Corpus of Modern Scottish Writing (CMSW) - www.scottishcorpus.ac.uk/cmsw/ Document : 198 Title: Letter from Somerville to Murray, 7 Mar 1849 Author(s): Somerville, Mary March 7. 1849 Somerville Mrs Munich 7th March 1849 Dear Mr Murray I am in dispair to find my MSS have not arrived, several packets have been sent from time to time so that I fear they must have been lost, the last sheets of the second volume with the [ates] would leave Munich last Sunday so you ought to receive them on Friday the 9th. I shall begin to make a new copy but it will take some time as two of the chapters were entirely new and many additions were made to the others - I do not altogether give up hope that they may yet arrive, but I shall be very anxious till I hear from you againIt is most inconvenient being at such a distance and in a place where I have not got the necessary books of reference for as I do not read German the library has been of little use to me, besides all the best works on my subject are in English. Tell Mr Pentland with many sincere remembrances from us all, that I am truly obliged to him and am happy that my proof sheets are in such able hands. We are grieved to hear of the distressing state of anxiety Mrs Murray is in, it is a severe trial, but I must not without hope as the ship may have been disabled and taken refuge on some coast when they would have to refit, and might have no means of sending intelligence of their safety; pray let us know when you hear what has happened. A letter takes five days of going from Munich to London, so that one can hardly expet an answer in less than eleven or twelve days which is very long, however I think you will let me know immediately of any of the [hussing] sheets should arrive I have only seen the first Chapter of Mr Macauleys history which is so admirable that I do not wonder at the great sale of the book. The history of that period ever [¿] wanted and no one could have done it so well.- I have had two letters from Lord Brougham lately giving me an account of some clever experiments he has been making on light, but they were finished before Lola took possession of his heart, how [excentrice] he is & how clever - We have had a beautiful winter & have all been well except my eldest daughter who had a severe illness from which she has now completely recovered. Even in Italy I never saw a Angleterre John Murray Esquire Albemarle Street London bluer sky or brighter stars than at Munich. With kind wishes to Mrs Murray believe me most truly yours Mary Somerville