1 82 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. VIII. 



the Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation," in order 

 to counteract the views promulgated in that work. Speaking 

 of those lectures, he says to Dr. Cairns, in a letter of July 1 1, 

 1846, " I have too much wrought only at science and litera- 

 ture, hoping thereby to secure a position which would 

 enable me to serve Christ effectually. But many things 

 warn me that my life will be a short one, and that what I 

 can do, must be done swiftly. Here there seems some 

 slight opportunity of doing a little good, and I must not 

 willingly let it pass, or mar it." The lectures were largely 

 attended, and attracted considerable notice at the time. 

 Offers were made by six publishing houses to print them 

 without delay. He felt averse, however, from their appear- 

 ing permanently in the polemical form, and put them aside 

 to be reproduced at a time of leisure, which never came. 

 The severe illness, indeed, induced by the additional labour 

 they gave, made some months of quiet rest in the country 

 indispensable, and fresh literary work pressing on him soon 

 absorbed every leisure moment. 



Occasional lectures in provincial towns were delivered, 

 the number of such requests being truly legion. Of one in 

 Dunbar, in 1846, he says, " From what I saw of the people 

 who attended it, I am satisfied that single lectures are out of 

 the question to miscellaneous audiences, so far as rational 

 instruction is concerned ; nor is it possible to offer a prelec- 

 tion which shall be equally suitable to little boys, young 

 ladies, elderly ditto, clergymen, doctors, farmers, tradesmen, 

 and working people. The thing is preposterous. The 

 utmost that I believe is, that the lecture would do them 

 no harm." 



To no appeals for aid was a more ready assent given than 

 to those from struggling home-mission workers, Sunday or 

 apprentice schools, &c. ; and the careful arrangement of 



