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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    town, and go at once to Edinburgh and do the course, getting Huxley to finish my labours here, and Bentley to do the same at King’s College. In the meantime, this state of suspense is intolerable.” At last he reached the goal. The Professorship of Natural History in the University of Edinburgh was finally conferred upon him. It came somewhat suddenly in the end, so much so, that he “ was forced,” he said, “ to leave at a moment’s notice.” Writing of these movements to Professor Ramsay, he remarks :—“ There were strong endeavours made for the other candidates, but I got in comfortably and speedily, and wished then to have been permitted to have finished my summer’s work in London—an arrange- ment of which the [Edinburgh] professors were ap- provers. But the Town-Council, though the chair was a Crown one, resolved to have a finger in the pie, and had one very good for me, by unexpectedly memorializing the Home Office in my favour, a proceeding which probably gave a good excuse for setting aside the other applicants without ceremony. The Provost came to London, and contrived to get matters so arranged, in spite of me, that I was desired to go and take the summer duties at once, and to make the best arrangements I could for the London summer courses. With a house on my hand till August, many tilings to do, and a very doubtful prospect for the summer beginning so long after usual time, I did my best to oppose. ... As it was, an interim arrangement was made that Huxley should finish my School of Mines’ ‘Principles’ course, and Bentley the King’s College lectures. I had a long sit with Mr. Cardwell, and have done mv best to promote the interests of the School and Survey.”
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