some days ago, but I have delayed thanking you for it till now
because we all wished to read it first. We are highly pleased, and
have been deeply interested in it. The whole tone of the book is
characteristic of your dear father; the benevolence,
warm-heartedness, and Christian charity which appeared in the whole
course of his life and ministry. That which has struck us all most
forcibly is the liberality of his sentiments, both religious and
political, at a time when narrow views and bigotry made it even
dangerous to avow them, and it required no small courage to do so.
He was far in advance of the age in which he lived; his political
opinions are those of the present day, his religious opinions still
before it. There are many parts of the book which will please the
general reader from the graphic description of the manners and
customs of the time, as well as the narrative of his intercourse
with many of the eminent men of his day. Your most dear father's
affectionate remembrance of me touches me deeply. I have but one
regret, dear Jenny, and that is that our dear William did not live
to see the accomplishment of what was his dying wish; but God's will
be done.... We are all much as usual: I am wonderfully well, and
able to write, which I do for a time every day. I do not think I
feel any difference in capacity, but I become soon tired, and then I
read the newspapers, some amusing book, or work.... Everything is
flourishing in Italy, and the people happy and contented, except
those who were employed and dependent on the former sovereigns, but
they are few in comparison; and now there is a fine army of 200,000
men to defend the country, even if Austria should make an attack,
but that is not likely at present. Rome is still the difficulty, but
the Pope must and soon will lose his temporal power, for the people
are determined it shall be so....

I am, dear sister,
Most affectionately yours,
MARY SOMERVILLE.

To MRS. ELLIOT, of Rosebank, Roxburghshire.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 14: The Rev. P. Somerville's "Life and Times."]

CHAPTER XVII.

SPEZIA--GENOA--BEGINS MOLECULAR AND MICROSCOPIC
SCIENCE--TURIN--SPEZIA--BRITISH FLEET--LETTERS FROM MRS.
SOMERVILLE--GARIBALDI--SEVERE ILLNESS--FLORENCE--