Correspondence — Captain Marshall Hall. 333 



very deliglitful and instructive holiday, and certainly a less expensive 

 trip than one of equal length in dear (very dear) old England or 

 Scotland. 



But first I must briefly explain my connexion with the plan. 

 Often, very often, I have fervently wished, during my excursions in 

 the Alps, that a Swiss man of science could have been with me to 

 explain the wonderful geological phenomena surrounding me, instead 

 of having slowly to work out so much as there was time to unravel, 

 with books (of course left in the valley) as my only assistants. 



I therefore mentioned amongst my friends how charming it would 

 be to make up a party and secure the kind assistance of an enthusiastic 

 geologist possessed of familiar knowledge of the localities we should 

 visit. 



Many friends fell in with the idea, and asked me to take charge 

 of the party and to occupy the place of the ideal geologist, for whose 

 presence I have so often wished. 



Now with regard to the guidance of the party, I have willingly 

 accepted the part of organizer, for a climber paying his eighteenth 

 or nineteenth visit cannot be very ignorant of mountain or valley. 

 And I could so far fulfil the geologist's function as to sketch out the 

 nature of what is known of such points as I have visited. But I 

 entirely decline encroaching upon the functions of a thorough Alpine 

 geologist, without whose aid our trip would lose half its charm. 



The season being far advanced, it is I fear too late to form a party 

 for this summer ; but if you will allow some space for discussion of 

 details in the Geological Magazine, I have no doubt whatever that 

 in 1875 a most effective party could be made Tip, to include Botanists,^ 

 Mineralogists, and Entomologists ; and I may mention that if only 

 twenty joined together, with circular tickets, a courier could be sent 

 with them, free of expense, to make all hotel and other arrange- 

 ments — a great saving of anxiety in the tourist season. 



Two modes of joining our trip might be adopted : one, to make 

 the whole round decided upon together — by far the most luxurious 

 plan ; the other, that persons not wishing to travel with a party 

 should rendezvous with the rest at certain important places. A long 

 experience of travel and many figures now before me enable me 

 to say that, with first-class fares, hotel living, and all reasonable 

 luxuries, the personal expense need not exceed one pound per day 

 for one month, and that for a number it might be a trifle less ; whilst 

 strictly economical travellers could well reduce their disbiu-sements. 



I will beg such of your readers as may fall in with my hobby, 

 ladies as well as gentlemen, to communicate with me, not, however, 

 with a view to this year's operation. If I act at all in such a mat- 

 ter, it must be with time enough to make the most effective arrange- 

 ments T can invent, and to communicate with nrany persons abroad. 



In conclusion, let me ask the President of the Geologists' Asso- 

 ciation what he would think of this extended excursion ? I need 

 say no more. 



Scientific Club, 7, Savile Eow, W. Maeshall Hall. 



June IZth, 1874. 



