an autobiography-第64部分

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Manchester　and　Liverpool；　during　which　time　they　were　the　guests　of　the　Earl　of　Ellesmere　at　Worsley　Hall。　　Finding　that　I　lived　near　at　hand；　the　Prince　expressed　his　desire　to　the　Earl　that　I　should　exhibit　to　Her　Majesty　some　of　my　graphic　lunar　studies。

On　receiving　a　note　to　that　effect　from　the　Countess　of　Ellesmere；　I　sent　a　selection　of　my　drawings　to　the　Hall；　and　proceeded　there　in　the　evening。　　I　had　then　the　honour　of　showing　them　to　the　Queen　and　the　Prince；　and　explaining　them　in　detail。　　Her　Majesty　took　a　deep　interest　in　the　subject；　and　was　most　earnest　in　her　inquiries。　The　Prince　Consort'　said　that　the　drawings　opened　up　quite　a　new　subject　to　him；　which　he　had　not　before　had　the　opportunity　of　considering。　　It　was　as　much　as　I　could　do　to　answer　the　numerous　keen　and　incisive　questions　which　he　put　to　me。　　They　were　all　so　distinct　and　cogent。　　Their　object　was；　of　course；　to　draw　from　me　the　necessary　explanations　on　this　rather　recondite　subject。　　I　believe；　however；　that　notwithstanding　the　presence　of　Royalty；　I　was　enabled　to　place　all　the　most　striking　and　important　features　of　the　Moon's　surface　in　a　clear　and　satisfactory　manner　before　Her　Majesty　and　the　Prince；

I　find　that　the　Queen　in　her　Diary　alludes　in　the　most　gratifying　manner　to　the　evening's　interview。　　In　the　Life　of　the　Prince　Consort　（vol。　ii。　p。　398）；　Sir　Theodore　Martin　thus　mentions　the　subject：　　〃The　evening　was　enlivened　by　the　presence　of　Mr。　Nasmyth；　the　inventor　of　the　steam　hammer；　who　had　extensive　works　at　Patricroft。　He　exhibited　and　explained　the　map　and　drawings　in　which　he　had　embodied　the　results　of　his　investigations　of　the　conformations　of　the　surface　of　the　Moon。　　The　Queen　in　her　Diary　dwells　at　considerable　length　on　the　results　of　Mr。　Nasmyth's　inquiries。　　The　charm　of　his　manner；　in　which　the　simplicity；　modesty；　and　enthusiasm　of　genius　are　all　strikingly　combined；　are　warmly　dwelt　upon。　　Mr。　Nasmyth　belongs　to　a　family　of　painters；　and　would　have　won　fame　for　himself　as　an　artist　for　his　landscapes　are　as　true　to　Nature　as　his　compositions　are　full　of　fancy　and　feelinghad　not　science　and　mechanical　invention　claimed　him　for　their　own。　　His　drawings　were　submitted　on　this　occasion。　　and　their　beauty　was　generally　admired。*　　＇footnote。。。　In　his　lecture　on　the　〃Geological　Features　of　Edinburgh　and　its　Neighbourhood；〃　in　the　following　year；　Hugh　Miller；　speaking　of　the　Castle　Rock；　observed：　〃The　underlying　strata；　though　geologically　and　in　their　original　position　several　hundred　feet　higher　than　those　which　underlie　the　Castle　esplanade；　are　now；　with　respect　to　the　actual　level；　nearly　200　feet　lower。　　In　a　lecture　on　what　may　be　termed　the　geology　of　the　Moon；　delivered　in　the　October　of　last　year　before　Her　Majesty　and　Prince　Albert　by　Mr。　Nasmyth；　he　referred　to　certain　appearances　on　the　surface　of　that　satellite　that　seemed　to　be　the　results；　in　some　very　ancient　time；　of　the　sudden　falling　in　of　portions　of　an　unsupported　crust；　or　a　retreating　nucleus　of　molten　matter；　and　took　occasion　to　suggest　that　some　of　the　great　slips　and　shifts　on　the　surface　of　our　own　planet；　with　their　huge　downcasts；　may　have　had　a　similar　origin。　　The　suggestion　is　at　once　bold　and　ingenious。〃　　。。。＇

The　next　time　I　visited　Edinburgh　was　in　the　autumn　of　1853。　Lord　Cockburn；　an　old　friend；　having　heard　that　I　was　sojourning　in　the　city；　sent　me　the　following　letter；　dated　〃Bonally；　3rd　September；〃　inviting　me　to　call　a　meeting　of　the　Faithful：

