had written home, that he had found in Aberdeen not one alone, but
many, who perfectly understood the object of his journey, and were
competent to converse with him on the subject. Cuvier said such a
circumstance constituted one of the striking differences between France
and England; for in France science was highly cultivated, but confined
to the capital. It was at M. Cuvier's that I first met Mr. Pentland, who
made a series of physical and geological observations on the Andes of
Peru. I was residing in Italy when I published my "Physical Geography"
and Mr. Pentland[8] kindly undertook to carry the book through the press
for me. From that time he has been a steady friend, ever ready to get me
information, books, or anything I wanted. We became acquainted also with
M. Gay-Lussac, who lived in the Jardin des Plantes, and with Baron
Larrey, who had been at the head of the medical department of the army
in Egypt under the first Napoleon.

* * * * *

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, 18