vi.] PROFESSORIAL LIFE. 155 



he set off for London, and after a few weeks spent there 

 he proceeded to Paris. Just about the time of his arrival 

 there he was elected a corresponding member of the 

 Institute of France, an honour which is regarded, I 

 believe, by all European men of science, as one of the 

 highest which they can receive. 



Of the eventful summer of 1842, as of all his other 

 foreign summers, the full record will be found in 

 another chapter. I shall only here give the entry in 

 his journal when looking back to it in 1860, at a time 

 ii In 1 know that for him Alpine adventure was over : 

 'This was the most active and, except the summer of 

 1833, when writing my lectures, the busiest summer I 

 ever spent. It was also, I believe, the happiest. It still 

 thrills me with delight to look back to it.' 



When this energetic summer was ended, he left 

 ( hamouni on the 29th September, but did not return 

 to Edinburgh till October, a short time before the session 

 opened. All the next winter, ,1842-43, he was in- 

 tensely occupied in writing his book of Alpine travels 

 and in reducing his observations. Murray, the well- 

 known publisher, had undertaken to bring out the book, 

 but some misunderstanding arose between the author and 

 tin- publisher. On New Year's Day 1843, we find him 

 in London conferring with Murray and trying to settle 

 differences that had arisen. I>ut this attempt did not 

 succeed; for in the end the book was published, not by 

 Murray, but by the Edinburgh firm of Messrs. Black 

 and Co. 



On returning from London, all the spare hours of the 

 following sprinir were devoted to the book. It is curious 

 to remember now, that this was the nxt ^itntrd winter 

 whirl, Scotland Jiad seen for many a year. Kdinlmpjji 

 was absorbed with the turmoil and e\< iti-nn-nt which 

 I the disruption of the National Church. Cndis- 



turlicd by the din of ecclesiastical collisions, !' 



'nlly on with the work he had set himself. \\\ 

 the close of the session the bnok was nearly completed ; 

 and in the end of April he jefn shed himself from his 



