Corpus of Modern Scottish Writing (CMSW) - www.scottishcorpus.ac.uk/cmsw/

Document : 200

Title: Letter from Somerville to Murray3, 25 Jan 1872

Author(s): Somerville, Mary

Naples
25th. Jan.ry 1872
Dear Mr Murray

I have been long of writing
to you but I had good accounts of
you and yours from Mr Pentland
I thank you for the Quarterly, it
contains many excellent articles
but you may believe that on Sir
Henry Hollands reminiscences is the
most interesting to me. He certainly
is a man of great energy & talent
He moved among the potentates &
powers, my life was very different
but there are numerous anecdotes
similar to those in my autobiog but
not identical, for I never copy from
any one. I always find something to
add to my life so it will be a large volume



I am surprised that Sir Henry was
not in attendance on the Prince [¿]
were it not for the enthusiastic
loyalty excited by his illness the
discontent of the working class would
be alarming

It is curious that I am as much at
home on mathematical subjects
as ever I was, and as I have many
excellent works on the Higher Algebra
I spend four or five hours every
morning in studying them.  I had
been reading Tait on Quarternions
when I received Sir Wm Hamiltons
large work on that subjet sent to
me by the Rev.d Whitwell Elwin which
is exactly what I wanted.  I am not
acquainted with that gentleman but
if you could send me his address I
shall write to thank him

You will be glad to hear that
Mrs Greig has quite recovered her
health being free from care, she has
nothing to do, and does nothing but
walks for three or fours amusing herself



in the Museum or Corso & comes
home without being tired.  In the
evening I have a battle with her
at Bezique  My daughters unite
with me in kind regards to Mrs & Miss
Murray yours dear Mr Murray

Very Sincerely
Mary Somerville


1817 Jan 2
Somerville Mrs