228 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. IX. 



to thank you for the very striking, courageous, and useful 

 paper you were good enough to send me ; and to assure 

 you (though I feel I can do that better in this way than to 

 your face) that I have a very sincere admiration for your 

 gifts and attainments ; and, if you will allow me to say it, a 

 very true affection for the many loveable traits I have dis- 

 covered in your nature. The gentle and magnanimous 

 cheerfulness with which you bear continual sufferings, and 

 the contentment with which you have accepted a position 

 which every one must feel to be inadequate to your merits, 

 have made a deep impression on me from the first time 

 I had the honour of your acquaintance ; and I really 

 cannot resist this opportunity of saying, both that I 

 shall be proud to learn that you think the offer of my 

 friendship worthy of your acceptance, and beg you to 

 believe that there are few things which would gratify me so 

 much as to be enabled at any time to render you any 

 service. 



" I am not without fear that you will think all this very 

 intrusive and impertinent and yet I hope not. At all 

 events, I really could not help it, and I am sure have been 

 as far as possible from any purpose of vexing or offending 



you I hope this vernal-looking weather will tempt 



you soon to your pleasant retreat, and that we shall all 

 meet at Craigcrook in improved health before the end of 

 May ! Meantime, believe me always, really and truly, very 

 affectionately yours, F. JEFFREY." 



This warmth of regard continued unabated, and it may 

 be supposed, met with a ready response. In January, 

 1850, George writes to Dr. Cairns, "You will have heard 

 of Lord Jeffrey's death? a great blow to me, for I had 

 got to love him, and feel a very strong affection* for him. 



