following week. The magistrate, who was a very mild looking person, seemed to consider with himself for a moment, and then said, "A thought strikes me-the son of our clergyman has studied at Freyberg, and if you have really been there, sir, it is probable he may recognize you." My companion had no objections to an experiment, which at least could not place him in a worse situation than that in which he was-and in a few minutes the son of the clergyman made his appearance. I remember as distinctly as if the thing had occurred only yesterday, the expression of delight which illuminated the countenance of the accused, when this person declared that he recollected him perfectly at Freyberg, and that he had heard Professor Werner speak of him as a young Scotchman who gave infinite promise of being distinguished in the study of mineralogy. This removed every difficulty, and the magistrate, with many apologies, gave us permission to take our seats in the post-wagon. The distance of our positions in the vehicle rendered it impossible for me to exchange more than a very few words with my fellow-sufferer, after we began to move, although, having discovered him to be my countryman, I was sufficiently inclined to enter into conversation. It was late at night before we arrived at Leipsig; and, as I remained there for a day or two, while he passed on, without stopping, to Freyberg, we had no further opportunity of communication. In short, I had never seen the face from that time till now; but I felt assured, that, in spite of the years which had intervened, I could not be mistaken, and here was the very gentleman at the table of Dr. B

In the course of a few minutes, I heard him addressed by the name of J, and immediately conjectured that he might probably be the well-known Professor of Natural History, whose System of Mineralogy you have often seen on my table. This turned out to be the case; and, after a second bottle had somewhat diminished our ceremony, I had a pleasure in recalling to him the story of the murderous Jew, and so of commencing (for it could scarcely be called renewing) an acquaintance with one from who works I had

received so much information and advantage. After the Doctor's company dispersed themselves, I walked along Prince's-Street with Professor J, and he invited me to call on him next day, and see his museum-an invitation which you, who know my propensities, will not suspect me of declining. He also offered to show me the collection of mineralogy belonging to the University, of which I had heard a great deal. I went yesterday, and it is, undoubtedly, a very superb collection. It is of great value, and admirably arranged; and the external characters of minerals, particularly those derived from colours, are finely illustrated by an extensive series of the most valuable specimens, arranged according to the system made use of by Werner.

Professor Jis chiefly known to the world as a mineralogist, and in this character he certainly stands entirely without a rival in his own country; and when we consider that his system of mineralogy has been adopted by a celebrated Frenchman, as the text-book to his own lectures in Paris, we may fairly conclude, from the preference shown by so competent a judge, that the knowledge and ability displayed in that work, render it at least equal to the most approved publications of the continental authors. But it is not his intimate acquaintance with mineralogy alone, which renders Mr. J so capable of doing honour to the chair which he holds. He is also greatly versed in zoology, and, what is of great importance in these times, seems much inclined to indulge in those more general and philosophical views of that science, which the study of nomenclature and classification has well-nigh banished from the remembrance. of most of his brethren in the south. A residence of many years in different parts of the continent, and, in particular, a perfect knowledge of the German tongue, which he acquired during his stay at Freyberg, have opened to him many sources of information, from which he continues to derive infinite advantage; and, at a time when, from the extent and multiplicity of his labours in mineralogy, one might naturally suppose his attention to be entirely engrossed by that

study, his pupils, I am assured, find him on every occasion both able and willing to instruct them regarding all the recent and most important discoveries and improvements in the other branches of natural science.

