1840-42. PLANS FOR THE SUMMER. 271 



at the laboratory, and was much comforted, and grieved too, 

 therewith. 



" It seems at present dreary enough to look about and con- 

 template the state of business, and you, I fear, are still engaged 

 in a desperate struggle with the world. Now, I need not offer 

 you sympathy, you have heartsful of that already ; indeed, that 

 same sympathy is a wonderfully useless sort of thing, and, like 

 Falstaffs honour, pays no debts, purchases no commodities. 



"We shall therefore waive the subject, and talk of other 

 matters. You are glad to think my old spirits are returning, 

 and health and ability with them, and wish to know my plans 

 and projects. Now I am so famous at castle-building, and have 

 so often been totally disappointed in the realization of them, 

 that I seldom talk now of what I am about to do ; moreover, 

 everything so completely depends on my health improving, 

 that, quite unable to foresee the issue of that, I am the more 

 inclined to ' sit still and keep silence.' I propose, however, in 

 summer, to give a special course, addressed chiefly to the senior 

 students and medical men, on animal chemistry; a subject of 

 great importance, at which I have been diligently labouring 

 all the winter. I shall bring before them a new and highly 

 important branch of chemistry, never properly studied in this 

 country. The medical men themselves are very anxious about 

 it, and it was the solicitation of others that first urged me to it. 

 My own tastes lead me to other departments, but poverty pre- 

 cludes their prosecution at present, and this is really as rich and 

 noble a field as any, and grows every day more interesting to 

 me. I have been analysing all winter, and have not a few ori- 

 ginal observations collected together. I am sure I shall be 

 able to give a very interesting course, and I shall only lecture 

 three days a week, so as not to overtask myself. Many of the 

 most intelligent medical men have expressed their delight at 

 the proposal, and have promised to attend. If possible, one of 

 the A brethren will lecture with me on alternate days on physi- 

 ology ; our courses being illustrative and complementary of 

 each other. This is John Goodsir, a very noble fellow, a most 

 excellent and original inquirer, and one of the most amiable 

 and lovable of men. We are working together at various 



