1832-37. STUDIES CHEMISTRY AND ANATOMY. 39 



ciently manifest in George's later public career, whatever such 

 Societies may have contributed to it. I find the following among 

 the questions discussed at this period : The relative advantages 

 of public and private education ; The claims of the West-India 

 planters to compensation on the emancipation of the slaves ; 

 The morality of duelling ; The right and duty of resistance to 

 tyrants, as exemplified by the Scottish Covenanters of the seven- 

 teenth century; The right of the American colonists to renounce 

 their allegiance ; The moral influence of the Drama ; and last, 

 but not least, ' Is the married or the single life the happier ?' 

 on which George, with characteristic chivalry, stood up for the 

 married life, and carried the majority of youthful bachelors 

 along with him." 



The autumn of 1833 brought a few weeks of relaxation; and a 

 letter to his mother, of September 10th, says : " Our voyage and 

 land travels have been very fortunate, and this is more to be 

 wondered at from the ominous circumstance of two hares cross- 

 ing our path ! I have derived great pleasure and profit from 

 my jaunt. Our voyage up the Forth was very agreeable ; it 

 was not new to me, but I enjoyed it very much. It was a fine 

 day, and, consistently with my profession, although those around 

 me were getting squeamish, I was quite free from nausea, and 

 able to prescribe." The voyage was only to Stirling after all, 

 followed by a visit to Muthil, and home by Dundee. 



In November he entered Professor Hope's class for chemistry, 

 and two anatomical classes, Professor Monro's within the 

 University, and Mr. Lizars' without its walls. This was a 

 busy winter, but doubtless a happy one. The interest previ- 

 ously felt in anatomy was deepened, while chemistry began to 

 unfold her wonders to his admiring contemplation. According 

 to the laws that regulate the restless nature of boys, George 

 had not failed to prosecute juvenile researches in chemistry and 

 physical science while at the High School. One experiment is 

 borne in mind where the object aimed at was to produce an 

 earthquake. For this purpose a paste was made of steel-filings, 

 sulphur, and other forgotten ingredients, and this was buried in 

 a box of earth. The earthquake, however, was disobliging, and 

 slept quietly in its box, much to the disappointment of the 



