158 THE LIFE OF JAMES D. FORBES. [CHAP. 



' An early copy, I believe the first, of Professor Forbes's 

 Travels in the Alps was presented by him to me ; and 

 I read with great interest the observations on glaciers, 

 especially the part beginning with the chapter which 

 bears the appropriate motto, 



"The glacier's cold and restless mass 

 Moves onward, day by day." 



'And I have often contrasted, in my mind, the well- 

 directed and careful observations there detailed, and the 

 cautious deductions from them, with the paltry and 

 doubtful objections that have been made to subordinate 

 points of the theory. As a whole, this essay must hold 

 a very high place. 



* No person, perhaps, could testify better than myself to 

 Professor Forbes's scientific character. In every investi- 

 gation of his which I saw, he was careful, accurate, and 

 truthful. He would not change an idea or a term for 

 any consideration but his own conviction. 



'This uprightness and manliness of character was 

 impressed on all his transactions, and in time insured to 

 him the respect of all who had sufficient opportunity of 

 witnessing it It was matter of great pleasure to Mrs. 

 Airy, as well as to myself, to enjoy the hospitality of 

 your house, or to offer our own, to take part with him in 

 an expedition for sight of a solar eclipse (1842), or in 

 an excursion to our northernmost islands, or to put 

 ourselves under his guidance in Scotland or in Savoy. 



' In the systematic pursuit of science, and in prepa- 

 rations for accurate geography and topography, Professor 

 Forbes prepared himself with powers which sometimes 

 almost assumed the character of the lighter accomplish- 

 ments. His mapping of the Mer de Glace of Chain ouni 

 is an excellent specimen of surveyor's work. In con- 

 templation of an excursion, I found that he was taking 

 regular lessons in drawing, and the fruit of these appeared 

 in those most admirable depictions of Alpine scenery 

 which adorn his book of Travels in the Alps. I suppose 

 that it may be asserted that the present popularity of 



