SCANDINAVIAN TOURISTS, 279 



selves to be guided by the weaker vessels. But they are 

 often very obstinate in their perversities, and won't ' take 

 a bidding.' I should apologise for boring you with all 

 this ; but one naturally writes about what is uppermost in 

 mind. 



" The Eev. Edward Jefferies leaves Grasmere for Sweden 

 and Norway early in July. There is a kind of Scandi- 

 navian fever in the country this year, in spite of the 

 glittering splendours of the Crystal Palace. At least, a 

 good many people whom I know are going to the far 

 North. Professor Forbes was with me yesterday, wishing 

 me to start with him in a few days to Hull, and from 

 thence by steam-packet to Christiania. The coast scenery, 

 at all events, is now very accessible, as a Norwegian 

 steamer goes close along shore every week or two from 

 Christiansand as far north as Hammerfest, near the North 

 Cape, where one may see the sun at midnight. The 

 funny thing is, that in that country you will not see the 

 sun at all in the day-time for a while, as the eclipse is 

 total there. This is what takes a good many of our phi- 

 losophers away from their wives and families; but Pro- 

 fessor Forbes is desirous also to extend his knowledge of 

 the ice-world, already great, by exploring the Scandinavian 

 glaciers, and the grooves upon the surface of the rocks. 

 Asthma and increase of years, laziness, rheumatism, and 

 decrease of cash, debar my going so far from home; 



