THE EUROPEAN JOURNALS 1 79 



by Capt. Basil Hall, who was so polite as to present me 

 with a copy of his work, two volumes, on South America, 

 with a kind note, and an invitation to dine with him on 

 Thursday next at eight o'clock. The weather is miserable. 



Saturday, December 9. I wrote closely all morning 

 from six to twelve, only half dressed, and not stopping for 

 breakfast beyond a cup of coffee, and while thus busily 

 employed Mr. Hall came in and handed me a note from 

 Lady Hunter, requesting the honor of my company on 

 Saturday next to dine at six ; he looked at me with sur- 

 prise and doubtless thought me the strangest-looking man 

 in the town. I had much running about with Professor 

 Jameson to the printer, and with my manuscript to Mr. 

 Lizars, who took it to Professor Brewster. We visited the 

 Museum together, called on a Mr. Wilson, where I saw a 

 most beautiful dead Pheasant that I longed to have to 

 paint. Then to Dr. Lizars' lecture on anatomy, and with 

 him to the dissecting-rooms, but one glance was enough 

 for me, and I hastily, and I hope forever, made my escape. 

 The day was extremely wet, and I was glad to be in my 

 room. I hear Mr. Selby is expected next Monday night. 



December 10, Sunday. My situation in Edinburgh bor- 

 ders almost on the miraculous. With scarce one of 

 those qualities necessary to render a man able to pass 

 through the throng of the learned people here, I am 

 positively looked on by all the professors and many of the 

 principal persons here as a very extraordinary man. I 

 cannot comprehend this in the least. Indeed I have re- 

 ceived here so much kindness and attention that I look 

 forward with regret to my removal to Glasgow, fifty miles 

 hence, where I expect to go the last of this month. Sir 

 William Jardine has been spending a few days here pur- 

 posely to see me, and I am to meet Mr. Selby, and with 

 these two gentlemen discuss the question of a joint publi- 

 cation, which may possibly be arranged. It is now a 

 month since my work was begun by Mr. Lizars; the paper 



