XXX] BOSTON TO WASHINGTON 125 



distinct. I was then shown the great nebula in Orion, the 

 double star Castor, and a fine cluster in Perseus, the most 

 beautiful object I saw. The telescope is not quite achromatic, 

 but it is wonderfully steady, and the clockwork motion very 

 perfect. The night, though very clear, was not one for what 

 is termed "good seeing ; " hence high powers could not be used, 

 and the result was somewhat disappointing. A really good 

 telescope of moderate size, say four-inch or six-inch object 

 glass, properly mounted, and which can be used whenever the 

 conditions are good, will afford more pleasure and instruction 

 than chance visits to the largest instruments. 



Early in January I had an engagement to lecture before 

 the American Geographical Society at New York, the subject 

 being, " Oceanic Islands and the Permanence of Continental 

 and Oceanic Areas." I stayed with my kind friend Mr. A. 

 G. Browne, who took me after the lecture to the Century 

 Club, where I met Clarence King, the geologist, and some 

 other scientific men. Next morning I visited the American 

 Museum of Natural History, where I met Dr. J. B. Holder, 

 Mr. J. A. Allen, the well-known writer on birds and mammals, 

 and some other naturalists ; and returned to Washington in 

 the afternoon. 



On Sunday evening, March 6, I started on a ten days' 

 visit to Canada to fulfil some lecture engagements. I went 

 by a circuitous route by Williamsport, where I breakfasted ; 

 then on by Seneca lake and Rochester to Niagara. All this 

 country was very picturesque — much like Wales, but no walls 

 or hedges, and wooden houses. Willows with bright yellow 

 bark were conspicuous, and very handsome. Near the lake 

 were abundant vineyards, deep gullies in horizontal shaly 

 rock, with numerous waterfalls. I reached the Niagara old 

 suspension bridge at 5 p.m., and had just time to see the 

 rapids by going down the cliffs in an elevator about two 

 hundred feet. The leaping, irregular waves were fine, but 

 hardly up to my expectation. I had an excellent supper at 

 a small hotel, and then went on to Toronto, which I reached 

 at 12.20, going on next morning to Kingston, which I reached 

 at 2.30 p.m., where Principal Grant met me and took me 



