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now formed more sanguine than at any previous period of 

 his public life. People wilfully shut their eyes to all but the 

 fact which they tried to impress on their minds, that he 

 might live many years more, and even medical men who 

 knew the frail tenure by which any such hopes could be 

 held, argued favourably from the time of repose which 

 seemed to them now before him. We have seen that he '" 

 himself hoped for more rest as one of the advantages of his 

 appointment ; but so ardently did he enter on its duties, 

 that the only rest obtained was from the necessity of more 

 than one lecture daily, and that rest of heart arising from a 

 sense of acknowledged worth, which the affectionate wel- 

 come of his fellow citizens had afforded him. For once the 

 proverb seemed unsuitable, that " a prophet hath no honour 

 in his own country," and his generous mind too readily 

 received the impulse. His labours hitherto were now far 

 surpassed, as if but a resting-place for a higher elevation 

 had been attained. " I am determined," he sometimes said, 

 " to let no day pass without doing something for my dear 

 Museum." By something was meant not the daily duties of 

 his post, but special efforts put forth. " The dear Museum," 

 as it was usually called in private, absorbed every energy. 

 How he begged and planned for it is well known in many 

 parts of the world, though what sacrifices were made on 

 its behalf are known but to a very few. The power of 

 coaxing, in him almost irresistible, was brought fully to 

 bear, and sometimes it was amusing to observe how, when 

 presents were made to him, with the express statement that 

 they were not for the Museum, he. contrived skilfully to dis- 

 pose of all arguments, and finally to deposit them on the 

 public shelves. His friends soon got to know that the most 

 welcome gifts were such as had the industrial collection in 

 view, and acted accordingly. Evidence of his zeal and 



