1844-54- LORD JEFFREY'S FRIENDSHIP. 227 



MORAL. 



This worthy man no doubt had his distresses, 



But well he could afford to laugh ; 

 He might mistake his millstones for his cheeses, 



But none could ask him for his autograph. 



As the friendship with Lord Jeffrey has been alluded to, 

 one or two extracts from his letters may be given to show 

 the extent of his regard. Feeling assured that had Lord 

 Jeffrey now been in life, a similar testimony would have 

 been given, we feel at liberty to make use of them. In 

 a note acknowledging a paper, possibly his article on 

 " Chemistry and Natural Theology," in the " British Quar- 

 terly Review," Lord Jeffrey says, "I thank you very 

 heartily for your touching and earnest homily. I do not 

 perhaps go entirely along with you in some of your conclu- 

 sions, but I never read anything you write, without feeling 

 myself the better for it, and being made more aware of the 

 leavening and pervading effect of an earnest and fearless 

 charity." The following letter is given entire, with an omis- 

 sion only of some extraneous remarks, of temporary interest. 

 It apparently contains a reference to the article mentioned 

 in the preceding extract : 



"24, Moray Place, Wednesday, i$th March, 1848. 

 " MY DEAR DR. WILSON, I was very sorry to miss you 

 when you took the trouble to call the other day, and if 

 I had not been very seriously unwell ever since, I should 

 have made another attempt to see you before starting for 

 England, as (if at all able for the journey) we now propose 

 doing in the course of to-morrow, not that I have any- 

 thing in the way of business, or of any moment otherwise 

 to talk to you about, but merely to shake hands with you, 



Q 2 



