xii.] LIFE IN ST. ANDREWS. 431 



evening meetings in general, which are what I am afraid 

 of. You are quite right in saying that my health was 

 the sole cause of my declining the Presidency so kindly 

 offered, and I should have been disappointed had I not 

 been allowed at least to show my goodwill by appearing 

 as a vice -President. 



' I congratulate you on your generalship in getting 

 the Duke of Buccleugh to act. When I first saw the 

 report I feared it might not be true/ 



To E. C. BATTEN, ESQ. 



'Sr. ANDREWS, November th, 1866. 



' Your kind letter crossed mine. ... I inclose a frag- 

 ment of my opening address on Wednesday, but it will 

 appear as a pamphlet. It is quite historical and statis- 

 tical, and gives an account of the origin of the British 

 Association and of the first meeting at York. I have 

 not for many years been busier than during the last three 

 weeks, and I have a large arrear of letters to write. I 

 have had the whole arranging of the new constitution of 

 our College Hall. The general meeting of shareholders 

 was on Monday; and went off well. We have had the 

 plans also to consider, and our factor having very inop- 

 portunely taken to his bed, I have had the whole common 

 business of the College and the Hall to look after. How- 

 ever, I have been very well. You will be glad to hear that 

 the old shareholders of the College Hall are not likely to 

 be called on afresh for perhaps nearly a year. We have 

 about 75 new shares taken. I am much pleased with 

 William Thomson's honours. Cholera is occurring nrar 

 Dundee and elsewhere. One of my many engagements 

 has been inducing the Provost and baillies into getting 

 up a cholera hospital ; in which we have partially suc- 

 ceeded. I must now stop/ 



To PROFESSOR STUDER, Berne. 



'St. ANDREWS, November 17 tk, 1866. 



'. . . I hope; your ln'nltli contim "1, and tlial 



!1 ,-il)le to make your geological excursions, 



