At Paris I equipped myself in proper dresses, and we proceeded by Fontainebleau to Geneva, where we found Dr. Marcet, with whom my husband had already been acquainted in London. I, for the first time, met Mrs. Marcet, with whom I have ever lived on terms of affectionate friendship. So many books have now been published for young people, that no one at this time can duly estimate the importance of Mrs. Marcet's scientific works. To them is partly owing that higher intellectual education now beginning to prevail among the better classes in Britain. They produced a great sensation, and went through many editions. Her "Conversations on Chemistry," first opened out to Faraday's mind that field of science in which he became so illustrious, and at the height of his fame he always mentioned Mrs. Marcet with deep reverence. Through these kind friends we became acquainted with Professors De Candolle, Prevost, and De la Rive. Other distinguished men were also presented to us; among these was Mr. Sismondi, author of the "History of the Italian Republics." Madame Sismondi was a Miss Allen, of a family with whom we were very intimate. [Some time after her return to England, my mother, desirous of continuing the study of botany, in which she had already attained considerable proficiency, wrote to M. De Candolle, asking his advice, and he sent her the following reply:--] LETTER FROM M. DE CANDOLLE TO MRS. SOMERVILLE. LONDRES, _5 Juin, 1819_. MADAME, Vous avez passe les premieres difficultes de l'etude des plantes et vous me faites l'honneur de me consulter sur les moyens d'aller en avant; connaissant votre gout et votre talent pour les sciences les plus relevees je ne craindrai point de vous engager a sortir de la Botanique elementaire et a vous elever aux considerations et aux etudes qui en font une science susceptible d'idees generales, d'applications aux choses utiles et de liaison avec les autres branches des connaissances humaines. Pour cela il faut etudier non plus seulement la nomenclature et l'echafaudage artificiel qui la soutient, mais les rapports des plantes entre elles et avec les elemens exterieurs, ou en d'autres termes, la classification naturelle et la Physiologie.