208 LINN^US. 



when the fog is condensed, and no longer supported 

 in the air, it immediately rains. To all such rea- 

 soning, being above his comprehension, he only 

 returned a sardonic smile. Still less was he satis- 

 fied with my explanation how. watery bubbles may 

 be lifted up into the air, as he told me the clouds 

 were solid bodies. On my denying this, he rein- 

 forced his assertion with a text of Scripture, silenc- 

 ing me by authority, and then laughing at my 

 ignorance. He next condescended to inform me, 

 that after rain a phlegm is always to be found on 

 the mountains, where the clouds have touched them. 

 Upon my replying that this phlegm is a vegetable 

 called nostoc, I was, like St Paul, judged to be 

 mad, and that too much learning had turned my 

 brain. 



'' The other, the pedagogue, lamented that people 

 should bestow so much attention upon temporal 

 vanities, and consequently, alas ! neglect their spi- 

 ritual good; and he remarked that many a one 

 had been ruined by too great application to study. 

 Both these wise men concurred in one thing : They 

 could not conceal their wonder that the Royal Aca- 

 demy should have expressly appointed a mere stu- 

 dent for the purposes on which I was sent, without 

 considering that there were already as competent 

 individuals resident in the country, who would 

 have imdertaken the business. They declared they 

 would either of them have been ready to accept the 

 charge. In my opinion, however, they would but 

 have exhibited a fresh illustration of the proverb of 

 the ass and the lyre." 



On the 1st July, the traveller obtained a glimpse 

 of the Lapland Alps, which resembled a range 



