He did not experience the despair and agony that Keats did on a like occasion; [1613] though he equally knew that the messenger of death had come, and was waiting for him.

He appeared at the family meals as usual, and next day he lectured twice, punctually fulfilling his engagements; but the exertion of speaking was followed by a second attack of haemorrhage.

He now became seriously ill, and it was doubted whether he would survive the night.

But he did survive; and during his convalescence he was appointed to an important public office--that of Director of the Scottish Industrial Museum, which involved a great amount of labour, as well as lecturing, in his capacity of Professor of Technology, which he held in connection with the office.
From this time forward, his "dear museum," as he called it, absorbed all his surplus energies.

While busily occupied in collecting models and specimens for the museum, he filled up his odds-and-ends of time in lecturing to Ragged Schools, Ragged Kirks, and Medical Missionary Societies.