394 MAN OF SCIENCE. 



the foot of a steep marshy hill, that allows scarce selvedge 

 enough between its base and the sea for the houses to 

 stand upon. The highest ground in Great Britain lies 

 within a very few miles of it, and there are bold hills all 

 around, but the forms seem ill-combined, and the general 

 result is not striking. I was, I find, too hasty in my con- 

 clusion regarding the green vegetation of the western hills, 

 I should, at least, not have generalized so promptly. 

 The hills fronting me are as dark and barren as any on 

 the east coast. As I write the haze thickens, and the 

 first drops of the coming shower patter against the 

 panes/ 



Our next letter furnishes a trait which will not sur- 

 prise us in Hugh Miller. He has attained a position of 

 the highest social respectability in the capital of his coun- 

 try, and his acquaintance are the most eminent men of 

 the age. Yet he calls to his side his old friend of the 

 hewing-shed, plain John Wilson, and sits down with 

 him at breakfast, John, I am quite sure, not finding 

 in Hugh any change since those days when they lived 

 together in the Niddry cottage, except that now, as the 

 wealthier man, Hugh can exercise the privilege of 

 friendship to hint delicately that, if John would be the 

 better of a little money, he has only to say so. In 

 this little incident of Miller's intercourse with John 

 Wilson do we not find better proof of a faithful, simple, 

 incorruptible heart than if he had endowed a hospital 

 or built a cathedral ? Here is the letter. 



' Edinburgh, August, 1843. 



' Very many thanks, dearest, for your punctuality. 

 I always sleep in on Saturday mornings ; this morning, 

 however, I was awaked by Bill. Nurse or Mary was 



