CHAPTER IX. 

 EXHIBITS HIS COLLECTION IN ABERDEEN. 



BANFF was a comparatively small and remote town ; 

 whereas Aberdeen was the centre of northern intellect 

 and business. At Banff, comparatively few persons 

 knew much about natural history or science ; whilst 

 Aberdeen had two universities, provided with profes- 

 sors, students, and all the accompaniments of learning. 

 It also contained a large and intelligent population of 

 educated business men, tradesmen, and artizans. 



Edward was sanguine of success at Aberdeen. It 

 was his City of Expectations. He was now doubly 

 desirous of giving up shoemaking, and devoting him- 

 self to Natural History. For this purpose, he wanted 

 means and a settled income. He intended to devote 

 the proceeds of his exhibition in several ways. He 

 had, indeed, almost settled them in his own mind. He 

 would, in the first place, make arrangements for open- 

 ing a coffee-house or provision shop for the employ- 

 ment and support of his family. He would next 

 purchase some works on Natural History by the best 

 authors. He would probably also buy a microscope 

 and some other necessary scientific instruments. 

 Alnaschar, in the Arabian Nights, with the basket of 



