an autobiography-第88章
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pel 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 solidity or coherence they must have； or they would not retain their shape in the violent movements of the atmosphere which the change of the spots indicate。
〃I observe that in the bridges all their axes have an approximate parallelism； and that in the penumbra they are dispersed； radiating from the inside and the outside of the spot； giving rise to that striated appearance which is familiar to all observers of the spots。
〃I am very glad that you have pitched your tent in this part of the world； and I only wish it were a little nearer。 You will anyhow have the advantage at Penshurst of a much clearer atmosphere than in the north； but here； nearer the coast； I think we are still better off。 〃Mr。 Maclaren holds out the prospect of our meeting you at Pachley at no distant period； and I hope you will find your way ere long to Collingwood。 I have no instruments or astronomical apparatus to show you； but a remarkably pretty country； which is beginning to put on （rather late） its gala dress of spring？'
Sir John afterwards requested my permission to insert in his Outlines of Astronomy； of which a new edition was about to appear； a representation of 〃the willow…leaved structure of the Sun's surface；〃 which had been published in the Manchester transactions；to which I gladly gave my assent。 Sir John thus expresses himself on the subject： 〃The curious appearance of the 'pores' of the Sun's surface has lately received a most singular and unexpected interpretation from the remarkable discovery of Mr。 J。 Nasmyth； who； from a series of observations made with a reflecting telescope of his own construction under very high magnifying powers； and under exceptional circumstances of tranquillity and definition； has come to the conclusion that these pores are the polygonal interstices between certain luminous objects of an exceedingly definite shape and general uniformity of size； whose form （at least as seen in projection in the central portions of the disc） is that of the oblong leaves of a willow tree。 These cover the whole d
