28 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. II. 



which was liked is now beloved, and that which was dis- 

 liked is now abhorred. The pleasure of school-boy life was 

 in a great measure the result of a consciousness of animal 

 life ; the feeling of being a living creature, as Moore has 

 beautifully expressed it in 'Lalla Rookh,' is sufficient to 

 give happiness ; but when sixteen or seventeen has arrived, 

 along with the striking and rapid development of the body, 

 the mind also increases in all its capabilities. With what 

 different feelings do I now look on objects calculated to 

 excite strong emotions. What rapturous feelings of delight 

 are excited in my heart by the contemplation of the 

 ' Beautiful,' whether it be the beautiful in physical or 

 mental conformation, or in composition, elocution, poetry, 

 or means to an end. Whatever can claim title to the term 

 beautiful in my estimation, awakens in my heart feelings of 

 uncontrollable emotion. How delightedly do I gaze on 

 works of art or design, such as Martin's or Turner's or the 

 sculpture of the renowned masters, the Medicean Venus, or 

 the Graces of Canova. How rapturously and passionately 

 do I dwell on beautiful poetry, or the wild imaginative 

 works of rare genius ; and how pleasing it is to contemplate 

 God's provision in this world ! So great an ecstasy of hap- 

 piness have I felt from the above-mentioned causes, that it 

 seemed that death could be the only termination of feelings 

 which were utterly opposed to the daily occurrences of the 

 world. But in sad subjects as much are my feelings 

 deepened in intensity : the cries of distress, the moanings 

 of anguish, break on my heart far more acutely, and sink 

 into my heart far deeper, than they ever did heretofore ; 

 and the prospect of evil and misery, and sin and woe, 

 affects me much more powerfully than it did of old. In 

 short, now my mind is much more developed than two years- 

 ago, and can ascend and descend much more widely than it 



