real Stnichtre of Glacier Ice. 



141 



ing cither this or any original observation of my own, on a 

 subject so new and so unexpectedly difficult as I found the 

 glacier theory to be, had certainly not entered my miaguiation 

 during any part of my stay abroad. A precis of the labours 

 of others in the form of a Review of the writings of Venctz, de 

 Charpentier, and Agassiz, such as subseciuently appeared in 

 the p:dinburgh Review, I certainly contemplated, thinkmg, 

 that if I pursued the subject another year, such a preliminary 

 study would be the fittest introduction to any original investi- 

 gations. But I can safely say, that the way and manner in 

 which my observations on the glacier structure should be 

 brought out, was not a matter of the slightest concern to me, 

 until an unexpected circumstance brought it to my mind. 



I must mention, however, what passed between M. Agassiz 

 and myself relatively to a joint publication, when I was at 

 Neufchatel in the middle of September 1841. I will state 

 this in the words which I employed in writing to a friend a 

 few months after the transaction took place. 



Extract Sixth.— F/'ohi a Letter from Professor Forhcs to a Friend, 



dated 1st April 18i2. 

 « M. Agassiz never asked me, so far as I recollect, to puWisli with him 

 on the subject of the Glaciers. He once proposed to me to communicate 

 the observations I had made on Solar Radiation on the Glacier of the 

 Aar, to form part of the description of the journey, of which the narrative 

 part was to be written by Desor. 



" This I declined, on the ground that these observations formed part of 

 a scries of experiments, long since commenced, and which must be treated 

 of in connection.'^' 



" I was very well aware, however, that a declaration of my opinion on 

 the Glacier Theory was what was desired; and M. Desor took upon him 

 to intimate this to me at Neufchatel, in these words :— ' M. Forbes ne 

 vcut pas se compromettre, maisnousle comprometLrons'— which you will 

 think rather a singular way of securing support to a scientific dogma. 

 The following reasons determined me against taking any part in a joint 

 publication : — 



" Ut, That however willing I might be to have my name associated with 

 that of Agassiz, in any common work, experience led mc entirely to de- 

 cline such an association with M. Desor. 



" 2d, That the utmost extent to which I could then conscientiously 



• They accordingly form part of a very extensive onqiiiry fincc comniu- 

 nicatod I'J the Koval Society of London. 



