an autobiography-第87章
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Behold us； then； settled down at Hammerfield for life。 We had plenty to do。 My workshop was fully equipped。 My hobbies were there； and I could work them to my heart's content。 The walls of our various rooms were soon hung with pictures； and other works of art； suggestive of many pleasant associations of former days。 Our library book…case was crowded with old friends； in the shape of books that had been read and re…read many times； until they had become almost part of ourselves。 Old Lancashire friends made their way to us when 〃up in town；〃 and expressed themselves delighted with our pleasant house and its beautiful surroundings。
The continuous planting of the shrubs and trees gave us great pleasure。 Those already planted had grown luxuriantly； fed by the fertile soil and the pure air。 Indeed； in course of time they required the judicious use of the axe in order to allow the fittest to survive and grow at their own free will。 Trees contrive to manage their own affairs without the necessity of much labour or interference。 The 〃survival of the fittest〃 prevails here as elsewhere。 It is always a pleasure to watch them。 There are many ordinary old…fashioned roadside flowering plants which I esteem for their vigorous beauty； and I enjoy seeing them assume the careless grace of Nature。
The greenhouse is also a source of pleasure； especially to my dear wife。 It is full of flowers of all kinds； of which she is devotedly fond。 They supply her with subjects for her brush or her needle。 She both paints them and works them by her needle in beautiful forms and groups。 This is one of her many favourite hobbies。 All this is suitable to our fireside employments； and makes the days and the evenings pass pleasantly away。
CHAPTER 21。 Active leisure。
When James Watt retired from business towards the close of his useful and admirable life； he spoke to his friends of occupying himself with 〃ingenious trifles；〃 and of turning 〃some of his idle thoughts〃 upon the invention of an arithmetical machine and a machine for copying sculpture。 These and other useful works occupied his attention for many years。
It was the same with myself。 I had good health （which Watt had not） and abundant energy。 When I retired from business I was only forty…eight years old； which may be considered the prime of life。 But I had plenty of hobbies； perhaps the chief of which was Astronomy。 No sooner had I settled at Hammerfield than I had my telescopes brought out and mounted。 The fine clear skies with which we were favoured； furnished me with abundant opportunities for the use of my instruments。 I began again my investigations on the Sun and the Moon； and made some original discoveries； of which more anon。
Early in the year 1858 I received a pressing invitation from the Council of the Edinburgh Philosophical Society to give a lecture before their members on the Structure of the Lunar Surface。 As the subject was a favourite one with me； and as I had continued my investigations and increased my store of drawings since I had last appeared before an Edinburgh audience； I cheerfully complied with their request。 I accordingly gave my lecture before a crowded meeting in the Queen Street Lecture Hall。
The audience appeared to be so earnestly interested by the subject that I offered to appear before them on two successive evenings and give any viva voce explanations about the drawings which those present might desire。 This deviation from the formality of a regular lecture was attended with the happiest results。 Edinburgh always supplies a highly…intelligent audience； and the cleverest and brightest were ready with their questions。 I was thus enabled to elucidate the lecture and to expand many of the most interesting points connected with the moon's surface； such as might formerly have appeared obscure。 These questioning lectures gave the highest satisfaction。 They satisfied myself as well as the audience； who went away filled with the most graphic information I could give them on the subject。
But not the least interesting part of my visit to Edinburgh on this occasion was the renewed intercourse which I enjoyed with many of my old friends。 Among these were my venerable friend Professor Pillans； Charles Maclaren （editor of the Scotsman）； and Robert Chambers。 We had a long dander together through the Old Town； our talk being in broad Scotch。 Pillans was one of the fine old Edinburgh Liberals； who stuck to his principles through good report and through evil。 In his position as Rector of the High School； he had given rare evidence of his excellence as a classical scholar。 He was afterwards promoted to be a Professor in the University。 He had as his pupils some of the most excellent men of my time。 Amongst his intimate friends were Sydney Smith； Brougham； Jeffrey； Cockburnmen who gave so special a character to the Edinburgh society of that time。
We had a delightful stroll through some of the most remarkable parts of the Old Town； with Robert Chambers as our guide。 We next mounted Arthur's Seat to observe some of the manifestations of volcanic action； which 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 int
