290 Biographical Account of DR WILSON, 



His two eldest sons, who had by this time entered upon a 

 course of liberal education, not long after took upon them the 

 further enlargement and improvement of the letter-foundery ; and, 

 before dismissing this topic, it deserves to be mentioned, that Mr 

 WILSON lived to such .an advanced age, as to enjoy in the most 

 feeling manner the reward of his early diligence and excellent 

 example, in seeing the business rising in their hands to the high- 

 est reputation, not only in these kingdoms, but in foreign coun- 

 tries. 



In 1763, when upon a visit at St Andrew's, an honorary de- 

 gree in medicine was conferred upon him by his Alma Mater. 



Among the objects which now occupied him in the Observa- 

 tory, his former labours towards improving the reflecting tele- 

 scope were resumed, and pursued for a considerable length of 

 time, with a view of obtaining some certain method of giving the 

 parabolic figure to the great speculum. These trials were made 

 upon a variety of metals, comparatively of a small diameter, and 

 focal distance ; but he regarded them only as preliminary ones, 

 and had always in contemplation to engage with apertures of 

 much greater dimensions. He was often heard to regret, that 

 no crowned head, or wealthy association, ever thought of patro- 

 nising an attempt to construct some vast telescope, to be em- 

 ployed in making discoveries in the Moon or Planets, or in ex- 

 ploring the Heavens ; and, it is more than probable, that if his 

 own means had been less circumscribed, he would of himself 

 have attempted something of this kind. The more recent la- 

 bours, and brilliant success, of the exceUent Dr HERSCHEL, have 

 fully shewn that such suggestions were by no means romantic ; 

 and the writer of this account, who has had the happiness of be- 

 ing well acquainted with both these men, has often remarked a 

 striking resemblance in their character and turn of mind. 



In 1769, Dr WILSON made that discovery concerning the so- 

 lar spots, of which he has treated in the Philosophical Transac- 



