an autobiography-第71节
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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 par
