From Mary Somerville   [1830-3-9 or later]

My dear Sir

Nothing can be kinder than your early communication of the translation of the Mec. Cel. I have gone through the commentary as far as the time has permitted and excellent as the notes are, I confess I am not dismayed as I rather wish to state principles clearly, and to arrive at the results by as easy methods as possible, than to enter into all the mathematical detail. I daresay you think me very bold, but I do feel inclined to proceed and to get it into the press as soon as possible. I am going to send you something on La Grange’s variation of Constant quantities for though it is the line I have taken as you will see I do not think I have given a demonstration of the principle.

Y[our]s ever gratefully

M. S.