272 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. X. 



ago, but I told no one, no promise having been made me." 

 After mentioning the kind efforts of friends in his favour, 

 without solicitation on his part, he goes on to say, " All this 

 was last April, and then the thing slumbered. . . . After 

 Edward Forbes's death, my health was objected to by some 

 one, and I gave up the slightest hope of the thing, so that 

 the appointment took me wholly by surprise." Inquiries on 

 the part of Government as to who was the person most 

 likely to be acceptable to the general public as Director of 

 the Museum had but one reply, and thus the appointment 

 was made. Coming at a time when his health was more 

 than usually uncertain, Dr. Wilson, before accepting it, con- 

 sulted his medical friends as to his physical ability to fulfil 

 the duties of the directorship, and only did so on their 

 assuring him that his health might in all probability be 

 better than previously, and that it need form no barrier to 

 his undertaking the duties of the post offered him, which 

 seemed to give promise of greater rest, and to call for less 

 exertion. To Dr. Gladstone he writes of it, " Besides the 

 organization and control of a museum of applied Chemistry, 

 it includes what is equivalent to a lectureship on Technology. 

 The attractions in the new appointment are not less of re- 

 sponsibility, concern, and care, but less drudgery in mere 

 elementary teaching, and no night lectures. You, I am 

 sure, will wish me God-speed, and ask our Lord and Master's 

 blessing on a great Educational Scheme, which will either 

 be a great boon or evil to us, but, please God, only and 

 largely the former." 



As in a few months the new duties became more clearly 

 denned, we shall defer allusions to them. The following 

 letter, addressed in May to a scientific friend, gives glimpses 

 at the mainspring of his life : 



" This last year has been very full of calamities in the 



