"I beg you to offer my best thanks to Mrs. Somerville for her kind present. I shall have peculiar satisfaction in possessing it as a gift of the author, a book which I look upon as one of the most remarkable which our age has produced, which would be highly valuable from anyone, and which derives a peculiar interest from its writer. I am charged also to return the thanks of the Philosophical Society here for the copy presented to them. I have not thought it necessary to send the official letter containing the acknowledgment, as Mrs. Somerville will probably have a sufficient collection of specimens of such character. I have also to thank her on the part of our College for the copy sent to the library. I am glad that our young mathematicians in Trinity will have easy access to the book, which will be very good for them as soon as they can read it. When Mrs. Somerville shows herself in the field which we mathematicians have been labouring in all our lives, and puts us to shame, she ought not to be surprised if we move off to other ground, and betake ourselves to poetry. If the fashion of 'commendatory verses' were not gone by, I have no doubt her work might have appeared with a very pretty collection of well-deserved poetical praises in its introductory pages. As old customs linger longest in places like this, I hope she and you will not think it quite extravagant to send a single sonnet on the occasion. "Believe me, "Faithfully yours, "W. WHEWELL." TO MRS. SOMERVILLE, ON HER "MECHANISM OF THE HEAVENS." Lady, it was the wont in earlier days When some fair volume from a valued pen, Long looked for, came at last, that grateful men Hailed its forthcoming in complacent lays: As if the Muse would gladly haste to praise That which her mother, Memory, long should keep Among her treasures. Shall such usage sleep With us, who feel too slight the common phrase For our pleased thoughts of you, when thus we find That dark to you seems bright, perplexed seems plain, Seen in the depths of a pellucid mind, Full of clear thought, pure from the ill and vain That cloud the inward light? An honoured name Be yours; and peace of heart grow with your growing fame. [Professor Peacock, afterwards Dean of Ely, in a letter, dated February 14th, 1832, thanked my mother for a copy of the "Mechanism of the Heavens."] LETTER FROM PROFESSOR PEACOCK TO MRS. SOMERVILLE.