50 Sketch of the Life of the late Professor Edivard Forbes. 



History so recently as May last, and the appointment, made by 

 the Crown at the unanimous suggestion of the Council, was 

 hailed by them and by the whole scientific world as an acquisi- 

 tion to the University, and as one which would in all likelihood 

 tend to increase its celebrity in that department to which he 

 had directed his attention. He had given a course of lectures 

 during the summer, and had entered upon his winter course, 

 when a disease of some standing suddenly removed him from 

 among them. He (the Lord Provost) knew that the Council 

 would deeply mourn the loss which they had thus sustained. 

 Professor Forbes had been cut off at the very commencement 

 of what they had fondly hoped would be a career of increased 

 usefulness in a position which it had been one of the dearest 

 objects of his heart to attain. He (the Lord Provost) had to 

 propose that the Council should express their deep sympathy 

 with his bereaved widow and family at the loss which they in 

 conmion with the community had sustained, and that, as a mark 

 of respect to his memory, they should offer to attend his remains 

 to the tomb. 



The body was interred in the Dean Cemetery on Thursday 

 23rd November, near the burying-place of Professor Wilson, 

 and the funeral was attended by his colleagues, the Lord Pro- 

 vost, magistrates, council, a large concourse of students, and 

 nearly all the followers of science in Edinburgh. 



Only a few days before his death he had been elected by the 

 Royal Scottish Academy to fill the honorary office of Professor 

 of Ancient Histoiy, in room of the late Professor Wilson. 



Immediately after the funeral, a meeting was held at Dr. 

 Bennett's house, which was attended by many of Forbes's 

 friends in London, Edinburgh and the provinces, at which it 

 was resolved to have a mai'ble bust of him executed by Steel, 

 to be placed in the College jNIuseum. It was also proposed 

 that a duplicate might be placed in the Jermyn Street ^luseum. 

 ]\Ir. Goodsir had taken a cast after death, which supplies im- 

 portant materials for the bust. It is expected that the model 

 will be ready for the London Exhibition in ]\Iay 1855, and the 

 busts by January 1856. It is announced that his pupils in 

 King's College, London, have met for the purpose of procuring 

 a similar memorial of their late Professor. 



At the request of several of his friends. Dr. George VA'ilson, 

 one of his early companions, has kindly consented to draw up a 

 memoir of him, and is now collecting materials for that pur- 

 pose. It is hoped that all who can supply information in regard 

 to the career of our late departed friend, will communicate as 

 soon as possible with Dr. George Wilson at Surgeons' Hall. 

 The memoir will probably appear as a separate volume. 



I cannot more appropriately conclude this sketch of my de- 



