1826.] Biographical Account of Dr, Wikon, 329 



made upon a variety of metals, comparatively of a small diame- 

 ter, and focal distance ; but he regarded them only as prelimi- 

 nary 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 patronising an attempt to construct some vast tele- 

 scope, to be employed in making discoveries in the moon or 

 planets, or in exploring the heavens ; and it is more than pro- 

 bable, that if his own means had been less circumscribed, he 

 would of himself have attempted something of this kind. The 

 more recent labours and brilliant success of the excellent Dr. 

 Herschel have fully shown that such suggestions were by no 

 means romantic ; and the writer of this account, who has had 

 the happiness of being 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 solar 

 spots, of which he has treated in the Philosophical Transactions 

 of London for 1774. Not long after he entered upon this new 

 field, the nature of the solar spots was announced by the Royal 

 Society of Copenhagen, as the subject of a prize essay. This 

 induced him to transmit thither a paper written in the Latin 

 language, containing an account of his observations, and of the 

 conclusions drawn from them. In return, he obtained the 

 honourable distinction of a gold medal of near sixteen guineas 

 intrinsic value, having, on its reverse, the figure of Truth pen- 

 dent in the air, holding a wreath in one hand, and in the other a 

 perspective glass, and the motto, Veritati luciferoi. 



As an astronomical observer, he was remarkable for a sharp 

 and clear eye, devoid of all blemish, and which, too, without be- 

 ing liable to fatigue, had long been inured to examine and to 

 judge of small objects in their nicest proportions ; a circum- 

 stance which must have proved of great advantage to him, when 

 employing his sight upon celestial appearances by means of thet 

 telescope; and it required only to know him, to have the fullest 

 assurance of his fidelity in rendering an account of his observa- 

 tions. 



His discovery in regard to the solar spots, though it be gain- 

 ing ground more and more among those most conversant in 

 astronomy, yet, like many other new discoveries, has not 

 escaped its share of opposition. This gave him occasion to 

 publish, in the London Philosophical Transactions for 1783^ 

 the second paper upon that subject, after a silence of near ten 

 years, wherein, upon the authority of many more observations; 

 made in that interval, he obviates objections, and maintains the 

 reality of his discovery, with an entire conviction. The amount 

 of it is, " That the spots are cavities or depressions in that 

 immensely resplendent substance which invests the body of the 



