vi.] PROFESSORIAL LIFE. 136 



Eeid Fund was by the law-courts restored to the support 

 of the Music Chair. 



'In 1842 another large fund, the Straton Fund, came 

 to be applied by the Senatus. Here again Forbes took 

 the initiative, and was mainly instrumental in inducing 

 the Senatus to establish Fellowships out of the combined 

 Reid and Straton Funds, to be held by distinguished 

 students, after graduation. Ultimately these Fellowships. 



founded out of the Reid Fund, but, owing to the 

 decision of the law-courts, they had but a short period 



\istence. 

 ' It only remains to be added, that whilst Forbes was 



ern and unflinching opponent, he did not allow his 

 opposition to interfere with his friendships. The colleague 

 who most systematically and consistently opposed his 

 views regarding the Music Chair, enjoyed his warmest 

 friendship and had the kindliest intercourse with him 

 up to his dying day/ 



When a man of vigorous mind and resolute will 

 throws himself into public action to carry out his views 

 of what is right, it must needs be that collisions come : 

 and if he meets with men of views as decided and wills 

 as strong as his o\vn, the collision is sure to be a severe 

 one. Forbes never shrank from such collision-, however 

 painful, if they met him in the way of what lie conceived 

 to be duty. But he was by nature no polemic. 11<' did 

 not love the battle for its own sake; indeed, it cost him 

 than most men to enter into personal conflicts. 

 Wliateverainhitioii there was in him found scope in wrest- 



\vitli the difficulties of Nature and extorting her 



from 'ii.uh he never Ilinehed from opposing 



men when he thought he ought to do so, he felt very 



iy the hard words and -even- blows which such 



item call forth. Therefore, however manfully he n 



stood to his nuns in the Aeademie combats to which 

 Professor Kelland alludes, it was in the inteivourse. of 

 class-room and of private life \\ith like-miim 



iie found the field most congenial to him. 



