1 6 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. II. 



George so fully sympathized with the sailor without tobacco, 

 coffee, or friends, that money given to purchase a much 

 coveted copy of Coleridge's " Aids to Reflection," was cheer- 

 fully sacrificed to supply lacking comforts. Nor were books, 

 newspapers, or delicacies forgotten in the frequent visits, 

 till the time of release drew nigh. Then it transpired 

 that so far from possessing the means to reach home, his 

 very clothes were detained for arrears of lodging. This 

 difficulty was speedily surmounted by a subscription raised 

 by George, and with the aid of the Strangers' Friend 

 Society, and private help, thirty shillings and a free passage 

 to London were obtained. To crown all, as it happened 

 that the vessel did not sail till the day beyond that of his 

 exit from the hospital, he was brought home triumphantly 

 as a guest for the night, and next day left with the good 

 wishes of the household. In token of gratitude came a 

 letter from the sailor's sister, in Christ Church, Isle of 

 Wight, addressing the boy in jacket as " Honoured Sir," 

 much to his amusement. A beautiful letter it was. The 

 wanderer had been followed everywhere by the prayers of 

 his mother and sister, and now he was restored to them 

 in peace and safety. George's kindness to this sailor may 

 be taken as a specimen of the liberality that constantly 

 emptied his own purse, and lightened those of his friends. 

 An outer coat with large pockets caused much amusement 

 to all who knew the varied nature of its contents from day 

 to day, while it made them wonder little that the nurses, 

 with whom he was a favourite, declared "they never saw 

 sic a laddie." 



The shock received by George in his first experience of 

 the operating theatre was sufficient to make him shrink 

 from a speedy repetition of such scenes. In a joint family 

 epistle of October 20th, 1832, Daniel says: " Two other 



