1839-40- RED LION DINNERS. pi 



could not obtain an opportunity of addressing them a 

 second time." 



It was at this meeting that the difficulty experienced by 

 the younger scientific men in gaining the access they de- 

 sired to the society of those whose fame was already esta- 

 blished, together with the expense of hotel charges, led to 

 their dining together daily at a small tavern where Edward 

 Forbes had established himself. The tavern happened to 

 be named the " Red Lion," and so pleasant was this arrange- 

 ment found to be, that, before leaving Birmingham, it was 

 decided that at every future meeting of the British Associa- 

 tion, there should be a Red Lion dinner. At this dinner 

 George Wilson never failed to be present when it was in his 

 power, though with the club afterwards formed in London, 

 and bearing the same name, he had no connexion. 



From Birmingham, George went to pay a short visit to his 

 brother, not without a faint hope that in the great metropolis 

 a sphere might be found for his energies, leading to advance- 

 ment for the future. " Now for London," is the close of 

 his first letter after reaching it ; " it is the old place, as noisy 

 and as busy as ever : its streets crowded, as when I left it, 

 with handsome men and beautiful women, and idlers like 



me, and busy people like Daniel, and fools like , but 



I'll not say who. I wonder to find it so little changed, for- 

 getting that I have only been four months absent." Daniel 

 reports of him : " George is certainly very much improved ; 

 his successful passing, and all other agreeable circumstances, 

 have combined to produce perfect health and excellent 

 spirits. He came upon me without the previous notice 

 he had promised to give, and startled and delighted 

 me with his company. I hope his visit will be productive 

 of good in every way, and that you will get him home 

 in very, very different health and spirits from those in 



