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



Forbes* at Pitlochrie. It will be observed that Forbes' 

 correspondence with the Master of Trinity slackened 

 after illness put a check to Forbes* scientific labours, but 

 their friendship continued unchanged. 



During the latter part of 1859, Forbes was subjected 

 to not a little annoyance by discussions which were going 

 on in London regarding his viscous theory of Glaciers. 

 By some of the disputants not only was his claim to 

 priority in discovery denied, but doubts were thrown 

 on his straightforwardness in making that claim. The 

 question as to originality was insignificant to him com- 

 pared with the imputation thus cast on his character. 

 The grounds of these charges will be weighed by more 

 competent hands in another chapter. Forbes felt the 

 imputations deeply, but from the thought of them he 

 was called off by a very heavy personal bereavement in 

 the death of his brother Charles, who in the beginning 

 of November died at Canaan Park, near Edinburgh. 

 This was the brother nearest himself in age, from whom 

 his boyhood and youth had been inseparable, and for 

 whom, even after their homes were divided, he retained 

 a quite peculiar attachment. The following letters con- 

 tain allusions to these and other incidents in this year 

 of his life : 



To MR. WILLS. 



' EDINBUBGH, April 12th, 1859. 



' . . . I could not be indifferent to the injustice 

 and bad taste of the review of my book in the Athe- 

 nceum of last Saturday which I read last evening. I 

 felt how sorely at a disadvantage I am placed with 

 relation to the scientific world of London. Your sym- 

 pathy and your willingness to assist me in obtaining fair 

 play all I ask touched me a good deal, I assure you. 

 It is close on post time, and as Balmat's affair is urgent, 

 let me discuss that now, and I will return to the other 

 subject. 



' What you tell me of Balmat's feelings towards me 

 was another pleasant revival of old sympathies. Sorry 

 as I am to interfere in any degree with your well- 



