Obituary : Professor Wallace. 529 



mathematics. In the course of the conversation Dr. Robison con- 

 siderately took occasion to warn him that the study of mathematics 

 was not likely to lead to anything advantageous in the world : the 

 reply was, that he was aware of the fact ; but being, as it seemed, 

 doomed to a life of labour, he hoped to sweeten the cup by the plea- 

 sure to be derived from the possession of knowledge. The interview 

 ended with an invitation from the Professor to attend the course of 

 lectures on Natural Philosophy then about to begin. Sensible as 

 he was of the advantages which he could not fail to derive from such 

 instruction, it required no small sacrifice on his part to accept the 

 offer ; for, being then employed as a journeyman, the time thus oc- 

 cupied could only be commanded by the abstraction of an equal por- 

 tion from his hours of rest or sleep. Every difficulty, however, gave 

 way before a determined will. The class was diligently attended ; 

 and he has been heard to say, that if he were asked which had been 

 the happiest period of his existence, he would refer to that at which 

 he attended the lectures on natural philosophy, when, for the first 

 time in his life, he had the means of receiving sound instruction, and 

 found himself in the company of young men devoted to the pursuit 

 of knowledge. 



Dr. Robison's next act of kindness was to introduce him to his 

 colleague, Mr. Playfair, the Professor of Mathematics. Mr. Playfair 

 was no less struck with the extent of his acquirements, and likewise 

 offered him admission to the mathematical class ; but attendance 

 on two classes in one day being, in his circumstances, entirely out 

 of the question, he was under the necessity of declining the offer, 

 much, it may readily be believed, to his regret. Mr. Playfair, how- 

 ever, from this first interview, took a warm interest in his welfare, 

 advised him with respect to the course of reading he should follow, 

 supplied him with books from his own library, and continued his 

 steadfast friend through life. 



These details may appear trivial, or unnecessarily minute ; but it 

 can never be wholly uninteresting to trace the steps by which di- 

 stinction in science or literature has been obtained when opposed by 

 obstacles which might seem, and in ordinary cases prove to be, in- 

 surmountable. To the individual we are commemorating they were 

 all-important : some may receive encouragement from his example ; 

 and science itself is placed in an advantageous light when we see 

 men so eminent as Professors Robison and Playfair taking trouble 

 with, and giving help and encouragement to, a friendless young 

 man, who had no claim on their good offices, and no other recom- 

 mendation to them, than his successful struggles in acquiring the 

 elements of those sciences which they themselves cultivated with such 

 distinguished success. On the other hand, the merit must have been 

 of no ordinary kind which, to persons of their experience, appeared 

 so remarkable. 



About the time he was attending Dr. Robison's lectures he was 

 induced, by the prospect of having the command of a greater portion 

 of time than had yet been at his disposal, to exchange his occu- 

 pation for that of warehouseman in a printing-office. While in this 



Phil. Mag. S. 3. No. 162. Suppl. Vol. 24. 2 M 



