The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-21 00:00:00

DEATH OF PROFESSOR E. FORBES.

We are satisfied that no event which has happened for
some years will excite more surprise, and create a more
profound feeling of grief in the scientific world, than the
demise of Professor Edward Forbes, on Saturday, in the
39th year of his age. When a student in Edinburgh
twenty years ago he gained distinction for his ardent
cultivation of the different branches of Natural History,
and was the centre of a group of young men, all of whom
have since risen to eminence. After visiting Norway,
Sweden, France, Germany, and other continental coun-
tries, in order to extend his knowledge of Natural His-
tory, he gave a course of lectures en his favourite science
in the extra-academical school of this city. But hearing
of a scientific expedition about to proceed to Asia
Minor, under the auspices of Government, be was
induced to join it in the capacity of Naturalist.
During his absence the Professorship of Botany
in King's College, London, became vacant, and
his friends applied for it in his name. He was appointed,
and returning a few days afterwards immediately
entered upon the duties of the chair. His vast know-
ledge of natural objects was soon appreciated, and he
became Secretary and Curator to the Geological Society
of London, when he commenced arranging the Museum
of that institution, and thus extended his knowledge of
Fossils and of Palaeontology. Here also he began to
form friendships with all the most distinguished gco
logists and men of science in the metropolis, and of
which probably no man living could boast of a larger, num-
ber„ When the Government School of Mines and Designs,
and the Economic Museum in conjunction with it was
founded by Sir E. de la Beeche, Forbes was placed at
the head of the Palaeontological department. To him
the Museum is indebted for the laborious arrangement
arid display of the British Fossils, now seen in the mag-
nificent institution in Jermyn-street, London ; and
science is no less indebted to him for a series of splen-
didly illustrated Monographs of new species. To
enter, however, at any length upon his numerous
contributions to science, or on a description of his
well-known works on the Star Fishes of Britain, his
British Conchology, and the many papers he published
in the scientific transactions and journals of the
day, is, in this necessarily hurried sketch, obviously
impossible. It is enough to say that when the veteran
Jamieson died last April, Forbes was universally recog-
nised as the only man in Great Britain who was worthy
to succeed him. The writer of this hasty sketch knows
that the Chair of Natural History, in the University of
Edinburgh, was with Forbes the highest object of am-
ition' and that, had his life been spared, it would
have been dedicated to extending its already great
reputation, so that no school, probably, in the civil-
ised world would have equalled it in greatness. With
this view he had formed gigantic and most able
plans, which through his great influence with the Go-
vernment would have been liberally supported, and we
have no doubt ultimately carried out. But, arrived at
the culminating point of his ambition, and at the com-
mencement of his long-matured schemes of usefulness he
has, by a mysterious dispensation of Providence, been
removed from us, when we were beginning to appreciate
his worth. A. chronic disease, contracted when is the
East, re-excited and rendered violent by a severe cold
caught last autumn on a geological excursion, and which
burst out with uncontrollable fury about 10 days ago,
was the immediate cause of his premature death.—
Caledortiarr Mercury.

Mails for the United States and British North Ame-
rica will be made up in the General Post-office on the
morning of the 22d inst., on the evening of the 28th
inst., ou the evening of the Bth proximo, and on every
alternate Friday afterwards, to be sent via Liverpool.
SCOTTISH EXHIBITION OY ARCHITECTURAL ARTS AND
MANUFACTURES.—The Glasgow branch of the Architec-
tural Institute of Scotland have undertaken an exhibi-
tion of arts and manufactures connected with architec-
ture. They have purchased greund, and erected galle-
ries as exhibition rooms, and have converted a house
on the property to serve as a home for the institute. The
council aro desirous of promoting a love of art in that
part of Scotland, and of extending the means of
pin pro-
curing
i
educa-
tion, and of assisting in the foundation of a permanent
g
museum of architecture, sculpture, painting, and art
manufacture. We need net say that wedl sympathise
contributions of objects of art and manufactures.
a
manufactures.
We understand they
with them in their effhoarvtse,exanpedrwienoucledd
some difficulty in
England, manufacturers espe-
cially
unaware of the field thus
obtaining
appearing contributions
to
be i n
opened up to them in the great manufacturing metro-
polis of Scotland. The Scottish
this enterprise are desirous ofarchitects associated in
promoting a knowledge
j
and the sale of every olectof real merit produced either
at home or abroad ;
andwhilat inviting the contributions
of their English
and
tvoantag promotee
i foreignad brethren, they hope that
the exhibition
may be o
all who may contribute.—The Builder.
.o thetlie success
; and the
council will do their utmostof