1875 HIS EDINBURGH COURSE 177 



beautiful lectures on the frog. ... If you only heard a 

 few of the lectures you would be surprised to find that 

 there were so few missing links in the chain of life, from 

 the amoeba to the genus homo. 



It was a large class, ultimately reaching 353 and 

 breaking the record of the Edinburgh classes without 

 having recourse to the factitious assistance proposed 

 in the letter of May 16. 



His inaugural lecture was delivered under what 

 ought to have been rather trying circumstances. On 

 the way from London he stopped a night ^vith his 

 old friends, John Bruce and his wife (one of the 

 Tannings), at their home, Barmoor Castle, near Beal. 

 He had to leave at 6 next morning, reaching Edin- 

 burgh at 10, and lecturing at 2. "Nothing," he 

 writes, " could be much worse, but I am going through 

 it with all the cheerfulness of a Christian martyr." 



On May 3 he writes to his wife from the Bruces' 

 Edinburgh house, which they had lent him. 



I know that you will be dying to hear how my 

 lecture went off to-day so I sit down to send you a line, 

 though you did hear from me to-day. 



The theatre was crammed. I am told there were 600 

 auditors, and I could not have wished for more thorough 

 attention. But I had to lecture in gown and Doctor's 

 hood and the heat was awful. The Principal and the 

 chief Professors were present, and altogether it was a state 

 affair. I was in great force, although I did get up at 

 six this morning and travelled all the way from Barmoor. 

 But I won't do that sort of thing again, it's tempting 

 Providence. 



May 5. Fanny and her sisters and the Governess" 



VOL. II N 





