lightning, very high sea and several waterspouts. The
vessel rolled and pitched, and we were carried far out of our course to
the Dalmatian coast. I was obliged to remain a couple of days at Trieste
to rest, and was very glad when we arrived at Venice. The summer passed
most delightfully at Venice, and we had ample time to see everything
without hurry. I wrote very little this summer, for the scenery was so
beautiful that I painted all day; my daughters drew in the Belle Arti,
and Somerville had plenty of books to amuse him, besides sight-seeing,
which occupied much of our time. In the Armenian convent we met with
Joseph Warten, an excellent mathematician and astronomer; he was pastor
at Neusatz, near Peterwardein in Hungary, and he was making a tour
through Europe. He asked me to give him a copy of the "Mechanism of the
Heavens," and afterwards wrote in Latin to Somerville and sent me some
errors of the press he had met with in my book, but they were of no use,
as I never published a second edition. We returned to Rome by Ravenna,
where we stayed a couple of days, then travelled slowly along the
Adriatic Coast From thence we went by Gubbio and Perugia to Orvieto, one
of the most interesting towns in Italy, and one seldom visited at that
time; now the railway will bring it into the regular track of
travellers.

* * * * *

[A few extracts from letters, written and received during this
summer by my mother, may not be without interest. Also parts of two
from my mother's old and valued friend Miss Joanna Baillie. The
second letter was written several years later, and is nearly the
last she ever wrote to my mother.]

* * * * *

FROM MRS. SOMERVILLE TO WORONZOW GREIG, ESQ.

VENICE, _21st July, 1843_.

I most sincerely rejoice to hear that Agnes and you have gone to the
Rhine, as I am confident a little change of air and scene will be of
the greatest service to you both.... We are quite enchanted with
Venice; no one can form an idea of its infinite loveliness who has
not seen it in summer and in moonlight. I often doubt my senses, and
almost fear it may be a dream. We are lodged to perfection, the
weather has been charming, no oppressive heat, though the
thermometer ranges from 75 deg. to 80 deg., accompanied by a good deal of
scirocco; there are neither flies nor fleas, and as yet the
mosquitoes have not mo