80 THE LIFE OF JAMES D. FORBES. [CHAP. 



parison of those who have filled that chair with myself; 

 but I believe that under the existing state of science in 

 Scotland I say it without any emotion of vanity there 

 are few who have had the means and inclination combined 

 to pursue the course which I have done. You must be 

 aware of the delicacy I feel in writing of the chair 

 Professor Kobison once occupied ; but, Sir, " there were 

 giants in those days," and I fear we are now reduced but 

 to a dwarfish state of science in Scotland : this -alone is 

 the footing on which I can place it/ 



This is his chronicle of the first half of the year 1832 : 

 'January 1832. Living at this time with John, 

 Charles, and my sisters, and Miss Ballingall at Green- 

 hill. This month made experiments with Dr. Christison 

 at his house, on comparative readings of Royal Society's 

 thermometers. Eesults in my pocket-book of that date. 



* This winter saw a good deal of the amiable Professor 

 Louis Neckar of Geneva, living in Edinburgh. 



'Feb. Making experiments of conducting power 

 of metals, with Fourier's thermometer of contact. The 

 notes in pocket-book. Also on magnetic intensity with 

 Hansteen's apparatus. 



' Feb. 26. Reached London ; Sir D. Brewster there. 

 Saw much of him, Babbage, Captain King, Neckar, 

 and others. Occupied in ordering instruments for 

 foreign tour. 



'April 4. At Allerly with Sir D. Brewster. 



* Obtained spark from magnet. 



* May 1 7. At Cambridge. 



* April, May, June. Engaged with report on meteor- 

 ology for British Association and preparations for tour. 



'June. Association meeting at Oxford. Read report 

 on meteorology. 



'June 7. Elected into Royal Society of London/ 



These early years I have described more at length, and 

 illustrated with fuller details from his own journals, than 

 I shall think it necessary to do in the sequel. I have done 



