148 EXCURSION IN THE HIGHLANDS. CHAP. VIII. 



Glen Roy," and extended their journey as far as Inver- 

 ness ; the professor teaching the young men as they 

 travelled how to observe in a mountain country. Not 

 long before his death, Robert Stephenson spoke in glow- 

 ing terms of the great pleasure and benefit which he had 

 derived from that interesting excursion. " I have tra- 

 velled far, and enjoyed much," he said ; " but that 

 delightful botanical and geological tour I shall never 

 forget ; and I am just about to start in the Titania for a 

 trip round the east coast of Scotland, returning south 

 through the Caledonian Canal, to refresh myself with 

 the recollection of that first and brightest tour of my 

 life." 



Towards the end of the summer of 1822 the young 



[student returned to Killingworth to re-enter upon the 



^active business of life. The six months' study had cost 



his father 80/., a considerable sum to him in those days ; 



but he was amply repaid by the sound scientific culture 



which his son had acquired, and the evidence of ability 



and industry which he was enabled to exhibit in the 



prize for mathematics which he had won at the 



University. 



WEST MOOR COLLIERY, KILLINGWORTH. 