〃MY　DEAR　SirInstead　of　being　sketching；　as　I　thought；　in　Switzerland；　I　was　told　yesterday　that　you　were　in　Auld　Reekie。　　Then　why　not　come　out　here　next　Thursday；　or　Friday；　or　Saturday；　and　let　us　have　a　Hill　Day？　　I　suppose　I　need　not　write　to　summon　the　Faithful；　because　not　having　been　in　Edinburgh　except　once　for　above　a　month；　I　don't　know　where　the　Faithful　are。　　But　you　must　know　their　haunts；　and　it　can't　give　you　much　trouble　to　speak　to　them。　　I　should　like　to　see　Lauder　here。　　And　don't　forget　the　Gaberlunzie。Ever；

H。　　COCKBURN〃*　　＇footnote。。。　James　Ballantine；　author　of　The　Gaberlunzie's　Wallet。　　In　August　1865　Mr。　Ballantine　wrote　to　me　saying：　　〃If　ever　you　are　in　Auld　Reekie　I　should　feel　proud　of　a　call　from　you。　　I　have　not　forgotten　the　delightful　day　we　spent　together　many　years　ago　at　Bonny　Bonally　with　the　eagle…eyed　Henry　Cockburn！〃　　。。。＇

The　meeting　came　off。　　I　collected　a　number　of　special　friends　about　me；　and　I　took　my　wife　to　the　meeting　of　the　Faithful。　　There　were　present　David　Roberts；　Clarkson　Stanfield；　Louis　and　Carl　Haag；　Sir　George　Harvey；　James　Ballantine；　and　D。　O。　Hillall　artists。　We　made　our　way　to　Bonny　Bonally；　a　charming　residence；　situated　at　the　foot　of　the　Pentland　Hills。*　　＇footnote。。。　The　house　was　afterwards　occupied　by　the　lamented　Professor　Hodgson；　the　well…known　Political　Economist。　　。。。＇　The　day　was　perfectin　all　respects　〃equal　to　bespoke。〃　　With　that　most　genial　of　men；　Lord　Cockburn；　for　our　guide；　we　wandered　far　up　the　Pentland　Hills。　　After　a　rather　toilsome　walk　we　reached　a　favourite　spot。　　It　was　a　semicircular　hollow　in　the　hillside；　scooped　out　by　the　sheep　for　shelter。　　It　was　carpeted　and　cushioned　with　a　deep　bed　of　wild　thyme；　redolent　of　the　very　essence　of　rural　fragrance。

We　sat　down　in　a　semicircle；　our　guide　in　the　middle。　　He　said　in　his　quaint　peculiar　way；　〃Here　endeth　the　first　lesson。〃　　After　gathering　our　breath；　and　settling　ourselves　to　enjoy　our　well…earned　rest；　we　sat　in　silence　for　a　time。　　The　gentle　breeze　blew　past　us；　and　we　inhaled　the　fragrant　air。　　It　was　enough　for　a　time　to　look　on；　for　the　glorious　old　city　was　before　us；　with　its　towers；　and　spires；　and　lofty　buildings　between　us　and　the　distance。　　On　one　side　Arthur's　Seat；　and　on　the　other　the　Castle；　the　crown　of　the　city。　　The　view　extended　far　and　wideon　to　the　waters　of　the　Forth　and　the　blue　hills　of　Fife。　The　view　is　splendidly　described　by　〃Delta〃：　

　〃Traced　like　a　map；　the　landscape　lies　　In　cultured　beauty；　stretching　wide：　　Here　Pentland's　green　acclivities；　　There　ocean；　with　its　swelling　tide；　　There　Arthur's　Seat　and　gleaming　through　　Thy　Southern　wing；　Dull　Edin　blue！　　While；　in　the　Orient；　Lammer's　daughters；　　A　distant　giant　range；　are　seen；　　North　Berwick　Law；　with　cone　of　green；　　And　Bass　amid　the　waters。〃

Then　we　began　to　crack；　our　host　leading　the　way　with　his　humorous　observations。　　After　taking　our　fill　of　rest　and　talk；　we　wended　our　way　down　again；　with　the　〃wimplin'　burn〃　by　our　side；　fresh　from　the　pure　springs　of　the　hill；　whispering　its　welcome　to　us。

We　had　earned　a　good　appetite　for　dinner；　which　was　shortly　laid　before　us。　The　bill　of　fare　was　national；　and　included　a　haggis：

