xiv.] FORBES' SCIKXTIFIC WORK. 467 



of the whole. Others, again, cannot be published at 

 present because the writers supply him with details of 

 that mysterious wire-pulling which seems to be in- 

 separable from every transaction involving honours 



ntific, in common with all others, it is humiliating 

 to have to confess). The value of this unique series 

 is, however, so great, and its preservation so complete, 

 that it is to be hoped that it may be safely deposited 

 (under seal) in the care of some scientific society or 

 institution, to be opened only when all the actors have 

 passed from the scene. The hasty glance which I have 

 >wed upon these less scientific letters has shown 

 me that Forbes attached great importance to mere 

 honorary distinctions, as well as to the opinions of others 



rding the value of his discoveries. It has opened 

 up a view of a to me totally unexpected feature of his 

 (Character, and enables me to understand many of his 



rks which had previously appeared either mean- 

 ingless or inconsistent. But, throughout the whole of 

 the collection, the fearless honesty of the man shines 

 out conspicuous. And his correspondence also shows 

 that, though he was exact to a halfpenny in every pecu- 

 niary transaction, he could on fitting occasion be almost 



h in bestowing money upon struggling worth. It 

 must be left to another generation, however, to decide 

 whether the details of all this shall be made public. 

 In 1849 Forbes sent to the editors of the Philosophical 

 ne the following short lett< r 



' On the, alloyed Evidence for a Physical Connection 



i Ilimmj or Multiple Group** 

 r Proximity alone. 



Gl MELBOBB, July 13, 1849. 



4 In conformity with usage and witli the spirit 



of your journal, I may perhaps be permitted to suggest 



a doubt as to tin- legitimacy of certain reasonings with 



respect to the evidence for the p1tij*ic<d 001 <>f 



ry or limit! Rj an>m-- Jr.. in the i, t of 



th'-ir jii d ana applied by some of the 



H I 



