IO8 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. V. 



that little same. The weather here has been of the worst, 

 rain, rain, such an eternal shower-bath of rain that no 

 Murphy would have dared to foretell it had he possessed the 

 power to foresee it. If he had chalked out such an um- 

 brella July, he would have been seized by the enraged 

 people, and burned alive, roasted, as all unboiled murphies 

 should be. In consequence, I have never got out to walk, 

 and the excess of vapours without has begotten dyspeptic, 

 blue-devil vapours within, of which I have not yet got a 

 clear riddance, though a clamber up Arthur Seat with Pro- 

 fessor Blackie has expelled most, and given notice of leave 

 to all of them." 



The next letter speaks of a pedestrian excursion in pros- 

 pect, in which George was to have his cousin James as 

 companion. How this plan was carried out, and what were 

 its effects, succeeding chapters will show. 



" September $tk. 



" I was away at the country when your letter arrived, 

 having gone for two days to Penicuik with John Niven, and 

 since I came back I have been making preparations for 

 setting off tp Stirling to-day, if possible. The weather, 

 however, is at present very stormy, and unless it improve I 

 shall not leave till to-morrow. I intend to walk about the 

 country there for a few days, and then set off for Glasgow, 

 when the Association meets. I shall return as soon as the 

 Meeting is over. 



" I go to the country without much desire to be there, I 

 have so much to do ; but I feel the need of some relaxation, 

 and it will gain time in the end. I have nothing to tell 

 about almost anything. ... I have not yet written to 

 Glasgow, but they know my intention of coming. I shall 

 be there a week, and leave the moment the business is over. 



