MT. 28.] JOURNAL. 99 



leave my letters for Mr. Nicoll ; l returned, dressed for 

 dinner, passed an agreeable humdrum evening at a 

 small family party ; returned to the hotel, read two 

 American newspapers (little news), found a good fire 

 in my room, and sat down to make these desultory 

 notes. As to all the rest of what I have seen I may 

 have more to say another day. Good-night ! 



ST. GEORGE'S SQUARE, 12 M., January 4, 1839. 

 Before I retire to rest I must hastily and very 

 briefly record my doings to-day, just by way of keep- 

 ing in good habits ; as I am engaged to breakfast at 

 an early hour with Dr. Graham I must soon go to 

 bed. Rose at half past nine (recollect I had not slept 

 the previous night), a snowstorm. Sight-seeing 

 being out of the question, went to the university, just 

 in time to hear the latter part of Dr. Hope's lecture 

 (Light Carburetted Hydrogen and Safety Lamp) ;- 

 fine-studied and rather formal manner, did not 

 wear his gown or ruffles at the wrist ! Experiments 

 few but rather neat. In cutting off flame with wire 

 gauze he varied the experiment in a way I had not 

 previously seen, viz., by throwing a jet of ether upon 

 the gauze, which burnt below but did not kindle 

 above, a very pretty effect. He looks to be not 

 above sixty-five, although he must be ten years over 

 that age. Next heard Professor Forbes, 2 a handsome 

 man of very elegant appearance ; a most elegant and 

 lucid lecturer ; delivered my note of introduction from 

 Professor Silliman ; received me very kindly, but I 



1 William Nicoll. Invented section-cutting of recent and fossil 

 woods in 1827. 



2 James Forbes, 1809-1861 ; professor of natural philosophy in the 

 University of Edinburgh. 



