LYELL. 32 1 



letter. This morning we got off, after breakfast at 

 five o'clock, on horseback, to return from St. Amand 

 to this : arrived at seven o'clock. But one day we 

 rode fifty-five miles, which I shall take care shall be 

 the last experiment of that kind, as even the old 

 Leicestershire fox-hunter was nearly done up with 

 it. But I have really gained strength so much, 

 that I believe I and my eyes were never in such 

 condition before ; and I am sure that six hours in 

 bed, which is all we allow, and exercise all day long 

 for the body, and geology for the mind, with plenty 

 of the vin du pays, which is good here, is the best 

 thing that can be invented in this world for my 

 health and happiness. Murchison must have been 

 intended for a very strong man, if the sellers of 

 drugs had not enlisted him into their service, so that 

 he depends on them for his existence to a frightful 

 extent, yet withal he can get through what would 

 knock up most men who never need the doctor. 

 He has only given in one day and a half yet. On 

 one occasion we were on an expedition together, 

 and as a stronger dose was necessary than he had 

 with him, I was not a little alarmed at finding there 

 was no pharmacy in the place, but at last we went 

 to a nunnery, where Mdlle. la Sup^rieuse sold all 

 medicines without profit — positively a young, clever, 

 and rather good-looking lady, who hoped my friend 

 would think better of it, as the quantity would kill 

 six Frenchmen. M. was cured, and off the next 

 morning, as usual. The mischief is, that he has 

 naturally a weak though a sound stomach, and if 

 I. Y 



