"My only painless moments," he says, "were when lecturing." In this state of prostration and disease, the indefatigable man undertook to write the 'Life of Edward Forbes'; and he did it, like everything he undertook, with admirable ability.

He proceeded with his lectures as usual.

To an association of teachers he delivered a discourse on the educational value of industrial science.

After he had spoken to his audience for an hour, he left them to say whether he should go on or not, and they cheered him on to another half-hour's address.

"It is curious," he wrote, "the feeling of having an audience, like clay in your hands, to mould for a season as you please.