in 1839, pleasant remembrances of these days of youthful study
were suggested by what we actually witnessed; and in the essay
referred to I find an interesting coincidence. He writes: "What a
refreshing sight to his eye, yet undimmed with age, after resting
forty years on the monotonous scenery of the desert, now to rest
on Zion's olive-clad hills, and Lebanon, with its vine-clad base
and overhanging forests, and towering peaks of snow!" This was
the very impression on our minds when we ourselves came up from
the wilderness as expressed in the _Narrative_, chap. 2--"May 29.
Next morning we saw at a distance a range of hills, running north
and south, called by the Arabs _Djebel Khalie_. After wandering
so many days in the wilderness, with its vast monotonous plains
of level sand, the sight of these distant mountains was a
pleasant relief to the eye; and we thought we could understand a
little of the feeling with which Moses, after being forty years
in the desert, would pray, 'I pray Thee let me go over,'" Deut.
3:25.

But these helps in study were all the while no more than
supplementary. The regular systematic studies of the Hall furnished
the main provision for his mental culture. Under Dr. Chalmers for
Divinity, and under Dr. Welsh for Church History, a course of four
years afforded no ordinary advantages for enlarging the understanding.
New fields of thought were daily opened up. His notes and his diary
testify that he endeavored to retain what he heard, and that he used
to read as much of the books recommended by the professors as his time
enabled him to overtake. Many years after, he thankfully called to
mind lessons that had been taught in these classes. Riding one day
with Mr. Hamilton (now of Regent Square, London) from Abernyte to
Dundee, they were led to speak of the best mode of dividing a sermon.