viz.] MARRIED LIFE. 181 



work it out to the utmost limit he can, if he means that 

 it shall finally be associated with his name, which is 

 my desire. . . . 



* I very much agree in what you say about Popery. 

 It is ludicrous to hear it blackened like Atheism. The 

 truth is they are only tinselled and varnished over, and 

 often distorted, yet very deep and holy truths you know 

 I have no leaning to the Tractarians, or I would not 

 say so much. But there is sad bigotry and unchari- 

 tableness in religious parties. Most heartily also do I 

 agree with you, my dear friend, in what you say 



it the questionable benefits of intellectual educa- 

 tion merely to the masses, which I have hardly seen 

 better stated/ 



At the meeting of the British Association at Oxford 

 in June 1847, Forbes was present as usual. Of what 

 there took place, the following letter to Mrs. Forbes pre- 

 serves some interesting collections : 



< RUGBY, June 29^, 1847. 



* I really could not manage to scribble a line yesterday, 

 \\ < had such a busy day at Oxford : it is the first time I 

 have missed. I breakfasted as usual at half-past eight, 

 and was busy in the section, having a diagram to draw 

 for Sir D. Brewster, and to listen to an admirable paper 

 of Thomson's, and to Leverrier, who gave us a long and 



t interesting discourse in French, at the latter part 



of which Prince Albert " assisted," with the Duke f 8 



Weimar. The moment the Prim was gone, two o'clock, 



id to rush home and dress for the luncheon which 



. place at Kxeter Collide. Our drawing-room was 



garden, where a party of the Oxford dons and chief 



:he Association and principal foreigner.- met 



ice Albert, and stood twenty minute^ \\ith their hats 



fortunately it was a very mild day, and no hot sun, 



lut unite dry. The Prince was most exceedingly amiable 



t ly unailected. Sir K. In^lis did 

 the honour "f hit mdu-iii<r me to him particularly, 

 we had ordinary talk, whilst the Ui-lioj 



