] 83-2 -37. MEETING OF BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 41 



smiled at the serious gravity with which the Professor poured an 

 acid on a lump of chalk, and solemnly expounded why the latter 

 effervesced. He was little loved but greatly respected by the 

 students ; who complained of his chilling, unsympathizing man- 

 ner, but at the same time acknowledged their obligations to 

 him as a teacher. 



" Like all other good teachers of a rapidly advancing science, 

 he unavoidably, and to a great extent unintentionally, made his 

 pupils eager for more than even he could give them." 



The reader is referred to the remainder of the chapter from 

 which this quotation is made, for a graphic account of the ad- 

 vancement of chemistry and the sister sciences during a quarter 

 of a century. 1 The period of which it treats, from 1830 to 

 1855, has a peculiar personal interest, as well for the subject of 

 this Memoir as for Edward Forbes, bridging over, as it does, 

 the time from their entrance into the University as students, to 

 that of their return as teachers within its walls. 



His brother, Dr. Daniel Wilson, recalls that in 1834, "when 

 George was sixteen years of age, the British Association held its 

 first meeting in Edinburgh, and was an object of great interest to 

 him, giving shape and consistency to many vague longings after 

 scientific occupation and successes in what so soon became the 

 favourite pursuits of his life. An ingenious mechanical inventor, 

 Mr. Maxwell Dick of Irvine, who had invented and exhibited 

 in Edinburgh, some two years before, his ' Suspension Eailway,' 

 was now our father's guest, and a member of the Association. 

 He had some subjects he wished to lay before one of the Sec 

 tions ; and so, through his intervention, we were both able to 

 obtain access to chemical and other Sections, and still more to 

 enjoy the invaluable treat of admission to the great evening 

 meeting in the Assembly Rooms, at which Dr. Buckland de- 

 livered one of his fascinating and piquant popularizations of 

 geological science. I well remember the delight with which 

 Ave both returned from listening to the humorous and attrac- 

 tive lecture, and seeing for ourselves, amid the gaily dressed 

 evening Assembly, some of the scientific and literary notabili- 

 ties already becoming objects of the liveliest interest. George 



1 See ' Life of Edward Forbes,' chap. iv. 



