of instruction; but the people must come forward to profit by the
opportunity thus afforded, and they must themselves continue the
movement once begun. Those who have already started in the pursuit of
science, and tasted its sweets, require no exhortation to persevere;
but if these pages should fall into the hands of any one at an hour
for the first time stolen from his needful rest after his day's work
is done, I ask of him to reward me (who have written them for his
benefit at the like hours) by saving threepence during the next
fortnight, buying with it Franklin's Life, and reading the first page.
I am quite sure he will read the rest; I am almost quite sure he will
resolve to spend his spare time and money, in gaining those kinds of
knowledge which from a printer's boy made that great man the first
philosopher, and one of the first statesmen of his age. Few are
fitted by nature to go as far as he did, and it is not necessary to
lead so perfectly abstemious a life, and to be so rigidly saving of
every instant of time. But all may go a good way after him, both in
temperance, industry, and knowledge, and no one can tell before he
tries how near he may be able to approach him."

We may here mention that in 1825, Lord Brougham was elected Lord
Rector of the University of Glasgow; his opponent, Sir Walter Scott,
lost the election by the casting vote of Sir James Mackintosh, in
favour of Lord Brougham.

Among the originators of the London University, Lord Brougham occupies
a foremost rank, and partly by the aid of his indefatigable talents,
that establishment was opened, in 1828, within seventeen months from
the day on which the first stone was laid.

Early in the year 1827 was established "the Society for the Diffusion