was much gratified with this, as might be
expected. The "Mary Somerville" sailed, but was never heard of again; it
was supposed she had foundered during a typhoon in the China sea.

I was elected an honorary member of the Royal Academy at Dublin, of the
Bristol Philosophical Institution, and of the Societe de Physique et
d'Histoire Naturelle of Geneva, which was announced to me by a very
gratifying letter from Professor Prevost.

Our relations and others who had so severely criticized and ridiculed
me, astonished at my success, were now loud in my praise. The warmth
with which Somerville entered into my success deeply affected me; for
not one in ten thousand would have rejoiced at it as he did; but he was
of a generous nature, far above jealousy, and he continued through life
to take the kindest interest in all I did.

I now received the following letter from Sir Robert Peel, informing me
in the handsomest manner that he had advised the King to grant me a
pension of 200_l._ a year:--

LETTER FROM SIR ROBERT PEEL TO MRS. SOMERVILLE.

WHITEHALL GARDENS
_March, 1835_.

MADAM,

In advising the Crown in respect to the grant of civil pensions, I
have acted equally with a sense of public duty and on the impulse of
my own private feelings in recognising among the first claims on the
Royal favour those which are derived from eminence in science and
literature.

In reviewing such claims, it is impossible that I can overlook those
which you have established by the successful prosecution of studies
of the highest order, both from the importance of the objects to
which they relate, and from the faculties and acquirements which
they demand.

As my object is a public one, to encourage others to follow the
bright example which you have set, and to prove that great
scientific attainments are recognised among public claims, I prefer
making a direct communication to you, to any private inquiries into
your pecuniary circumstances, or to any proposal through a third
party. I am enabled to advise His Majesty to grant to you a pension
on the civil list of two hundred pounds per annum; and if that
provision will enable you to pursue your labours with less of
anxiety, either as to the present or the future, I shall only be
fulfilling a public duty, and not imposing upon you the slightest
obligation, by availing myself of your permissi