s much above me in the scale of reasoning
beings, as I am above my dog. Still I rejoice with humility at
feeling myself, in that order of understandings which, although
utterly incapable of following the chain of your reasonings,
calculations, and inductions--utterly deprived of the powers
necessary _sic itur ad astra_--am yet informed, enlightened, and
entertained with the series of sublime truths to which you conduct
me.

In some foggy morning of November, I shall drive out to you at
Chelsea and surprise you with my ignorance of science, by asking you
to explain to me some things which you will _wonder any one_ can
have so long existed without knowing. In the mean time, I wish you
could read in any combination of the stars the probability of our
often having such a season as this, of uninterrupted summer since
April last, and when last week it was sobering into autumn, has now
returned to enter summer again. The thermometer was at 83 deg. in the
shade yesterday, and to-day promises to be as much. We are delighted
with our two months' residence at this place, which we shall see
with regret draw towards a close the end of this month. October we
mean to spend at Paris, before we return to the _nebulosities_ of
London. During my residence in Paris, before we came here, I never
had the good luck to meet with your friend M. Arago; had I not been
reading your book, I should have begged you to give me a letter for
him. But as it is, and as my stay at Paris will now be so short, I
shall content myself with looking up at a respectful distance to all
your great fixed stars of science, excepting always yourself, dear
Mrs. Somerville. No "disturbing influence" will, I hope, ever throw
me out of the orbit of _your_ intimacy and friendship, whose value,
believe me, is most duly and accurately calculated by your ignorant
but very affectionate friend,

M. BERRY.

* * * * *

FROM LORD BROUGHAM TO MRS. SOMERVILLE.

1834.

MY DEAR MRS. SOMERVILLE,

Many thanks for the sheets, which I have read with equal pleasure
and instruction as those I formerly had from you. One or two things
I could have troubled you with, but they are of little moment. I
shall note them. The only one that is at all material relates to