when mary was 13 her mother sent her to writing school in edinburgh during the winter months, where she improved her writing skills and studied the common rules of arithmetic. back in burntisland she taught herself sufficient latin to read the books in the home library. while visiting her aunt in jedburgh she met her uncle dr thomas somerville and picked up the courage to tell him that she had been trying to learn latin. dr somerville assured her that in ancient times many women had been very elegant scholars, and proceeded to teach her latin by reading virgil with her. while visiting another uncle, william charters, in edinburgh, mary was sent to strange's dancing school, where she learned manners and how to curtsey. she also accompanied her uncle and aunt on their visits to the lyell family in kinnordy; charles lyell would go on to become a celebrated geologist and a friend of mary.