cuap. vul.]  <Lxhibits his Collection. 147 
at the top of the stair, in order to be out of harm’s way. 
The plants were all‘dried and preserved. They were the 
result of eight years’ labor employed in collecting them. 
But when he went to overhaul the box, he found that the 
lid had been shoved to one side, and that numerous cats 
had entered it and made it their lair. The plants were 
completely soaked, and rendered utterly worthless. The 
box smelled so abominably that he was under the necessity 
of making a bonfire of it in the back-yard. 
All this was exceedingly disheartening. Nevertheless, he 
removed his remaining collection to the place appointed for 
exhibiting it. He had no allurements, no music, no drums 
nor trumpets, as the other show-people had. His exhibi- 
tion was held in an upper room, so that the sight-seers had 
to mount a long stair before they could see the collection. 
Nevertheless, many: persons went to see it; and the result 
was, that Edward not only paid his expenses, but had some- 
thing laid by for future purposes. 
‘He went on collecting for another exhibition, and in- 
creased his specimens. He-replaced, to a certain extent, 
the plants which had been destroyed by the recklessness of 
the cats. He obtained some wonderful fishes and sea-birds. 
His collection of eggs was greatly increased. He now pre- 
pared for a second exhibition at the Brandon Fair, 1846. 
On that occasion he was able to exhibit many old coins 
and ancient relics. . 
This exhibition was more attractive and more successful 
than the first. It yielded a better remuneration; but, what 
was more satisfactory, Edward was much complimented by 
those who had inspected his collection. It excited general 
applause. In short, it was considered by Edward himself 
to be so successful as to induce him to remove the collec- 
tion to Aberdeen, for exhibition in that important city. 
