1S32-37. ANTICIPATION OF HOLIDAY PLEASURES. 71 



was in us, but we had realized that it was not an elixir of life, 

 but an elixir of health, that we had to seek." l 



The much-needed relaxation of autumn came at last. To his 

 sister he announces its approach : 



" EDINBURGH, Sept. 3d. 



" MY DEAR MARY, If it will be in any way interesting to you, 

 I may let you know that I hope to be in Glasgow on the second 

 Monday of September. I shall be at Dunoon on Tuesday, and 

 then I shall be able to consult and determine with you as to the 

 propriety of returning home or prolonging your stay. Perhaps 

 you will be persuaded to wait a few days longer, to be my cice- 

 rone over all the beauties of your present habitation ; nor can I 

 exclude from my mind the hope that I shall obtain an introduc- 

 tion to my brother-practitioner the medico of Dunoon, from 

 whom I expect much pleasure and profit, in consequence of all 

 the information Daniel has given me on the subject. I think I 

 shall have no difficulty now in getting away from the Infirmary. 

 We have got two new apprentices to lighten our labours, and 

 give me an additional right to claim three weeks of absence. I 

 have been sleeping in the Infirmary for the last month, to let 

 C. away, whom I intend paying in his own coin, to teach him 

 the propriety of keeping good faith with people. I cannot say I 

 have been about anything particular since I last wrote. The 

 translation of a French work on the Natural History of the Ibis 

 of the Ancient Egyptians, and a few verses written on the same 

 subject, are the sum of my literary labours. The shifting to the 

 comfortless room in the Infirmary has prevented me following 

 the strict course of study I had laid down for myself, and the 

 closing of the library for three weeks prevents me reading new 

 books. I am diligently engaged at present studying the history, 

 geography, and political constitution of Egypt, and its talented 

 governor, Mehamet Ali, who raised himself from poverty to sit 

 upon the throne, and whose treacherous murder of the Mame- 

 luke Beys, I have no doubt you are well acquainted with. In 

 spite, however, of this sanguinary deed, and many other despotic 



1 ' Life of Edward Forbes,' chap. iv. 