　〃Fair　fa'　your　honest　sonsie　face；　　Great　chieftain　o'　the　puddin'　race！　　Weel　are　ye　wordy　o'a　grace　　As　lang's　my　arm！〃

The　haggis　was　admirably　compounded　and　cooked；　and　was　served　forth　by　our　genial　host　with　all　appropriate　accompaniments。　　But　the　most　enjoyable　was　the　conversation　of　Lord　Cockburn；　who　was　a　master　of　the　artquick　ready；　humorous；　and　full　of　wit。　　At　last；　the　day　came　to　a　close；　and　we　wended　our　way　towards　the　city。

Let　me；　however；　before　concluding；　say　a　few　words　in　reference　to　my　dear　departed　friend　David　Oswald　Hill。　　His　name　calls　up　many　recollections　of　happy　hours　spent　in　his　company。　　He　was；　in　all　respects；　the　incarnation　of　geniality。　　His　lively　sense　of　humour；　combined　with　a　romantic　and　poetic　constitution　of　mind；　and　his　fine　sense　of　the　beautiful　in　Nature　and　art；　together　with　his　kindly　and　genial　feeling；　made　him；　all　in　all；　a　most　agreeable　friend　and　companion。　　〃D。　O。　Hill；〃　as　he　was　generally　called；　was　much　attached　to　my　father。　　He　was　a　very　frequent　visitor　at　our　Edinburgh　fireside；　and　was　ever　ready　to　join　in　our　extemporised　walks　and　jaunts；　when　he　would　overflow　with　his　kindly　sympathy　and　humour。　He　was　a　skilful　draughtsman；　and　possessed　a　truly　poetic　feeling　for　art。　　His　designs　for　pictures　were　always　attractive；　from　the　fine　feeling　exhibited　in　their　composition　and　arrangement。　But　somehow；　when　he　came　to　handle　the　brush；　the　result　was　not　always　satisfactorya　defect　not　uncommon　with　artists。　　Altogether；　he　was　a　delightful　companion　and　a　staunch　friend；　and　his　death　made　a　sad　blank　in　the　artistic　society　of　Edinburgh。


CHAPTER　19。　　More　about　Astronomy。

Astronomy；　instead　of　merely　being　an　amusement；　became　my　chief　study。　It　occupied　many　of　my　leisure　hours。　　Desirous　of　having　the　advantage　of　a　Reflecting　Telescope　of　large　aperture；　I　constructed　one　of　twenty…inches　diameter。　　In　order　to　avoid　the　personal　risk　and　inconvenience　of　having　to　mount　to　the　eye…piece　by　a　ladder；　I　furnished　the　telescope　tube　with　trunnions；　like　a　cannon；　with　one　of　the　trunnions　hollow　so　as　to　admit　of　the　eye…piece。　　Opposite　to　it　a　plain　diagonal　mirror　was　placed；　to　transmit　the　image　to　the　eye。　　The　whole　was　mounted　on　a　turn…table；　having　a　seat　opposite　to　the　eye…piece；　as　will　be　seen　in　the　engraving　on　the　other　side。

＇Image＇　　〃Trunnion　Vision〃　Reflecting　telescope　of　20…inch　diameter　　　　　　　　　　mounted　on　a　turn…table。

The　observer；　when　seated；　could　direct　the　telescope　to　any　part　of　the　heavens　without　moving　from　his　seat。　　Although　this　arrangement　occasioned　some　loss　of　light；　that　objection　was　more　than　compensated　by　the　great　convenience　which　it　afforded　for　the　prosecution　of　the　special　class　of　observations　in　which　I　was　engaged　namely；　that　of　the　Sun；　Moon；　and　Planets。

I　wrote　to　my　old　friend　Sir　David　Brewster；　then　living　at　St。　Andrews；　in　1849；　about　this　improvement　and　he　duly　congratulated　me　upon　my　devotion　to　astronomical　science。　　In　his　letter　to　me　he　brought　to　mind　many　precious　memories。

〃I　recollect；〃　he　said；　〃with　much　pleasure　the　many　happy　hours　that　I　spent　in　your　father's　house；　and　ever　since　I　first　saw　you　in　your　little　workshop　at　Edinburgh；then　laying　the　foundation　of　your　future　fortunes；I　have　felt　a　deep　interest　in　your　success；　and　rejoiced　at　your　progress　to　wealth　and　reputation。

〃I　have　perused　with　much　pleasure　the　account　you　have　sent　me　of　your　plan　of　shortening　and　moving　large　telescopes；　and　I　shall　state　to