330 His Failures. [CHAP. XVIII. 
to admiration and respect. But Edward did not think that 
his labors had been properly recognized. This seems to 
have vexed him very much. He had often been promised 
aid in the shape of books, but no such aid ever came. “All 
my honors,” said he, “have come from a distance. I have 
kept the museum of the Banff Institution for about twenty- 
one years, for, I may say, almost nothing; and though the 
Linnzan Society thought me worthy of: being elected an as- 
sociate, the people here did not think me worthy of being 
an honorary member of their society. Still, am not com- 
plaining. The people of Banff had no right to make me a 
gentleman.” 
The truth is, that it was a misfortune for Edward to have 
lived so far from the centre of scientific pursuits. Banff 
was a place comparatively unknown. In the pursuit of sci- 
ence a man requires fellowship: he especially, requires the 
fellowship of books. Banff could do little for him in this 
respect. Had he lived in a larger town, with a library at his 
command, he could have acquired the friendship of scientif- 
ic men, who are rarely disposed to be narrow in their “ en- 
couragement of native genius and talent,” however poor the 
student may be. ; 
But it was difficult for Edward to remove to any other 
place. He had his family to provide for, and he had not 
the means of removing them elsewhere. He was tied like 
a limpet to its rock. Still, he did all that he could to im- 
prove his position where he was. He tried to secure an’ 
appointment in connection with the police; but having no 
influence, he failed. He applied to the London College 
of Surgeons for a curatorship; but Mr. Quekett having in- 
formed him that it was only a fourth portership that was 
vacant, he failed there too. Then he studied electricity, for 
the purpose of assisting a doctor in electrifying his patients; 
but, thinking that he might kill more than he could cure, 
he gave up the idea of proceeding further. He next tried 
photography, but, not being ‘provided with sufficient capital, 
