iv.] CHOICE OF A PROFESSION, 1831. 75 



of most aspirants. It seemed, as if passing over the long 

 obscurity through which the early manhood even of the 

 most gifted has to struggle, he had at one step taken his 

 place beside the foremost men of the time, if not yet as 

 their equal, at least as one who was soon to become so. 



This autumn saw the first beginnings of what has since 

 become a world-wide Institution, the well-known British 

 Association. In the foundation of it Forbes bore a part 

 which in a youth of two-and-twenty seems wonderful. 

 The real father of it was Sir David Brewster. By him the 

 idea of such a congress was first conceived, and its realiza- 

 tion was mainly due to his enthusiastic and untiring efforts. 

 Everyone who ever listened to his conversation or read 

 his more popular writings will remember how unweariedly 

 he dwelt on the way this country neglects its scientific 

 benefactors, how earnestly he pleaded their claims to 

 fuller honours and larger salaries. It occurred to him 

 that if the scattered scientific intellect of the country were 

 gathered into one spot, and presented in bodily mass and 

 weight to the eye and ear of men, the crass public might 

 be roused to recognize its existence and value, as they 

 never would do while it appealed only to the pure intellect. 

 The Association which he originated has grown to a size 

 and importance which Brewster perhaps little dreamt 

 of. But it still combines and represents what were the 

 two master tendencies of Brewster's life his love of 

 science and his love of sociality. 



The first hint of it is contained in the following letter 

 fn>m Brewster to Professor Phillips at York, dated from 

 Alli-rly, 22nd February, 1831: 'It is proposed to 

 establish a IJritish Association of men of science similar to 

 that which has cxistrd for eight years in Germany, and 

 wliirh is im\v pafrnni/ed by the most powerful sovereigns 

 of that part of Europe. Thr arrangements for the first 

 meeting arc in progress; and it is contemplated that it 

 shall lc ln-l<l in York, as the most central city of the three 

 kingdoi 



Nineteen years Liter Sir David, speaking from the Pre- 

 ir to tin- Ass<>ri;ition assembled m Ldmlmrgh, 



