228 LIFE OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. VI. 



unbroken sleep through pain, and even the repose, such as 

 it was, has been procured only by the nightly use of 

 morphia. Even so late as a week ago, I had to stop in 

 the middle of a lecture, overcome with a severe paroxysm, 

 and go straight home. And what has stood even more 

 in the way of writing, has been the weakness of my eyes, 

 which are easily irritated, and scarcely stand even shaded 

 gaslight, so that I have written generally very hastily, not 

 revelled in my thoughts as I used to do. Nevertheless, 

 if you were to stumble in some night at tea-time on us 

 here, you might find me at my old tricks, retailing some 



jest picked up through the day or but I need 



say no more, you would find me the old fellow, with the 

 old nonsense in my head, cheering the hearts of our 

 much-tried and often sad home-circle. Mary is no worse, 

 and I hope will amend still more ; the rest of us are well. 



" P.S. I hope you are not swallowed up by the earth- 

 quake. Your loving brother, 



GEORGE." 



"March 26, 1842. 



" Yesterday, which was Good Friday, I religiously ob- 

 served by eating a hot cross bun, and enjoyed a holiday 

 from my labours. I had been working double tides all the 

 week with the lectures I spoke of on the calculi, and was 

 fairly worn out with four hours' speaking per diem, not to 

 mention the preparation, etc. But you will be glad to learn 

 that I had an audience overflowing, crammed to the door, 

 and scarcely even standing room to be had, and this for 

 three days consecutively. Several elderly gentlemen at- 

 tended, and said very polite things to me after lecture. The 

 class was most attentive, gave me abundant applause, and 



