Herschel and Babbage had, a few years before, first introduced the
calculus as an essential branch of science into the University of
Cambridge.

In consequence of this decision the whole edition of the "Mechanism of
the Heavens," amounting to 750 copies, was sold chiefly at Cambridge,
with the exception of a very few which I gave to friends; but as the
preface was the only part of the work that was intelligible to the
general reader, I had some copies of it printed separately to give away.

I was astonished at the success of my book; all the reviews of it were
highly favourable; I received letters of congratulation from many men of
science. I was elected an honorary member of the Royal Astronomical
Society at the same time as Miss Caroline Herschel. To be associated
with so distinguished an astronomer was in itself an honour. Mr. De
Morgan, to whom I am indebted for many excellent mathematical works, was
then secretary of the society, and announced to us the distinction
conferred. The council of the Society ordered that a copy of the
"Greenwich Observations" should be regularly sent to me.

[The _Academie des Sciences_ elected my mother's old friend M. Biot
to draw up a report upon her "Mechanism of the Heavens," which he
did in the most flattering terms, and upon my mother writing to
thank him, replied as follows:--]

FROM M. BIOT TO MRS. SOMERVILLE.

MADAME,

Revenu de Lyon depuis quelques jours, j'ai trouve a Paris les deux
lettres dont vous avez daigne m'honorer, et j'ai recu egalement
l'exemplaire de votre ouvrage que vous avez bien voulu joindre a la
derniere. C'est etre mille fois trop bonne, Madame, que de me
remercier encore de ce qui m'a fait tant de plaisir. En rendant
compte de cet etonnant Traite, je remplissais d'abord un devoir,
puisque l'Academie m'avait charge de le lire pour elle; mais ce
devoir m'offrait un attrait que vous concevriez facilement, s'il
vous etait possible de vous rappeler l'admiration vive et profonde
que m'inspira il y a longtemps l'union si extraordinaire de tous les
talens et de toutes les graces, avec les connaissances severes que
nous autres hommes avions la folie de croire notre partage exclusif.
Ce qui me charma alors, Madame, je n'ai pas cesse depuis de m'en
souvenir; et des rapports d'amitie qui me sont bien chers, ont
encore, a votre inscu, fortifie ces sentimens. Jugez donc, Madame,