1839 - 1845 *] CHARACTERISTICS OF BUCKLAND. 
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another question, whether Dr. Buckland and the great 
Minister Sir Robert Peel worked together for this purpose. 
To make this clear to you I must interpolate an anecdote 
of my own personal history. While 1 was Honorary 
Professor of Chemistry at the Royal Institution of Man¬ 
chester, the chair of chemistry at the University of 
Edinburgh became vacant, and for this I was an unsuccess¬ 
ful candidate, though I was second in the running. While 
smarting under this disappointment I received a letter from 
Faraday saying that the University of Toronto in Canada 
had entrusted him with the selection of a Professor of 
Chemistry, and that he nominated me. As there was 
little opening at that time for any chemist in this country, 
I accepted the appointment This was a grief to your 
father, who did not wish me to leave the country. No 
doubt he represented his views to Sir Robert Peel, for at 
this time the latter invited me to pay him a visit at 
Drayton Manor. As 1 had never seen this great states¬ 
man, I was much astonished at the invitation, which of 
course I accepted with much pleasure. On going to 
Drayton Manor I found a large party, including your 
father. Next morning we found that all the neighbouring 
landlords and farmers met at Drayton Manor, and they 
were addressed by Dr, Buckland and by myself, as well 
as by Sir Robert Peel, on the application of science to 
agriculture. Reporters were present, and these speeches 
at the time produced an effect on the public. After 
staying at Drayton Manor for a few days, Sir Robert Peel 
told me that he had wished to form his own opinion of 
me, and that he entirely agreed with Dr. Buckland that I 
should not take a foreign Professorship, offering his power¬ 
ful influence to get me employment if I resigned it. It 
is needless to state that I did, and I am proud to say Sir 
Robert Peel honoured me with his friendship till his death. 
On my future visits, which were numerous, to Drayton 
Manor, I generally met your father. On one of these 
occasions the Deanery of Westminster became vacant, 
and your father thought that Sir Robert Peel would offer 
it to him. Though it was not a bishopric, Dr. Buckland 
