an autobiography-第78节
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ich had given such a remarkable structure to the mountain。 On this subject； Charles Maclaren was one of the best living expounders。 He was an admirable geologist； and had closely observed the features of volcanic action round his native city。 Robert Chambers then took us to see the glacial grooved rocks on another part of the mountain。 On this subject he was a master。 It was a vast treat to me to see those distinct evidences of actions so remotely separated in point of geological timein respect to which even a million of years is a humble approximate unit* ＇footnote。。。 〃It is to our ever…dropping climate； with its hundred and fifty…two days of annual rain； that we owe our vegetable mould with its rich and beauteous mantle of sward and foliage。 And next； stripping from off the landscape its sands and gravels； we see its underlying boulder…clays； dingy and gray； and here presenting their vast ice…borne stones； and there its iceberg pavements。 And these clays in turn stripped away； the bare rocks appear； various in colour and uneven in surface； but everywhere grooved and polished； from the sea level and beneath it； to the height of more than a thousand feet； by evidently the same agent that careered along the pavements and transported the great stones。
HUGH MILLER'S Geological Features of Edinburgh and its Neighbourhood。 。。。＇
What a fine subject for a picture the group would have made！ with the great volcanic summit of the mountain behind； the noble romantic city in the near distance； and the animated intelligent countenaces of the demonstrators； with the venerable Pillans eagerly listeningfor the Professor was then in his eighty…eighth year。 I had the happiness of receiving a visit from him at Hammerfield in the following year。 He was still hale and active； and although I was comparatively a boy to him； he was as bright and clear…headed as he had been forty years before。
In the course of the same year I accompanied my wife and my sister Charlotte on a visit to the Continent。 It was their first sojourn in foreign parts。 I was able； in some respects； to act as their guide。 Our visit to Paris was most agreeable。 During the three weeks we were there； we visited the Louvre； the Luxembourg； Versailles； and the parts round about。 We made many visits to the Hotel Cluny； and inspected its most interesting contents； as well as the Roman baths and that part of the building devoted to Roman antiquities。 We were especially delighted with the apartments of the Archbishop of Paris； now hung with fine old tapestry and provided with authentic specimens of mediaeval furniture。 The quaint old cabinets were beautiful studies； and many artists were at work painting them in oil。 Everything was in harmony。 When the sun shone in through the windows in long beams of coloured light； illuminating portions of the antique furniture； the pictures were perfect。 We were much interested also by the chapel in which Mary Queen of Scots was married to the Dauphin。 It is still in complete preservation。 The Gothic details of the chapel are quite a study； and the whole of these and the contents of this interesting Museum form a school of art of the best kind。
From Paris we paid a visit to Chartres； which contains one of the most magnificent cathedrals in France。 Its dimensions are vast； its proportions are elegant； and its painted glass is unequalled。 Nothing can be more beautiful than its three rose…windows。 But I am not writing a guide…book； and I must forbear。 After a few days more at Paris we proceeded south； and visited Lyons； Avignon； and Nismes； on our way to Marseilles。 I have already described Nismes in my previous visit to France。 I revisited the Roman amphitheatre； the Maison Quarree； that perfect Roman temple； which； standing as it does in an open square； is seen to full advantage。 We also went to see the magnificent Roman aqueduct at Pont du Gard。 The sight of the noble structure well repays a visit。 It consists of three tiers of arches。 Its magnitude； the skilful fitting of its enormous blocks； makes a powerful impression on the mind。 It has stood there； in that solitary wooded valley； for upwards of sixteen centuries； and it is still as well fitted for conveying its aqueduct of water as ever。 I have seen nothing to compare with it； even at Rome。 It throws all our architectural buildings into the shade。 On our way back from Marseilles to Paris we visited Grenoble and its surrounding beautiful Alpine scenery。 Then to Chambery； and afterwards to Chamounix； where we obtained a splendid view of Mont Blanc。 We returned home by way of Geneva and Paris； vastly delighted with our most enjoyable journey。
I return to another of my hobbies。 I had an earnest desire to acquire the art and mystery of practical photography。 I bought the necessary apparatus； together with the chemicals； and before long I became an expert in the use of the positive and negative collodion process； including the printing from negatives； in all the details of that wonderful and delightful art。 To any one who has some artistic taste； photography； both in its interesting processes and glorious results； becomes a most attractive and almost engrossing pursuit。 It is a delightful means of educating the eye for artistic feeling； as well as of educating the hands in delicate manipulation。 I know of nothing equal to photography as a means of advancing one's knowledge in these respects。 I had long meditated a work 〃On the Moon；〃 and it was for this purpose more especially that I was earnest in endeavouring to acquire the necessary practical skill。 I was soon enabled to obtain photographic copies of the elaborate models of parts of the moon's； surface； which I had long before prepared。 These copies were hailed by the highest authorities in this special department of astronomical research as the best examples of the moon's surface which had yet been produced。
In reference to this subject； as well as to my researches into the structure of the sun's surface； I had the inestimable happiness of securing the friendship of that noble philosopher； Sir John Herschel。 His visits to me； and my visits to him； have left in my memory the most cherished and happy recollections。 Of all the scientific men I have had the happiness of meeting； Sir John stands supremely at the head of the list。 He combined profound knowledge with perfect humility。 He was simple； earnest； and companionable； He was entirely free from assumptions of superiority； and； still learning； would listen attentively to the humblest student。 He was ready to counsel and instruct； as well as to receive information。 He would sit down in my workshop； and see me go through the various technical processes of casting； grinding； and polishing specula for reflecting telescopes。 That was a pleasure to him； and a vast treat to me。
I had been busily occupied for some time in making careful investigations into the dark spots upon the Sun's surface。 These spots are of extraordinary dimensions； sometimes more than 10；000 miles in diameter。 Our world might be dropped into them。 I observed that the spots were sometimes bridged over by a streak of light； formed of willow…leaf…shaped objects。 They were apparently possessed of voluntary motion； and moved from one side of the spot to the other。 These flakes were evidently the immediate sources of the solar light and heat。 I wrote a paper on the subject； which I sent to the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester。* ＇footnote。。。 Memoirs of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester； 3d series； vol。 i。 p。 407。 My first discovery of the 〃Willow…leaf〃 objects on the Sun's surface was made in June 1860。I afterwards obtained several glimpses of them from time to time。But the occasions are very rare when the bright sun can be seen in a tranquil atmosphere free from vibrations； and when the delicate objects on its surface can be clearly defined。 It was not until the 5th of June 1864 that I obtained the finest sight of the Sun's spots and the Willow…leaf objects； it was then that I made a careful drawing of them； from which the annexed faithful engraving has been produced。 Indeed I never had a better sight of this extraordinary aspect of the Sun than on that day。 。。。＇
The results of my observations were of so novel a character that astronomers for some time hesitated to accept them as facts。 Yet Sir John Herschel； the chief of astronomers； declared them to be 〃a most wonderful discovery〃
＇Image＇ Group of sun spots as seen by James Nasmyth； 5th June 1864。
I received a letter from Sir John； dated Collingwood； 2lst of May 1861； in which he said：
〃I am very much obliged to you for your note； and by the sight of your drawings； which Mr。 Maclaren was so kind as to bring over here the other day。 I suppose there can be no doubt as to the reality of the willow…leaved flakes； and in that case they certainly are the most marvellous phenomena that have yet turned uphad almost said in all Naturecertainly in all Astronomy。
〃What can they be？ Are they huge phosphorised fishes？ If so； what monsters！ Or are they crystals？ a kind of igneous snow…flakes？ floating in a fluid of their own； or very nearly their own； specific gravity？ Some kind of solidi
