183738. ILLNESS OF A COUSIN. 131 



The students' expenses amounted to two hundred pounds, and 

 we are all subscribing. 



" Catherine is much the same ; for some days back she was 

 better, i.e., in her feelings, for the real state of the case never 

 altered ; but she is again not so well. She is in that state of 

 mind which theorists might deny, as impossible, but which all 

 who have felt keenly or have thought much, can enter into and 

 sympathize with ; she is entertaining the incompatible feelings 

 accompanying a looking forward to another world and yet a 

 lingering interest in a present. That the latter should remain 

 is no cause of wonder, specially in her disease." What this 

 disease was, with its clinging to life, the reader will easily sur- 

 mise. Catherine was the second oldest of the cousins, and was 

 loved as a sister. Her illness was of long continuance, as will 

 be seen from references in future letters. Truly the clouds re- 

 turned after the rain in this household, and the stern monitor, 

 affliction, seemed commissioned to take up her abode in it, and 

 teach, for many years to come, lessons hard to be learned. 



The enthusiasm with which work in chemistry was prose- 

 cuted is strikingly shown in some letters of which specimens 

 are now given. 



" February 7, 1838. 



" MY DEAK DANIEL, I am quite ashamed to take up so small 

 a bit of paper to begin writing to you. I have no foolscap, and 

 a long sheet appals me. In truth, I should not have written to 

 you at all (for my time is very much occupied at present), had 

 I not been told of a gentleman going to London, who will take 

 the accompanying drawings, which I have had lying beside me 

 waiting an opportunity. You will recognise them as sketches of 

 the leopard's skull, and they were done for practice' sake by 

 your quondam protege, young Macdonald. As soon as I saw 

 them, and called to remembrance your fondness for that osteo- 

 logical ornament of our mantelpiece, I thought the drawings 

 would please you. 



" I am veiy glad to learn your comfortable progress. Your 

 persevering undauntedness, spite of frozen water, etc., was to 

 me quite refreshing and invigorating. 



