Ch. VII] 1836—1842. 147 



I have some curious facts about erratic blocks, one of which 

 was perched up on a peak 2200 feet above tho sea. I am now 

 employed in writing a paper on the subject, which I find very 

 amusing work, excepting that I cannot anyhow condenso it 

 into reasonable limits. At some future day I hope to talk 

 over some of tho conclusions with you, which the examina- 

 tion of Glen Roy has led mo to. Now I have had my talk 

 out, I am much easier, for I can assure you Glen Roy has 

 astonished me. 



I am living very quietly, and therefore pleasantly, and am 

 crawling on slowly but steadily with my work. I have come 

 to one conclusion, which you will think proves mo to be a very 

 sensible man, namely, that whatever you say proves right ; and 

 as a proof of this, I am coming into your way of only working 

 about two hours at a spell ; I then go out and do my business 

 in the streots, return and set to work again, and thus mako 

 two separate days out of one. The new plan answers capitally ; 

 after the second half day is finished I go and dine at the 

 Athenreum like a gentleman, or rather like a lord, for I am 

 sure tho first evening I sat in that great drawing-room, all on 

 a sofa by myself, I felt just like a duke. I am full of admira- 

 tion at tho Athenamm, one meets so many people there that 

 one likes to seo. . . . 



I have heard from more than one quarter that quarrelling is 

 expected at Newcastle * ; I am sorry to hear it. I met old 

 this evening at tho Athenamm, and he muttered some- 

 thing about writing to you or some one on the subject ; I am 

 however all in tho dark. I suppose, however, I shall be 

 illuminated, for I am going to dine with him in a few days, as 

 my inventive powers failed in making any excuse. A friend 

 of mine dined with him the other day, a party of four, and 

 they finished ten bottles of wine — a pleasant prospect for me ; 

 but I am determined not even to taste his wine, partly for the 

 fun of seeing his infinite disgust and surprise. . . . 



I pity you the infliction of this most unmerciful letter. 

 Pray remember me most kindly to Mrs. Lyell when you arrive 

 at Kinnordy. Tell Mrs. Lyell to read the second series of 



* Mr. Slick of Slickville's Sayings.' . . . He almost beats 



* Samivel,' that prince of heroes. Good night, my dear Lyell ; 

 you will think I have been drinking some strong drink to 

 write so much nonsense, but I did not even taste Minerva's 

 small beer to-day. . . . 



A record of what he wrote during the year 1838 would not 



• At the meeting of the British Association. 



L 2 



