|
|
Mary
Somerville's Letter to her Sister in Law
Site navigation -
please use menu on left (click here to display
it if not visible). If problems, use site map.
|
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 Somerville'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.
|
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
|
Webpage by Iain Sommerville;
Help
on bookmarking this page.
