102 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. V. 



me a perpetual ticket to his lectures and classes, so that I 

 may take my own time of attending. . . . 



" Forbes and I have visited some class-rooms, and will 

 look over more before fixing. ... I have many kind friends 

 here, and keep a good heart in me." 



" Wednesday, May 1840. 



" I shall just write you here a desperately swift letter, 

 having too few of the commas and stops that stand in the 

 way of composition. I would I were beside you in your 

 busy work, I think I could help you more (indirectly) than 

 some better-hearted people. Whenever you come, we shall 

 be glad to have you, and I can tell you that you will find 

 your old friends as loving as before ; and I can promise 

 you some desirable new ones. Although you are so very 

 busy, I am going to introduce to you by letter a gentleman 

 leaving this for a short stay in London, Edward Forbes, 

 the celebrated editor of the ' Maga,' a real good-hearted, 

 clever fellow, and one I am sure you will like. He was 

 a painter before he took to natural history, and is still a 

 fine sketcher; he has seen your work, spoke of it in very 

 high (but honest) terms, and wished to know you. He is 

 about twenty-five years old, and now destined for a scientific 

 career. 



" He is a very amiable, obliging fellow ; at the same time 

 exceedingly well read in all sorts of books, and fond of 

 literature. I need not tell you he is a wit, or a good song 

 writer ; but you may not know that, spite of all the quips and 

 cranks that gave the ' Maga ' so much interest, he is a fellow 

 of great good sense, and fine taste as to literary or artistic 

 merit. Indeed, I do not know among my friends any one 

 on whose judgment I would put more reliance in any 

 disputed matter. 



