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



it as soon as possible. During the worst weather our 

 little society was almost confined to the following mem- 

 bers : M. Agassiz, cheerful, kind, and frank, not much 

 disposed to active exertion within doors, but always 

 ready to contribute to the cheerful companionship of a 

 party, the chief of which he justly considers himself. 

 Dr. Voght, a laughter-loving, and withal shrewd young 

 man of twenty -three, a true German in complexion, 

 phlegm, and habits. During the excursions of his more 

 adventurous companions his chief home was near the 

 snuggest corner of the smoke-inviting wood-fire which 

 blazed at the end of the long, low hall of the hospice ; 

 here he would remain almost as motionless as the red 

 molecules of doubtful origin which it was his chief 

 delight to watch through a powerful microscope in the 

 coloured snow, the gathering of which was the object of 

 an almost daily walk to the Sidelhorn. M. Desor, a 

 Frenchman by birth, a friend of M. Agassiz, and the 

 journalist of the expedition : like all journalists, placed in 

 rather a difficult and dubious position, from which even 

 a certain share of natural quickness and French vivacity 

 did not serve wholly to extricate him. M. Burckhardt, 

 the artist of our Agassian Club, a shrewd sensible man, 

 with a sly smile and some dry humour, often successfully 

 used in rebutting the sallies of M. Desor. Mr. and Mrs. 

 Trevelyan formed latterly part of our daily circle : the 

 one quiet, gentlemanlike, and well-informed ; the other 

 quick, rather erudite, and fond of art. They usually 

 spent their mornings with us, occupying themselves by 

 drying flowers or finishing sketches. Zippach, our land- 

 lord, was an excellent manager all went on smoothly, 

 cheerfully, and without annoyance or a single unkind 

 or hasty word. Everyone was well served, and that 

 although the situation rendered it impossible to avoid 

 sometimes a tumultuous overflow of guests. By 8 or 

 9 A.M. all passing travellers were gone, and a still 

 repose reigned until three or four (we usually dined at 

 one or two), when travellers began to drop in so rapidly 

 that at seven supper was laid for thirty or forty pur- 



