282 GEOLOGICAL LETTERS AND NOTES 



which I wish to avoid, I shall defer this until ray return from 

 the Highlands. I am now on my way to the North travelling 

 with my own horses, and shoald feel very gratified by having 

 a meeting with yoa on my way thro' Northamberland. If yon 

 could see me en passant, I would take the Wooler road 

 from Newcastle to Edinburgh, in which case I shall feel 

 particularly obliged to you for a few lines directed to me P.O. 

 Morpeth. Oar science is one of compassion as you well know. 

 Perhaps we can together make out a complete paper upon the 

 Brora district, provided you do not already feel satisfied that 

 you have established all the geological relations of that singular 

 and interesting country. 



I shall reach Morpeth on Monday next at farthest." 



Some ten days later Mr Murchison writes again as follows : — 



Scarbro', June 6th, 1826, 



" Owing to various casualties, I was prevented pursuing my 

 journey direct to Northumberland. First, one of my horses met 

 with an accident, which, occasioning lameness, obliged me to halt. 

 Secondly, finding myself at York and so fully occupied there at the 

 Phil, Society, and being within 40 miles of this place, I could not 

 resist the desire I had of examining the stratification of this coast, 

 and its anomalous Coal seams which I propose to compare with that 

 of Brora. 



I have met with much attention from Mr Vernon, the President of 

 the Geological Society, and have been lucky enough to join 

 Mr Smith, the old geologist here, so that I hope to make myself 

 master of the subject. 



Seeing the state of my cavalry and anxious to avoid the great 

 turmoil of your contested election, I had resolved to embark here in 

 the steam-boat for Edinburgh, and send my servant and carriage to 

 encounter the perils ; but your letter (which I wrote to the P. Ofiice 

 at Morpeth for) has induced me to change my plans. The tempta- 

 tions you hold out are too alluring to be withstood, so that in spite 

 of the Northumbrian storm and a lame horse, I shall endeavour to 

 reach you. I shall start from Whitby on the 3rd day from the date 

 hereof, and shall be at Stockton that night ; the next day at 

 Newcastle provided it will hold us (Mrs M. accompanies me); and 

 the 3rd day, by taking post horses (if to be had) the last stage, I 

 hope to reach your house on that evening, or at all events the 

 following day. If in the meantime yon can look me out an active 

 little horse about 15 hands high, in condition, and fit to travel the 

 Highlands with another in a very light landaulet (colour of no conse- 

 quence, nor are blemishes), I will feel particularly obliged to you, as 

 I foar that my lame horse, tho' nearly sound now, will not stand a 

 hilly road and long going, which I regret, as he is an invaluable 

 animal." 



