CHAP. xvnr. HIS FAILURES 387 



to have lived so far from the centre of scientific 

 pursuits. Banff was a place comparatively unknown. 

 In the pursuit of science, a man requires fellowship. 

 He especially requires the fellowship of books. Banff 

 could do little for him in this respect. Had he lived 

 in a larger town, with a library at his command, he 

 could have acquired the friendship of scientific men, 

 who are rarely disposed to be narrow in their " en- 

 couragement of native genius and talent," however 

 poor the student may be. 



But it was difficult for Edward to remove to any 

 other place. He had his family to provide for, and 

 he had not the means of removing them elsewhere. 

 He was tied like a limpet to its rock. Still, he did all 

 that he could to improve his position where he was. 

 He tried to secure an appointment in connection with 

 the police ; but having no influence, he failed. He 

 applied to the London College of Surgeons for a 

 curatorship, but Mr. Quekett having informed him 

 that it was only a fourth portership that was wanted, 

 he failed there too. Then he studied electricity, for 

 the purpose of assisting a doctor in electrifying his 

 patients ; but thinking that he might Trill more than 

 he could cure, he gave up the idea of proceeding 

 further. He next tried photography, but not being 

 provided with sufficient capital, he gave up that too. 

 The last application he made was for an appointment 

 as sub-curator of the City Industrial Museum of 

 Glasgow, but he received no encouragement. 



