They never met, and much to the regret of the Fairfax family the letter of Washington was lost.

The Fairfaxes of Virginia are of the same family, and occasionally some member of the American branch returns to see his Scotch cousins.
"While Dr.Somerville was eagerly talking of these things, Mrs.
Somerville came tripping into the room, speaking at once with the vivacity of a young person.

She was seventy-seven years old, but appeared twenty years younger.

She was not handsome, but her face was pleasing; the forehead low and broad; the eyes blue; the features so regular, that in the marble bust by Chantrey, which I had seen, I had considered her handsome.
"Neither bust nor picture, however, gives a correct idea of her, except in the outline of the head and shoulders.
"She spoke with a strong Scotch accent, and was slightly affected with deafness, an infirmity so common in England and Scotland.
"While Mrs.Somerville talked, the old gentleman, seated by the fire, busied himself in toasting a slice of bread on a fork, which he kept at a slow-toasting distance from the coals.

An English lady was present, learned in art, who, with a volubility worthy of an American, rushed into every little opening of Mrs.Somerville's more measured sentences with her remarks upon recent discoveries in _her_ specialty.