benefit of her own sex. She says—addressing the Queen, "If I have succeeded in my endeavour to make the laws by which the material world is governed more familiar to my countrywomen, I shall have the gratification of thinking that the gracious permission to dedicate my book to your Majesty has not been misplaced." We know of nothing which more charmingly illustrates the true moral elevation of feminine character than this dedication. The Sovereign Lady and the Lady Author sympathising together in an earnest effort to promote the mental cultivation of their sex. Mrs. Somerville's third and last production, "Physical Geography," in two volumes, was published in 1848. This work—"The history of the earth in its whole material organization"—is worthy to be classed among the greatest efforts of the human mind, directing its energies to the philosophy of science conjoined with moral advancement. In truth, its excellence in this respect is unrivalled. Mrs. Somerville has done more by her writings to Christianize the sciences than any living author; nor do we recollect one, except it be Sir Isaac Newton, among departed philosophers, who has approached her standard of sublime speculations on the visible creation united with childlike faith in the Divine Creator. Physical science will, henceforth, have a religious power; for, though the mind of man is not sufficiently in harmony with moral goodness to make such an advance as Mrs. Somerville has done, no more than Peter and John could see the angel at the tomb of the Saviour, yet, when they heard from the women that Christ was risen and followed in faith, the revelation of the truth was made clear to the reason of the apostles as it had first been made to the love of the devoted females; thus will philosophers follow the moral guidance of a woman. Mrs. Somerville has received many testimonials of the esteem in which her writings are held. She has been elected member of a number of philosophical societies and academies of science both in England and Germany.
SOMMERY, N. FONTELLE DE,
A lady whose parentage is unknown, as she was secretly entrusted to the care of a convent. She possessed great powers of mind, with inoffensive gaiety. Her society was sought by philosophers and men of letters. She died about 1792, at an advanced age. She wrote, "Doutes sur lea Opinions reçue, dans la Society" and "L'Oreillo," an Asiatic romance.
SONTAG, HENRIETTA,
A very distinguished singer, was born at Coblentz, in 1808. Her parents were actors, and Henrietta was brought on the stage at Frankfort when she was only five years old. In 1824, she performed at Berlin with great applause, and also at London and Paris. It was as a vocalist that she acquired her celebrity. Her voice was very clear and flexible, her acting fine, and her personal appearance attractive. About 1830, she married and left the stage.
For nearly twenty years this lady was heard of as the wife of Count Rossi, a nobleman of distinguished rank, who was, at his marriage, the Sardinian minister at the court of Berlin. Some years afterwards he was sent ambassador to Russia, and during the missions of St. Petersburg, as well as at Berlin, Madame Sontag (now Countess Rossi) was received at court with the greatest distinction, and de-
