106 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. V. 



recommend pupils, and I am pretty certain of getting the 

 Cambridge men, one and all. All the red ribbons, of 

 course, stand by me, and many private friends (ladies 

 especially) are beating about for pupils. 



" In these circumstances, I reconcile myself to the ad- 

 ditional expense in beginning here (though I am certain 

 Lucas underrates the London prices), because I am sure 

 I should have just to do in a few years what I am doing 

 now, and with no greater, but in truth with fewer advan- 

 tages. London is not the place for me at present ; Edin- 

 burgh is better ; this has been impressed on me by Samuel 

 Brown, Forbes, Professor Syme, Young, and others, long 

 ago, before this matter turned up, and I should prefer 

 remaining here to going anywhere else for some time. 



"I mourn to think how your precious time has been 

 taken up about this : and along with this I see with sorrow 

 how little likely it is that you and I will get together for a 

 long while ; but the same professional necessity that took 

 you to London will keep me here, and for a while we must 

 ' dree our weird ' separately. 



"I have in hand at present a very interesting inquiry 

 regarding the phosphorescence of sea animals, and its pos- 

 sible connexion with electricity. It was begun at Forbes's 

 request, and is likely to yield an excellent paper for the 

 British Association. I work some hours a day at purely 

 chemical labour at Christison's, an.d hope to get something 

 in that way ready also ; so that I shall probably read papers 

 at two different sections. 



" Regarding the Brotherhood, there is no secrecy as to 

 its character, but the opposite, enjoined on all men. Never- 

 theless I never talk of it before people, for they cannot be 

 got to understand its true character. I advise you to do the 



