New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-31

graceful figure, below the middle Sze smaii neae
intelligent eyes, and profusion OF SOFT Drown mar.
Besides the various occupations have mentioned, sue
ever unlike the elaborate productions OF our y were
simply Of One India muslin. with little Flanders lace
They called this pretty girl 1.-THE Rose OF Jedwood'"
and she not TO have impaired the brightness Oh
her delicate beauty though after her late hours
at night, she rose al daybreak. wrapped herself in
blanket aud without fire read algebra or the classics
till breakfast time. When her brain grew tired WIN
hard work. read poetry the novels OF that time
THE Romance OF the Forest" "The Mysteries OF
Udolpho," and their contemporary tales of'mystery.
Very brief is the story OF the learned young beautys
first marriage, which took place in 1904 my cousin,
she writes. samuel Grei Commissioner of the Russian
navy Russian Consul for Britain. came 10 pay us
| visit and ultimately became my husband. Fortune
had none and my mother could only afford 10 give mo
very moderate rousseau, consisting chiefly OF fine per-
s0na and household linen" 1t is very clear II seems
to me, that Cousin Samuel was not greatly beloved by
his bonuy bride. She says: 81 alone the whole
day; I continued my mathematical and other pur
suits, but under great disadvantages for although my
husband did not prevent from studying, met win
no sympathy whatever from him, as he had very low
opinion OF the capacity of my sex, and had neither
knowledge of interest in science OF any KIND"
During these quiet days she studied French also, and
learned speak it, she modestly says, 80 as TO DC
understood" Brief the story of wooing and
wedding is that of bereavement. Martha somervihe
| simply says In note
After three years OF married life my mother returned
little bovs The Youngest died in childhood The eldest
was Woronzow Greg osrriseratlaw iate Cerk s VI o
Peace for Surrey. He died suddenly IN 1862 10 the IN
sPeakabo sorrow OF his family, and the regret oil ali
who knew him.
And Mrs somervle with composed resignation. goes
to speak Of what did after her husbands death
She must have inherited property from him, for
she speaks OF herself independent She went on
with her mathematical studies earnestly than ever
| She writes
By this had studied plane and spherical trigo;
think II Immediately after my return 10 o1ouan9
that attempted TO read Newton's Principal" found
il extremely difficult, ana certainly ala not uhuersand
IL TIL returned 1t time after, when studied
that wonderful work with great assiduty, and wrote
numerous notes and observations on H. obtained
loan of what believe called the Jesuts edition,
which helped me-. At this period, mathematical science
a low ebb In Britan reverence Tor Newton hhu
prevented men from adopting the GSsnins
which carry had an Sie'sn
TO the highest perfection Professors Professors NV, Ivory and
Years ELAPSED before Mr.. Herschel and Mr. Babbage
joint editors with Prof Peacock IN publishing an
abridged translation of La Croix's Treatise on the
Dferential and Integral Calculus" / became ae-
qualnted with Mr. Wallace, who was, II / am not mis-
taken mathematical teacher of the Military College at
NARROW and editor OF mathematical Journal published
there. La Places "Mecanque Celeste" and his " Ana
lytical Theory Of Probabilities" &c, &C.. DE. go,
was 33 years OF when bought tins excellent 1T
tie library. could hardly believe that possessed ,ncn
saw the mysterious word Algebra" and the long
course of years which mad persevered almost With
| cut hope. 1t taught me never to despair
IL was about this time that she became Mrs. SOmer
vile marrying, in the first instance, cousin VIII
| liam Sonervile, whom she married in 1872 seems 10
have been entirely delightful friend and companion.
Until his marriage he had lived almost entirely abroad
and in the British colonies OF his many travels he had
kept very full and valuable notes. which Mrs. somer-
VILE was anxious that he should publish But he APP
pears to sngularly Indifferent to distinction
on his own behalf while he sympathZe1 intensely with
all his wifcs ambitions He was fine classical sehoar
and close and careful critic and he always read the
last proOshcets of his wiies books before they were
| published He used to search the libraries for the
volumes she required, and was iudetigdbe IN copying
and recopying her manuscripts 10 save her time. To
serve her, trouble too great, for il labor OF
| love.
| With him Mrs. souerviIle Travelled extensively and
went much into society, making the acquaintance not
only of best scientists in her and other coun
tries but of poets, philosophers ana men OF letters
Scott her dear friend aud in 1922 Maria Edgeworh
wrote of her follows:
BEEcHwooD PARK January II.
We have spent two days pleasantly here with DR. VOL
yies Mrs somerville IL the lady who, Laplac
the only woman who understands his works She draws
beautifully and while her head Is among the stars her
feet are firm npOn the earth
Mrs somerge is little. slightly made, fairish hair,
mink color small gray round Intelligent smiling eyes,
very pleasing countenance remarkably soft voice strong
but wel-ored Scotch accent timid. not disaualfyin
possession through IL which prevents her being in the
least awkward, and gives her all the advantage Of her
understanding, at the same time that II adds pre-
possessing charm to her and takes of all dr.
of her superior scientific learning.
In the March of 1927, Lord BrGaghlm wrote to Mr..
somervilie soliciting bis aid persuadng his wife to
undertake, for the Society for the Diffusion of Useful
KDowle ledge, an account OF the "Mecanque Celeste or
an account OF the Principal" The M6canique was
the work desired, but Mrs. Someryie hrank from
the undertaking with almost painful modesty.
Surely Lord Brougham mus; be mistaken with regard TO
her requirements, she thought; but afterwaId
Lord Brougham himself came to sec her. and she agreed
TO make The attempt condition that If she failed her
failure should be kept profound secret But she did
not fail After severe labor, The Mechanism of the
Heavens produced-that volume Of which Sir John
Herschel wrote WIat pity that La Place has not lived
this illustration of his great work" This work at
once and forever established Mrs. SOmeryes position
in the world OF science. This and The Connection OF
the Sciences" her two greatest works but
her onglife was full Of noble achievements. have lett
myself no space dwell them, because they what
is best known about her; and there seemed to me
fresber interest tracing the oihis oblyfted
woman through those youthful days when she struggled
~ earnestly for the knowledge which was aferward to
make her iilustrioGs To come into the atmosphere
of this long pure, beautiful life. is in itself in
spirauon. Science never estranged Mrs somervilie
from religion With the discovery of each new law. she
bnt adorcd more devoutly the Law-naker. Her faith
was a holy fame, which burned steadily to the end
When her husband died In 1861 after an Illness
of only three days, she sorrowed not as one without
hope but rather as traveller whose beloved guide has
but stepped on before to explore the next stopping
place. She lived twelve years after this-calm, happy
peaceful years. and busy any had been during her
long busy fe Three years before her death she wrote
the following passage in The RecQllections:
Ihaye lately entered my 89th year, grateful to God
for the innumerabe blessings He has bestowed on me
v.hil at ppac "a j
that may be at peace with my Maker when my last
hour comes which cannot now DC tar distant.
Although have been tried by many severe Affections
NV hfe upon the whole, has been happy. i must say
that no one met with such Kindness AS have.