A CHEMIST'S HOLIDAY IN FRANCE. 433 



the operations of the laundry busily going on, while over a fire less. 

 of cow-dung made upon the hearth, some potato cakes were 

 being fried. Nothing in the shape of food being under the 

 circumstances to be despised, we soon communicated our wants 

 and accepted what cheer the house could afford. 



Quitting the Hospice we took a stroll in its immediate vicinity, 

 noticing among its out-buildings the rude sledges used in winter- 

 time, and also remarking the long poles on each side of the road, 

 erected to indicate its position when buried in snow. 



At three o'clock in the afternoon our vehicle having arrived, we 

 continued our journey towards Brianon by a steep descent down Brianon. 

 the valley of the Guisanne to Monestier. Thence to Brian^on 

 the road is along the valley, which is populous and fertile, though 

 still bounded by lofty mountains on either side. 



Brianc,on is a fortress of the first class, commanding the 

 passage into Italy, whence it is only an hour or two distant. 

 The town stands on an elevation of 4,285 feet above the sea, 

 and is said to endure seven months of winter. 



So much for a day's botanizing on the Col de Lautaret, 



A CHEMIST'S HOLIDAY. JOTTINGS IN FKANCE. 



(Pharmaceutische Ferientage. Ausfiug nach der Daupkind.) 



(Read at the Bath Meeting of the British Pharmaceutical 

 Conference, Sept. 1864.) 



MANY of us when boys must have read with delight the 1864- . 

 charming little tale called Eyes and no Eyes? in which the 

 narration of a country walk is made the occasion of showing 

 how an observant mind may derive instruction and pleasure 

 from objects which in the non-observant excite no interest. 



As I have neither been able to accept one of the subjects 

 proposed by the Pharmaceutical Conference for investigation, 

 nor to take up any other, and am yet unwilling to appear 

 before you empty-handed, I am driven to the expedient of pro- 

 ducing my essay from the same kind of materials that afforded 

 1 By Dr. Aikin and Mrs. Barbauld. 



F F 



