vi.] PROFESSORIAL LIFE. 125 



the pumping of the water has been regularly carried on. 

 Mr. Irving immediately and zealously undertook the 

 inquiry ; and descended to the deepest part of the mine 

 on the 16th of May and found the temperature of the 

 water in the bottom to be 49. This was at a depth of 95 

 fathoms below the entrance to the Susanna Vein. . . .' 



In June he traversed on foot the greater part of the 

 Highlands. Beginning with Braemar, he passed by Glen 

 Feschie to Aviemore and Inverness, thence up the Beauly 

 to Erchless, where he parted with his companion, the 

 Rev. H. W. Sheppard. Alone, he seems to have turned 

 back to Ben Mac Dhui and Loch Aun, whence he crossed 

 Scotland by Loch Laggon to Glenh'nnan, Knoydart, and 

 Skye, ascended the Coolins, thence to Loch Maree, passed 

 through Inverness, and on to Glencoe. The rest of the 

 tour shall be given in his own words : 



To Miss FORBES. 



' DALMALLY, July 23rd, 1836. 



* ... I have been in full action for a very consider- 

 able time, and the repose of Saturday and Sunday last 

 which I spent at Inverness was much trespassed upon by 

 the misfortune of a tremendous wool market, which 

 gathered all the North of Scotland. I came along the 

 course of the Caledonian Canal, not by steam, for the 

 most part, but walking, in order to visit the adjoining 

 glens. I took Glen Moriston one day, Glengarry 

 another, and Loch Aikni^ a third. On the whole 1 was 

 as much pleased as I expected. From Fort William I 

 went to Ballachudilish, which is most charming indeed ; 

 and yesterday I devoted to a leisure survey of Glencoe, 

 which extremely delighted me, and is really the best 

 scenery on the whole I have seen in Scotland, and 

 i thy of comparison with any I know. I walked over 



-house down Loch Etive to Bun 

 lachudiliah is a glorious contrast to Glencoe, and I 

 experienced much hospitality from the Stewart family. 

 o are very primitive, patnaichal people. . . .' 



