would gladly haste to praise
That which her mother, Memory, long should keep
Among her treasures. Shall such usage sleep
With us, who feel too slight the common phrase
For our pleased thoughts of you, when thus we find
That dark to you seems bright, perplexed seems plain,
Seen in the depths of a pellucid mind,
Full of clear thought, pure from the ill and vain
That cloud the inward light? An honoured name
Be yours; and peace of heart grow with your growing fame.

[Professor Peacock, afterwards Dean of Ely, in a letter, dated
February 14th, 1832, thanked my mother for a copy of the "Mechanism
of the Heavens."]

LETTER FROM PROFESSOR PEACOCK TO MRS. SOMERVILLE.

"I consider it to be a work which will contribute greatly to the
extension of the knowledge of physical astronomy, in this country,
and of the great analytical processes which have been employed in
such investigations. It is with this view that I consider it to be a
work of the greatest value and importance. Dr. Whewell and myself
have already taken steps to introduce it into the course of our
studies at Cambridge, and I have little doubt that it will
immediately become an essential work to those of our students who
aspire to the highest places in our examinations."

[On this my mother remarks:--]

* * * * *

I consider this as the highest honour I ever received, at the time I was
no less sensible of it, and was most grateful. I was surprised and
pleased beyond measure to find that my book should be so much approved
of by Dr. Whewell, one of the most eminent men of the age for science
and literature; and by Professor Peacock, a profound mathematician, who
with