CHAPTEE IX 
EDINBURGH 
On October 17, 1844, appears the first reference to the 
Edinburgh Professorship of Botany,^ which takes definite 
shape by Christmas Eve. Dr. Graham's health was very 
precarious ; he was likely to resign his Chair soon, and as 
a first step, perhaps, require a substitute to deliver a course 
of lectures in the following spring. This substitute, if he 
did well, would be a strong candidate for the Chair with the 
backing of the retiring Professor. The Professor of Botany 
generally united two appointments in his single person, 
the College professorship, in the gift of the Tovm Council, 
and the less lucrative 'but more important Eegius professor- 
ship attached to the Curatorship of the Botanical Gardens. 
This latter, being a Crown appointm.ent, was in the gift of 
Sir James Graham, then Home Secretary, with whom Sir 
William's of&cial friends would naturally have considerable 
influence. Acceptable as the prospect of £100 for the course 
of lectures would be to the young botanist, to interrupt his 
more serious work on the Flora without aiming at the permanent 
post would be against his best interests. ' It is indeed not easy 
1 J. D. H. to W. H. Harvey. October 17, 1844. 
* I am not much nearer my fortune now than when you were here, and am 
getting very anxious to be doing something that will pay me — on dit that poor 
Dr. Graham of Edinbro' is on his last legs, and my friends want me, should he 
go off the hooks (which I from my heart say heaven forefend), to stand for the 
chair of Botany there (don't laugh). I suppose you like my impudence. 
I should not be sanguine, as the opposition would be very strong, and if Forbes 
stands he Vvill be by far the most eligible : I have no great notion of lecturing, 
but I must pick up a livelihood somehow. How I shall qua que at my first 
lecture. You must not say anything about this, at present, visionary subject.' 
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