294 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. X. 



took the horses out of the carriage, of course, and drew us 

 into town. In a region so much visited by volcanoes and 

 earthquakes as this, we could not but expect to find a great 

 physical change. The hills have grown into mountains 

 since last year, perpetual snow covers their summits, and 

 glaciers are continually sliding down into the valleys, 

 sweeping everything before them. The wind has blown so 

 long from the east that most of the tall houses are bent 

 double, and the little ones are turned round so that the 

 back door has become the front. We succeeded, however, 

 in finding our lodging, and duly entered by the proper door. 

 Jessie, indeed, cannot see the differences I have described 

 above, and affirms that there is only one new house. I 

 leave you to judge whether she or I am correct. If people 

 are to travel without seeing wonders, I don't see what is the 

 use of travelling. The folks here evidently recognize me as 

 Professor of Technology, especially those who never saw 

 me before." 



The subjoined letter to Dr. J. H. Gladstone alludes to a 

 chemical discovery he had made : 



"BRIDGE OF ALLAN, April 28, 1856. 



" DEAR INSPECTOR, I really have the suspicion that I 

 owe you a letter, and indeed I resolved as soon as I came 

 here to write to you and why did not 1 1 Because, after a 

 few days' improvement here, and all disappearance of the 

 haemoptysis which had driven me from Edinburgh, I as 

 usual began to work as if I were quite well. I was seized 

 with a technological fit, and set off to explore a bleach-work, 

 dye-work, and carpet-work in my neighbourhood. You can 

 sympathize with the pleasure such visits give. To me they 

 are mentally exhilarating in the highest degree.; I like to 

 see the machinery, the chemical processes, and not least, to 



