1 8 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. IL 



In November, 1833, he entered Professor Hope's class 

 for chemistry, and two anatomical classes, Professor 

 Monro's within the University, and Mr. Lizars' without its 

 walls. This was a busy winter, but doubtless a happy one. 

 The interest previously felt in anatomy was deepened, 

 while chemistry began to unfold her wonders to him. 

 According to the laws that regulate the restless nature 

 of boys, he had not failed to prosecute juvenile researches 

 in chemistry and physical science while at the High 

 School. One experiment is borne in mind where the 

 object aimed at was to produce an earthquake. For 

 this purpose a paste was made of steel-filings, sulphur, 

 and other forgotten ingredients, and this was buried in a 

 box of earth. The earthquake, however, was disobliging, 

 arid slept quietly in its box, much to the disappointment of 

 the embryo philosophers. Having, to his intense delight, 

 attended a course of lectures on chemistry in the School of 

 Arts, he was in some measure prepared to enter on the 

 systematic study of this science. In his " Life of Edward 

 Forbes," after depicting the great change wrought by the 

 passing of the Anatomy Bill in 1832, giving greatly in- 

 creased facilities to the study of that science, he speaks 

 of chemistry and its professors at that time, and gives a 

 graphic account of the advancement of chemistry and the 

 sister sciences during a quarter of a century. 1 The period 

 of which it treats, from 1830 to 1855, has a peculiar 

 personal interest, as well for the subject of this Memoir as 

 for Edward Forbes, bridging over, as it does, the time from 

 their entrance into the University as students, to that of 

 their return as teachers within its walls. 



In 1834, when George was sixteen years of age, the 

 British Association for the Advancement of Science held its 

 1 See "Life of Edward Forbes," chap. iv. 



