x.] ALPINE TRAFELS, 1846. 315 



he passed between Chamounix and the Montanvert. He 

 had resumed work in his old style, and every day found 

 him on the glacier in company with Balmat and his 

 instruments. He took a variety of observations for the 

 improvement and extension of his survey, measured the 

 general daily motion of the glacier, examined the ' glaciers 

 of the second order' which overhang the Mer de 

 Glace, and made a vigorous attempt to fix a series of 

 marks in the side of a Moulin of immense depth, in 

 order to test the relation which the motion of the surface 

 of a glacier bears to that of its lower portions. The 

 experiment, however, was a failure ; for while engaged 

 iu that chilly operation, a storm of wind and sleet burst 

 upon them with such fury that instant flight was their 

 only resource. 



During all this time he was not alone, for Mr. 

 and Mrs. Wauchope, who had joined them at Geneva, 

 formed with his wife a pleasant family circle, a bright 

 spot of sunshine at Chamounix when the storms drove 

 him from the glacier. In spite of hard work and expo- 

 sure which must have tried his scarcely recovered health, 

 the broken autumn weather, and the necessity of ob- 

 serving for hours together under a burning sun, while 

 standing ankle deep in wet snow, Forbes returned to 

 England early in September, with strength so far re- 

 stored as to enable him at once to enter upon the 

 winter's work of his Professorship. 



Forbes spent the summer months of 1845 in the 

 in highlands of Scotland, but the following year 

 ji find him on his way to Chamounix. 



To MRS. FORBES. 



IHBOT, /"/// Hf/*, 1 



'. . . Thank God witli me that I have arrived in 

 health and ihus far I might say, at the end of 



. I am once nxiv among given li.-Ms and 

 bright streams, with whin- < raggy clifls, glorious to 

 behold, and \. n some patches of snow. It in ind < -d 

 a glorious count 



