i852 CONTEMPLATED ABANDONMENT OF SCIENCE 8/ 



If this were from personal friends only, I should disregard it; 

 but it comes from men to whose approbation it would be foolish 

 affectation to deny the highest value. I find myself treated on 

 a footing of equality (" my proud self," as you may suppose, 

 would not put up with any other) by men whose names and 

 works have been long before the world. My opinions are 

 treated with a respect altogether unaccountable to me, and 

 what I have done is quoted as having full authority. Without 

 canvassing a soul or making use of any influence, I have been 

 dected into the Royal Society at a time when that election is 

 mort dir.lcult than it has ever been in the history of the Society. 

 Without my knowledge I was within an ace of getting the Royal 

 Society medal this year, and if I go on I shall very probably 

 get it next time. 



In 1852 he was not only to receive this coveted honour,* 

 but also to be elected upon 'the Royal Society Council. In 

 January 1852, when standing for Toronto, he describes how 

 Col. Sabine, then Secretary of the Royal Society,, dissuaded 

 him from the project, saying that a brilliant prospect lay 

 before him if he would only wait. 



" Make up your mind to get something fairly within your 

 reach, and you will have us all with you." Prof. Owen again 

 offers to do anything in his power for me ; Prof. Forbes will 

 move heaven and earth for me if he can ; Gray, Bell, and all 

 the leading men are, I know, similarly inclined. Fate says wait, 

 and you shall reach the goal which from a child you have set 

 before yourself. On the other hand, a small voice like con- 

 science speaks of one who is wasting youth and life away for 

 your sake. 



Other friends, who, while recognising his general capaci- 

 ties, were not scientific, and had no direct appreciation of 

 his superlative powers in science, thought he was following 

 a course which would never allow him to marry, and urged 

 him to give up his unequal battle with fate, and emigrate to 

 Australia. Of this he writes on August 5, 1852, to Miss 

 Heathorn : — 



I must make up my mind to it if nothing turns up. How- 

 ever, I look upon such a life as would await me in Australia 

 with great misgiving. A life spent in a routine employment, | 



* See pp. Ill sqq. 



