1839-4- PLANS FOR WORK. 99 



here next winter. Many friends urge me to it, and if I had 

 the capital I would risk my reputation on it." About a week 

 later he writes to Daniel, " Do you remember my poor old 

 friend the sweep 1 He is dead fell from a ladder and hurt 

 his side. His case was neglected, and when he sent for me 

 he was past remedy. I sent him to the Infirmary, where he 

 lived only two days. He was buried on Christmas day. I 

 sold my Koran to buy him a coffin." This poor man was 

 one of the Infirmary patients in whom George had become 

 interested while attending the hospital. Since then he had 

 received help in many ways, being considered a pensioner 

 of the house, his broken health unfitting him for active 

 labour. No small amount of self-denial was shown in part- 

 ing with his beautifully-bound and much-prized Koran to 

 afford his poor friend decent burial. The same letter says : 

 " I have had an oppressive bilious attack for the last 

 month, which has damped my energy and kept me very 

 quiet, circumstances not being of a kind to give one the 

 elasticity with which to meet depression. I am getting well I 

 again, and Mary is a good deal better. Mother is pretty 

 well, and otherwise we are as we were. They talk of 

 writing to you by this penny post, and they certainly will 

 soon. Meanwhile we are all glad of this reduction in post- 

 age. ... I have now made up my mind to begin lecturing 

 next winter in Edinburgh. In the meantime I have learned 

 that I shall not require to take out a fellowship, but only a 

 licence, which may be had for the asking. Dr. D. B. Reid 

 will certainly go to London, and his brother come here to 

 lecture for him, but there will still be a vacancy, which I 

 shall strive to fill. All my friends urge me on, and I see no 

 opportunity so promising. . . . Dr. Reid's brother will have 

 his fine rooms, and I cannot vie with him as a teacher of 

 practical chemistry, but as a lecturer I may." 



H 2 



