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CHAPTER XII. 



SCIENCE BEGINS AND BUSINESS ENDS. 



THE life engaging our attention has thus far been 

 that of a struggling student and an enterprising man 

 of business. It becomes henceforward that of a 

 naturalist. In both periods the same moral qualities 

 are exhibited, the same mixture of modesty and 

 courage, the same generosity and kindliness of temper, 

 the same unwearying and successful perseverance. 

 Between the years 1850 and 1860 natural history 

 pursuits and business occupations overlapped one 

 another, but the true naturalist "has no time for 

 money-making," and accordingly the time came when 

 science extinguished commerce. It is probable that 

 this result was in no small measure due to the 

 institution of the Natural History Society of Glasgow, 

 which took place on July 2, 1851. In the following 

 year Mr. Robertson joined it, and by this means 

 became acquainted with a circle of men, eminent in 

 various branches of knowledge, willing to teach and 

 willing to learn ; by the latter readiness as much as 

 by the former kindling enthusiasm and helping 

 forward the interests of science. Among other 

 intimacies thus formed was one with Mr. Roger 



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