92 THE LIFE OF JAMES D. FORBES. [CHAP. iv. 



to give me leisure to think of any other. I fully 

 indulged, and secretly prided myself on my indepen- 

 dence of society. In Edinburgh I could not find what 

 I had in London and Cambridge, and therefore I had 

 little or none. In 1832, I travelled alone abroad, and 

 fully worked out a taste, which you will see was 

 natural to my then state of mind, for solitary travel- 

 ling, and the independence which it confers and in- 

 dulges. These unsocial journeys, which you profess to 

 like me to make, are the very evidence and food of 

 the reserved temper in ordinary society which, because 

 you observe it most where you feel personally inter- 

 ested, you sometimes lament. Since I have acted for 

 myself I have ventured to do so very independently on 

 the subject of associates. I have formed my own ac- 

 quaintances, maintained them without consulting other 

 people's opinions or prejudices ; and on the other hand, I 

 have treated with mere civility those accidentally thrown 

 in my way. The consequence is that if I have offended 

 a few, I have gained much time and a solid phalanx 

 of useful allies, who like me and I like them simply 

 because we have something in common, however we 

 may differ on other points. General mixed society 

 never had charms for me. As I ask no homage from 

 it, I have nothing to stoop for, and it asks as little 

 from me. . . . 



' I should add that in childhood, partly from con- 

 stitution and partly from indulgence, I was in a high 

 degree timid, excitable, and nervous ; that as a more 

 independent spirit came over me I became energetic 

 and ambitious; this stage continued from my seven- 

 teenth to my twenty-seventh year; since that some 

 mellowing ingredients have softened some of the aspe- 

 rities of my character, and the providential goodness 

 of God which made me acquainted with you made 

 that friendship in many senses blessed, for which I 

 desire to thank Him as I ought/ 



