154 A Journey to London in 1840. 



talented and agreeable yonng man bent on expatriating himself 

 possibly for ever. The Captain and I had long been acquainted 

 but our casual intercourse was more formal than intimate. How- 

 ever, he did me the honour to call on me in order to take my 

 advice and bespeak my favour in support of his young friend. 

 Mr Cauvin's name was known to me as one wholiad been dux of 

 the High School. I frankly told the Captain that I was a verv 

 obscure man who certainly could not be of any use in promoting 

 the literary views of any person however high his claims. T then 

 bethought myself that M'Culloch was himself ignorant of German, 

 a circumstance which he had often regretted. I recollected also 

 that he had frequently occasion to apply to some slender clerk 

 from Germany for assistance in the way of translating. I felt 

 convinced that if I applied to my old friend in favour of Cauvin or 

 of any other deserving person he would at once reject or grant the 

 suit as circumstance might determine. I accordingly put this 

 view before Captain Mackerlie, not hopefully, but suggesting that 

 it might be tried. In the meantime, I said, Cauvin should get 

 testimonials from the Rector of the High School, from Professor 

 Jameson, and from such other eminent men as he could com- 

 mand. I proposed at the same time that he should M'rite an essay 

 on some subject or other, or a searching review of .some impor- 

 tant work, to be sent to London as a specimen of his learning and 

 ability. With this, however, the young man did not think proper 

 to comply. Indeed, the agitation of mind occasioned by his get- 

 ting up certificates and by the vague idea of perhaps going to and 

 settling in London was such that he could not easily have devoted 

 his mind to any fixed Avork, or to a task the performance of which 

 well required more than usual attention. His testimonials, how- 

 ever, were soon in my hands, and were sent to London with letters 

 to Mr M'Culloch and to Messrs Longman & Co. The answer I 

 received from the latter was not encouraging, but Mr M'Culloch 

 wrote me to the effect that if Mr Cauvin was the sort of person 

 represented, and was eke a recherche geographer, he had no 

 doubt at all of his doing well in London. He said he would pro- 

 mise nothing, but if Cauvin was "the thing," he Avould do all he 

 could for him. The letter was as favourable as could be ex- 

 pected, in fact no more favourable answer could well be given. 

 Of this epistle I at once sent an extract to Captain Mackerlie and 

 begged him to consult with Mr Cauvin as to whether he would 



