J 844-5 4- POPULAR LECTURES. 179 



afterwards in a periodical of the day, with the title, 

 " The alleged Antagonism between Poetry and Chemistry." l 

 Professor Goodsir at the same time gave a short popular 

 course on Human Physiology, he and George Wilson 

 lecturing alternately. It was on one of these chemical 

 evenings that the pet terrier made his last appearance at a 

 lecture. Stronach having died and left a blank in the 

 household, Alexander Russell brought a successor, that in 

 due time became as great a favourite, and, like Stronach, 

 accompanied his master everywhere. He was named Grim, 

 and one evening in the Waterloo Rooms, he astonished 

 the attentive audience by pushing aside the green baize 

 hanging from the table, and with shaggy head and paws 

 visible, gazing with wonder at the assembly before him. 

 The effect was irresistibly comic, for it seemed as if, in 

 imitation of his master, he had thoughts of setting up on 

 his own account. But poor Grim never had another 

 chance of winning public confidence, being compelled 

 henceforth to spend the evenings at home, listening for 

 the step of him he loved so well. 



Within the decade now under notice, several courses of 

 lectures were delivered under the auspices of the same 

 Institution. The prelections usually delivered to its mem- 

 bers differ widely from those addressed to most popular 

 assemblies. The audience which it calls forth regularly 

 throughout each winter, is one that might stimulate any 

 lecturer to put forth his best powers. High efforts of such 

 men as Ruskin, Kingsley, Hugh Miller, and many of like 

 eminence, have been elicited by it, and not a few works of 

 value have resulted from the publication of lectures given 

 either in whole, or in part, to the members of this Institu- 

 tion. A favourite lecturer, such as George Wilson proved 



1 See "Torch," pp. 13-16. Sutherland and Knox, Edinburgh, 1846, 

 N 2 



