60 UFK OF IJKX.IAMIX SILLIMAN. 



tion. I have given myself a temporary holiday from geol- 

 and have not read a single book, not even Mantell's 

 - Wonders," which he sent me, nor have I seen a copy of 

 Mr. L.'s " Klemcnts" ; but M., who is a great admirer of 

 MI, writes me, "that the new book is properly a 

 supplement to the old one, and by no means what the title 

 indicates, a book for beginners, though there are some good 

 things in it." These are exactly his words. My health, 

 tlu- latter part of last year, was much better than in the 

 previous year, but the late weather has been severely felt 

 by invalids here, and I have been very unwell for the last 

 month, having had returns of incipient dizziness, with 

 severe attacks of flatulence and indigestion, though I am 

 very careful respecting my diet. Mrs. Hannah More allows 

 of two evils in the world, sin and bile. I think she 

 might have admitted wind into partnership. Cowper, in his 

 interesting letters, mentions a religious friend at Hunting- 

 don, who kept a diary, and the most frequent items in it 

 thanksgivings for delivery from wind. Cowper ob- 

 s that this diary was more rational than that of the 

 Dr. Johnson, who makes frequent entries of the 

 lumps of sugar which he left out of his tea and coffee on 

 saint-days and fasts. I am quite satisfied that many cases 

 of demoniacal possessions, mentioned by heathens and Jews, 

 were cases of obstinate flatulence; everything which could 

 be heard and felt, but not seen, was with them spirits. 



My astronomical friend here, Mr. 1 1 ol ford, who had a 



splendid observatory, including the very best instruments, 



died a fortnight since, after a short illness; he was a few 



"iv junior. My health, for the last two years, has 



! me from observations of the heavens. I could 



wished t, ,U>i :lv writing till T was better able, but 



i lie opportunity of sending by Mr. V. A. I 



r, to write you more fully very soon, and if 



!| > Robert,* by the conveyance, please to tell 



* I]) n -in New Haven. F. 



