^T. 28.] JOURNAL. 105 



ing manner, several passages from Virgil, and a long 

 one from Milton, and gave a long and most eloquent 

 analytic commentary upon each, far exceeding any- 

 thing of the kind I ever heard before. After visiting 

 the library of the university — a most magnificent 

 room — I set out for Holyrood House. ... I bought 

 one or two poor prints, a cast of the seal-ring of 

 Mary, plucked a bit of holly from a bush standing 

 by the place by the altar before which Mary was 

 married to Bothwell, and reluctantly took my leave. 

 There was yet some time remaining, so I set out to 

 climb Arthur's Seat, which rises abruptly behind Salis- 

 bury Crags to the height of eight or nine hundred 

 feet. I attained my wish, and had a beautiful view, 

 from the summit, of the city beneath my feet, and 

 the wide country aroimd. I descended more rapidly 

 than I went up, though at some risk to my neck. Re- 

 turned to Dr. GreviUe's, where I dined and spent aU 

 the evening. 



I had engaged yesterday to breakfast with Dr. Gra- 

 ham. I therefore set off early for that purpose ; after- 

 ward accompanied him to the Garden, examined the 

 grounds, etc., passed some time in the splendid palm- 

 house. I spent some portion of the morning also with 

 Mr. NicoU, examining with the microscope his beauti- 

 ful collection of recent and fossil wood in thin slices ; 

 learned how to prepare them. Then arranged my 

 affairs to leave Edinburgh in the morning. In the 

 evening Dr. GreviUe and myself dined with Mr. Wil- 

 son (gentleman naturalist), the brother of the gifted 

 Professor "Wilson ; himself almost equally gifted, but 

 with a more healthy tone of mind. He interested us 

 so much that our stay was prolonged until nearly the 

 " wee short hour ayont the twal," when we parted. 