The professor delivers his lectures both during the winter and summer season, and he divides his course into five great branches: Meteorology, Hydrography, Mineralogy, a Sketch of the Philosophy of Botany, sufficient to enable his pupils to understand the relations which subsist between that science and a complete history of the inorganic parts of the globeand, lastly, Zoology. The first of these divisions is rendered particularly interesting, by the number and variety of curious facts which are collected, and the more so, as there are scarcely any good books written professedly on the subject. In truth, I should think the whole science of Natural History, as a popular branch of education, is likely to assume a new aspect under the auspices of this ingenious and indefatigable man. Now, that all the known facts of Mineralogy are to him "familiar as household words," he will have it in his power to devote more of his attention to the various branches of Zoology, which hitherto, as he says very candidly, he has not had either leisure or opportunity to discuss and illustrate, as his inclinations would lead him to do. The same acuteness which has enabled him so completely to overcome all the difficulties of his own favourite department, will ere long, I doubt not, elevate him to the first rank among the zoologists of Britain; and he will soon have the honourable satisfaction of instituting a school of Natural History in the northern metropolis, which may long remain unrivalled in any other country. This desirable object, I am happy to learn, he is now likely to accomplish more easily and speedily than he could before have expected, by means of a most valuable and interesting acquisition, which is about to be obtained by the University. The fine cabinet of M. Dufresne of the Jardin des Plantes, so well known and deservedly admired by all the Parisian sçavants, has just been purchased for the public Museum. This, with certain additions to be

procured at the approaching sale of Mr. Bullock's extensive collections, when combined with the great treasures which the University already possesses, will certainly form by far the most magnificent Museum of Natural History in Britain. Such is the general view I have been able to form of the actual state of the science, under this celebrated professor. From various conversations, however, with him, Dr. B-, and some of the young gentlemen who attend the professor's lectures, I am sorry to hear, that, on the whole, the science of Natural History neither has been, nor is, cultivated throughout Scotland, with any degree of zeal corresponding to the opportunity which the country affords. Its natural advantages are far superior, in most respects, to those of the sister kingdom; and the situation of Edinburgh, in particular, may be justly regarded as more favourable than any in the island for the pursuit of this delightful study. Indeed, it would not be easy to determine, why a higher state of advancement has not been attained; and the difficulty is much increased when we consider, that, in addition to the great facility which this most picturesque district affords for the practical pursuit of the science, the Professorship of Natural History has already been held for several years by the assiduous and intelligent gentleman, of whom I have spoken so much.

I am inclined to attribute this to the joint operation of a great number of causes; but I observe, that Professor Jhimself considers the too engrossing influence of the law as being the most immediate and effectual of all the dampers under which his favourite study has so long languished. Most of the young men of this city are trained up either as barristers or attorneys; and it very unfortunately happens, that all more liberal pursuits, (both classical and scientific,) so far from being much respected or held in estimation by these classes of men, are, for the most part, regarded as quite inconsistent with a diligent discharge of their professional duties and functions. Professor J informs me, that threefourths of the students who attend his lectures, are strangers

and students of medicine, chiefly English. Those of the last mentioned faculty, who are indigenous to Scotland, have, till very lately at least, either procured appointments in regiments stationed in foreign quarters, or retired to distant corners of the country, where the entire absence of books, and the laborious and unsettled life enjoyed, or rather endured, by rural practitioners, have been more than sufficient to extinguish every spark of science, which might have been kindled in their bosoms during their attendance at the University. And thus, though very great and increasing benefits are derived by the students of this science in Edinburgh, from the zeal and talents of Professor J, and other causes, it would seem that the science must, for a considerable time, look for its best fruits in the south. I rejoice to find that the English students who resort to this place, are duly impressed with a sense of the advantages which they enjoy.

I dined with Professor J- yesterday, with a small party of his most distinguished pupils. Among these there was one whom the professor particular introduced me to—a Mr. James Wn, brother to the poet. This young gentleman follows the profession of a writer to the Signet, (which, as I have told you, is the name for the highest class of attornies in Edinburgh,) but forms, as Mr. J assured me, a brilliant exception to the neglect with which matters of science are commonly treated by the members of the profession. He is very young-many years junior to his more celebrated brother, and no casual observer would suspect them to be of the same family. I have already described to you the exterior of the poet; James is a thin, pale, slender, contemplative-looking person, with hair of rather a dark colour, and extremely shortsighted. In his manners also, he is as different as possible from his brother; his voice is low, and his whole demeanour as still as can be imagined. In conversation he attempts no kind of display; but seems to possess a very peculiar vein of dry humour, which renders him extremely diverting. Notwithstanding all these differences, however, I could easily trace a great similarity in the construction of the bones of their twe