I844-54- THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 1 99 



another canvas." In it, too, is to be found a specimen of 

 his skill in popularizing a difficult subject, while describing 

 the nervous system, to which Dr. Reid had devoted much 

 of his research. Abundant evidence was given to the 

 author that his aims in writing Dr. Reid's " Life " had been 

 fulfilled. Private letters from medical men and others show 

 that they who sow in tears, bearing precious seed, return 

 bringing their sheaves with them. The journals of the day 

 contained notices highly favourable, with one exception, 

 viz. the " Westminster Review," which took deadly umbrage 

 at its religious tone. From the author of the "Life of 

 Cavendish " this periodical hoped for better things ; but 

 over the general public, especially the religious portion of 

 it, nothing that George Wilson wrote exerted a power so 

 winning as this book. A second edition of it has been 

 issued. 



In 1852 there also appeared in the "Traveller's Library" , 

 of Messrs. Longman, the reprint of an article, written at the 

 request of Lord Jeffrey for the " Edinburgh Review ," on 

 " Electricity and the Electric Telegraph." l On its first 

 appearance, this article was generally received as the most 

 clear and vivacious exposition of the subject that had been 

 issued, and considerable additions were made before its 

 separate publication. Lord Jeffrey speaks of it in a private 

 letter as an " admirable rjaper, giving a luminous account of 

 the invention " of the telegraph. A notice of the first edition 

 says, " If any one is destined to open up a royal road to 

 science, it is Dr. Wilson. He is quite matchless in his use 

 of felicitous illustrations, while the hearty, off-hand way in 

 which he carries us along with him, makes us forget that he 

 is dealing with the most abstruse mysteries of science. It 



i "Electricity and the Electric Telegraph, to which is added the 

 Chemistry of the Stars." Longman and Co. 



