260 How to help Him. (CHAP. XIV. 
tance. When he had collected a batch of objects, he sent 
them off by post to naturalists in different parts of the coun- 
try, for the purpose of obtaining from them the proper 
names. They referred to their scientific works, and fur- 
nished him with the necessary information. 
Edward sent his specimens of crustacea to Mr. Spence 
Bate, of Plymouth, Devonshire; his fishes to Mr. Couch, 
of Polperro, Cornwall; and many other objects to corre- 
spondents in Norwich, York, Newcastle, Birmingham, and 
London. The Rev. George Gordon, of the manse of Birnie, 
Elginshire, was one of his first correspondents respecting 
the crustacea. Mr. Spence Bate was then engaged (in con- 
junction with Professor Westwood) in writing the “ Histo- 
ry of the British Sessile-eyed Crustacea.” Mr. Gordon first 
forwarded to him some of Edward’s specimens, and Edward 
afterward corresponded directly with Mr. Bate. Thus he 
obtained his scientific knowledge, not from the books in 
his own neighborhood, but from the books of gentlemen 
sometimes living at the opposite ends of the island. 
There was, indeed, some talk of supplying Edward with 
books, to enable him to pursue his scientific researches. At 
a public dinner in Banff, the principal speaker, after pay- 
ing a high compliment to Edward for his wonderful per- 
severance, and his devotion to natural science, proceeded to 
describe the great influence which books exercised in de- 
veloping the powers of the human mind. After informing 
his audience that they did not know the value of the.man 
they had got among them, he said: “ Assist and encourage 
him by all the means in your power, but ”—here he paused, 
and all eyes were turned upon him—“ but,” he continued, 
“give him no money [loud cheers]. I know him, as you 
all do, to be no drunkard, no idler, but a sober, hard-work- 
ing man. But still, I again say, give him no money. Give 
him Booxs; provide him with the means of reading, and 
he is just the man to make money for himself.” The au- 
ditors thought that they had done sufficient justice to Ed- 
