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Mary Somerville's Letter to
her Sister in Law
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When Graham Clark
of St Albans, a postal history enthusiast, bought an item which
was described as "A letter to Mrs Riddell of Carlton on
Trent, posted in Rome in 1845", he little realised that
the writer was Mary Somerville and that the recipient was Mary's
sister in law, Christian. Graham has kindly provided the following
transcription of the letter, which gives interesting insights
into both the life of Mary's family and her own life in
Italy at that time.
The 'William'
referred to in the letter is Mary's second husband, Dr William
Somerville, whose poor health had prompted them to move to Italy
in the first place. 'Christy', the recipient of the letter, is
William's sister, who was married to Walter Riddell. 'Mary', who has recently given birth to a son,
is Mary Hutton, Christy's daughter. 'Woronzow' is Woronzow Greig,
Mary's son by her first marriage, and Agnes is Woronzow's wife.
Sadly, Mary's pessimism about their ability ever to have
"a living child" was to prove well founded.
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Rome
10th Decr 1845
My
dear Christy
We
were all delighted to hear by your most kind and welcome
letter of dear Mary's safe delivery and that she and her
little Lad were doing well - Tell her with my kindest love
that I heartily congratulate her on getting so disagreeable
a job well over and that I trust her health will now be
better than it has been for a long time - What a fine family
she has. I am sure you must be very proud of them. I never
saw prettier well brought up children, and then Mary showed
such good luck in their dress always so nice and simple
- I am glad she has got a governess to save her the fatigue
and bore of teaching which would have been too much for
her strength and many things must have prevented her from
being as regular with them as a person must be whose business
it is - I take it as a mark of great affection Marys kind
wish and intention of giving me her name had the little
stranger been a girl and I thank her most kindly for it
- I am glad that you have left Jedburgh for a time as all
that has happened has been very trying to you and the change
of scene and a new occupation are good both for your health
and spirits. I cannot tell you how much I have been struck
at the great blanks made in the family during the short
time that has passed since I saw all well and happy. Poor
Martha's was so unexpected and is so severe a loss to her
family, to the girls especially it is irreparable - Mrs
Elliot must be very solitary but her health being good
is a source of much comfort to us all -
I
am sure you will be happy to hear that I never saw William
looking better, this climate agrees particularly well with
him, and even in summer when people thought we were imprudent
in remaining here he never had a complaint nor indeed had
any of us though the heat was sometimes great, but we shut
it out by closing all the windows and blinds during the
day and then went out to enjoy the glorious bright evenings
or delayed our walk till the moon & fire flies enlightened
us. You who are a florist would be charmed with this
country. In spring the fields are covered with violets
of the sweetest perfume, anemonies of all colours, irises,
& orchids. Wild migneonette abounds in the Campagna
and on the banks of the river the fields or rather meadows
are white with the narcissus often 18 & 20 flowers
on a stem. There on the banks among the brushwood the large
single damask rose, and the large orange coloured spotted
lily make a great show. The woods are full of the purple
cyclamen and in the hedges the commonest jessamine honeysuckle
roses and even the scarlet pomegranate abound. I [illegible
word] you the girls and I used to come home loaded with
these. Martha and Mary used to copy the fine pictures in
the Borghese gallery in the mornings while I was busy making
experiments on light and your Brother amused himself in
reading - In October we went a days journey into the mountains
for a change of air and remained a fortnight in one of
the most picturesque towns possible. It is built on a sugar
loaf hill exceedingly steep surrounded by vineyards and
a fine clear trouting stream longer than the Jed in the
valley. It was the time of the vintage and all the roads
were covered with women and donkeys loaded with such grapes
as I have not seen even in Italy. They never passed without
asking us to take some, and every day we made expeditions
to the neighbouring towns which are beautifully situated
generally through the vineyards & helping ourselves
to grapes & figs without asking leave a ceremony not
necessary in this country. We were all much the better
for it and since we returned the [illegible word] have
arrived on [illegible word] and we find many old &
agreeable acquaintances.
The
winter has now set in which here consists of thunder storms
and rain instead of frost and snow - we had a storm three
weeks ago which lasted 20 hours during which time you could
not have counted ten between the flashes of lightning and
for 15 hours the rain fell in such torrents that the whole
country for miles was under water and boats were plying
in the streets of Rome to supply the people with provisions
by their windows. It was the lower part of the town that
was so inundated & many accidents happened to travellers
coming from Florence -
I
had a good account from Henry of [illegible word]
& his children & he mentions Major Riddell being
remarkably well.
How unfortunate
Agnes Greig has been. I fear she never will have a living
child, but it is a great comfort to see that Woronzow's
health is so much better & that he is now able to attend
to his business. - We saw a great deal of Admiral Elliots
family when we were here last winter. They are now in Paris
& have lost a son on the coast of Africa. The Northesks
and Melgunds are at Rome, Lord & Lady Douglas and several
other Scotch families, & here everybody meets on easy
terms & the Roman families are very kind and invite
us to every thing they give - the Emperor of Russia is
coming in a few days but as no dancing or gaiety is allowed
in Advent his visit will be a quiet one - William and the
girls join me in affectionate love to Mary & you and
every kind wish to Mr Hutton
Yr
affect. Sister Mary Somerville
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IAIN SOMMERVILLE
E-mail: iars@fife40.freeserve.co.uk
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