1838.] GLEN ROY, 293 



what you think about that classical ground, the structure 

 was to me new and rather curious, that is, if I understand it 

 right. I crossed from Edinburgh in gigs and carts (and carts 

 without springs, as I never shall forget) to Loch Leven. I 

 was disappointed in the scenery, and reached Glen Roy on 

 Saturday evening, one week after leaving Marlborough Street. 

 Here I enjoyed five [?] days of the most beautiful weather with 

 gorgeous sunsets, and all nature looking as happy as I felt. 

 I wandered over the mountains in all directions, and examined 

 that most extraordinary district. I think, without any excep- 

 tions, not even the first volcanic island, the first elevated 

 beach, or the passage of the Cordillera, was so interesting to 

 me as this week. It is far the most remarkable area I ever 

 examined. I have fully convinced myself (after some doubt- 

 ing at first) that the shelves are sea-beaches, although I could 

 not find a trace of a shell ; and I think I can explain away 

 most, if not all, the difficulties. I found a piece of a road in 

 another valley, not hitherto observed, which is important ; 

 and I have some curious facts about erratic blocks, one of 

 which was perched up on a peak 2200 feet above the sea. I 

 am now employed in writing a paper on the subject, which I 

 find very amusing work, excepting that I cannot anyhow con- 

 dense it into reasonable limits. At some future day I hope 

 to talk over some of the conclusions with you, which the 

 examination of Glen Roy has led me to. Now I have had 

 my talk out, I am much easier, for I can assure you Glen Roy 

 has astonished me. 



I am living very quietly, and therefore pleasantly, and am 

 crawling on slowly but steadily with my work. I have come 

 to one conclusion, which you will think proves me to be 

 a very sensible man, namely, that whatever you say proves 

 right ; and as a proof of this, I am coming into your way of 

 only working about two hours at a spell ; I then go out and 

 do my business in the streets, return and set to work again, 

 and thus make two separate days out of one. The new plan 



X 2 



