Memoir of Edward Forbes, F.R.S., late Regius Professor of Natural History in the University of Edinburgh / by George Wilson and Archibald Geikie.

Date:
1861
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Memoir of Edward Forbes, F.R.S., late Regius Professor of Natural History in the University of Edinburgh / by George Wilson and Archibald Geikie. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    “ 15.—Mr. S.; Ingpen’s Instructions in Entomology for Is. 6cl. ; did nothing.” “16.—Mr. S. ; stayed in house; took a walk in Cheapside in the evening.” “17.—Mr. S. ; went to Millwall; plants, insects, stones ; Isle of Dogs ; thunderstorm ; coached home.” “ 18.—Mr. S. ; housed it.” Cullen’s Nosology, it appears from another entry, cost a shilling, and I am afraid was dear at the price, for it was probably never read. Its purchase, however, is significant, as showing that Edward Forbes was early in July looking forward to exchanging Art for Medicine as a profession. Homer and Virgil had likewise a prospec- tive professional value for him, as keeping up his know- ledge of Greek and Latin ; but their literary interest was probably still greater. It was to Literature, indeed, next to Art, that he devoted most of his time in London. Natural History, as he then especially loved to study it, among its living objects, in the open air, could not be prosecuted in the Great City, so, when tired of handling the pencil, he took up the pen and became a litterateur. The most impassioned entry in the journal is the follow- ing, under August 20th :—“Mr. S.; my first writing in print hi the Mirror, but rather blundered by printer; walked all Oxford Street; west part not so fine as east. Hyde Park ; home by Strand ; sent another to Limbird [the publisher of the Mirror], ‘ El ultimo suspiro del Moro ; wrote out The Tulip also for him ; bought a new hat for twelve shillings ; what’s a Pic-Nic ? Whether the new hat was bought on the strength of the expected income which his writings should bring