ABSTRACT
I think that we shall have an attack upon Forbes from the enemy soon. Babington to Balfour, 26 October 1846
Watson maintained friendly relationships with George Combe for thirty years, and with William Hooker for twenty-two years, for they served as mentors to him in phrenology and botany. It was much more difficult for Watson to remain cordial with contemporaries whom he could view as rivals. This difficulty is illustrated by his relationships with Edward Forbes, Charles Cardale Babington and John Hutton Balfour, all a few years younger than him. All three held academic positions, and their relationships with Watson were thus professional ones.1 They were friends with each other, but their relationships with Watson began warmly and gradually cooled.
