1814-1840 OPENING OF A SCIENTIFIC CAREER 27 



with me, and however painful the separation is to all 

 of us, you will find that time will gradually accustom 

 you to my temporary absence ; and you will look on 

 a letter from me in the same light as you do one 

 of Johnie's, with this difference, that you have the 

 absolute certainty of seeing the second son (the go- 

 between the link between Willie and Johnie who 

 has part of the features and part of the character ot 

 both) in less than a year, and probably in six or eight 

 months. Won't I rush home to Glasgow ? brimful of 

 London and Russia of sights, wonders, and travels, 

 a perfect Munchausen, telling most incredible stories 

 about bearded Muscovites, horrible escapes from bears 

 and wolves, burning suns and mountains of snow, 

 expatriated Poles and Siberian mines. How I was 

 introduced to the Emperor, how he smiled and bowed, 

 and by a smile and a bow secured a deathless immor- 

 tality, and honourable mention in the 2 vols. royal 

 8vo which are to hand down to future times the 

 results of Mr. Hosie's 1 observations on men and 

 manners in Russia ; for a bow from a prince to a 

 geologist excuses the depopulation of Poland, and a 

 smile renders him amiable and attractive in the bosom 

 of his family and in all his private capacities. 



LONDON, 25^ March 1841. 

 MY DEAR WILLIE You will have heard all about 



1 ' Andrew Hosie ' was a nickname by which he was familiarly known among 

 his friends and associates. In another manuscript journal named ' The Renfield 

 Rocket,' of later date than the ' Miscellaneous Journal ' already referred to, the 

 scientific doings of this personage are made the subject of jocular description. 

 A Scots song also appears there to celebrate his virtues, of which the refrain 

 runs 



My Hosie O ! my Hosie O ! 



He's neither thin nor brosy O ! 



There's no a lad in Scotland broad 



Can ever match wi' Hosie O ! 



