John Herschel. It went through nine editions, and has been
translated into German and Italian. The book went through various
editions in the United States, to the honour, but not to the profit, of
the author. However, the publisher obligingly sent me a copy. I must say
that profit was never an object with me: I wrote because it was
impossible for me to be idle.

I had the honour of presenting a copy of my book to the Duchess of Kent
at a private audience. The Duchess and Princess Victoria were alone, and
received me very graciously, and conversed for half an hour with me. As
I mentioned before, I saw the young Princess crowned: youthful, almost
child-like as she was, she went through the imposing ceremony with all
the dignity of a Queen.

[A few letters from some of my mother's friends, written at this
period, may prove of interest. They are chiefly written to thank her
for copies of the Preliminary Dissertation or of the "Physical
Sciences." One from Lord Brougham concerns my mother's estimate of
the scientific merit of Dr. Young, for whom she had the sincerest
admiration, considering him one of the first philosophers and
discoverers of the age.]

FROM MISS EDGEWORTH TO MRS. SOMERVILLE.

EDGWORTHTOWN, _May 31st, 1832_.

MY DEAR MRS. SOMERVILLE,

There is one satisfaction at least in giving knowledge to the
ignorant, to those who know their ignorance at least, that they are
grateful and humble. You should have my grateful and humble thanks
long ago for the favour--the honour--you did me by sending me that
Preliminary Dissertation, in which there is so much knowledge, but
that I really wished to read it over and over again at some
intervals of time, and to have the pleasure of seeing my sister
Harriet read it, before I should write to you. She has come to us,
and has just been enjoying it, as I knew she would. For my part, I
was long in the state of the boa constrictor after a full meal--and
I am but just recovering the powers of motion. My mind was so
distended by the magnitude, the immensity, of what you put into it!
I am afraid that if you had been aware how ignorant I was you would
not have sent me this dissertation, because you would have felt that
you were throwing away much that I could not understand, and that
could be better bestowed on scientific friends capable of judging of
what they admire. I c