126 LIFE OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. VI. 



less sort of thing, and, like Falstaff's honour, pays no debts, 

 purchases no commodities. 



"We shall therefore waive the subject, and talk of other 

 matters. You are glad to think my old spirits are returning, 

 and health and ability with them, and wish to know my 

 plans and projects. Now I am so famous at castle-building, 

 and have so often been totally disappointed in the realization 

 of them, that I seldom talk now of what I am about to do ; 

 moreover, everything so completely depends on my health 

 improving, that, quite unable to foresee the issue of that, I 

 am the more inclined to ' sit still and keep silence.' I pro- 

 pose, however, in summer, to give a special course, addressed 

 chiefly to the senior students and medical men, on animal 

 chemistry, a subject of great importance, at which I have 

 been diligently labouring all the winter. I shall bring before 

 them a new and highly important branch of chemistry, never 

 properly studied in this country. The medical men them- 

 selves are very anxious about it, and it was the solicitation 

 of others that first urged me to it. My own tastes lead me 

 to other departments, but poverty precludes their prosecu- 

 tion at present, and this is really as rich and noble a field as 

 any, and grows every day more interesting to me. I have 

 been analysing all winter, and have not a few original obser- 

 vations collected together. I am sure I shall be able to give 

 a very interesting course, and I shall only lecture three days 

 a week, so as not to overtask myself. Many of the most 

 intelligent medical men have expressed their delight at 

 the proposal, and have promised to attend. If possible, one 

 of the A brethren will lecture with me on alternate days on 

 physiology ; our courses being illustrative and complemen- 

 tary of each other. This is John Goodsir, a very noble 

 fellow, a most excellent and original inquirer, and one 

 of the most amiable and lovable -of men. We are working 



