1842-43- REMOVAL OF RESIDENCE. 159 



Is it not one of the privileges of a free Briton, and health- 

 ful to the lungs (and spleen), to grumble, and that loudly 

 tool I liken myself rather to Marius sitting among the 

 ruins of Carthage, presenting to the world, nay, to the 

 universe, the edifying spectacle of ' a great man struggling 

 against the storms of fate.' With what a deep sympathy I 

 read the answer of the colliers to the question, ' Why their 

 houses were so empty of useful household articles V That 

 ' furniture was an unco fash at a flittin' ' ! ! ! There, my dear 

 cousin, is a great idea, which, however, if carried out, would 

 lead to very naked results." 



The removal alluded to was to the house in Brown Square, 

 which he occupied for the next nine years, its great attrac- 

 tion being that his lecture-room and laboratory were under 

 its roof, and he was able to attend to the duties connected 

 with them, even when prevented by ill-health from going 

 out of doors. To go from his bed to his lecture-room was 

 no uncommon thing for him in the years that followed. 



The satisfaction with which the healing of his foot in the 

 month of June was contemplated, was speedily changed to 

 renewed anxiety, on finding unmistakable symptoms of pul- 

 monary affection. He spent the rest of the summer in a 

 secluded retreat, for which he had a great liking, in Jordan 

 Bank, Morningside. Occasional drives, and sitting in the 

 quiet garden (to get oxygen, as he used to say), were 

 serviceable, and he was prepared, when the winter session 

 opened, to resume his professional duties. They were in- 

 creased by his appointment, with the sanction of the 

 Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, as Lecturer 

 on Chemistry to the Edinburgh Veterinary College, and by 

 ' a similar appointment to the School of Arts. A course of 

 lectures to young ladies at the Scottish Institution on Satur- 

 days, was also begun in November, involving altogether ten 



