164 THE LIFE OF JAMES D. FORBES. [CHAP 



you in my heart for teaching me wftat difficulties steady 

 mental energy can overcome/ 



He had, however, scarcely returned, and before he had 

 time to settle down, than he was called away to attend 

 the gathering of the British Association, which that year, 

 towards the end of September, took place once again at 

 its earliest meeting-place, York. Some of the incidents 

 of that meeting as they occurred to Forbes are given in 

 the following letters written at the time to his wife : 



* BISHOPTHORPE PALACE, Wednesday evening. 



6 . . . We arrived here to-day at twelve I mean at 

 York, in company with Sir D. Brewster, Lord Enniskillen, 

 Dr. and Mrs. Alison, Sir A. Agnew, and many other 

 stars. It is very cold. My cold is not better. The 

 people staying here are all most pleasant. We have 

 Brewster, Murchison and Mrs., two Archdeacons Wilber- 

 force, Liebig, Peacock (Dean of Ely),. Lord Northampton, 

 &c. &c. Whewell and Mrs. were at dinner. The Arch- 

 bishop is wonderfully well. The William Harcourts are 

 a very charming family, Mrs. very, and one of the sons 

 a most amiable youth. How I wish you were here. I 

 am so sorry I can't send this to-night. 



' Thursday morning. I am better to-day. Tell me 

 all about yourself. I have had some talk with Whewell 

 about glaciers ; he said my note expressed exactly his 

 opinion about Hopkins and his papers. I have not 

 settled whether to make a communication or not : I 

 want to avoid a collision with Hopkins, who is here/ 



* BISHOPTHORPE PALACE, Sept. 27, 1844. 



' I have received your two kind notes. I wish you 

 were with me. I am better to-day. The first evening 

 meeting and opening of the Association was last night ; 

 I did not go, but stayed cosily with the Archbishop. We 

 stayed cracking for three hours, and then he went and 

 fetched me lozenges for my cold. 



' 5 P.M. I am much better to-day. We have had 

 such a lively discussion in the Section on Glaciers. Lord 



