276 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. X. 



pinnacles, and gazing on the desolation and usurpation 

 below. A flock of merry swallows wheel about the battle- 

 ments, darting out and in between the poor ghosts without 

 touching them. 



" The garden is open to all genteel people, so that / walk 

 through it boldly. A genteel cat paid me a visit in the 

 place, and after salutations with its wreathed tail, passed on. 

 Of another visitor, a large tame rabbit, I am a little doubt- 

 ful that he had a right of entrance. He looked at me some- 

 what suspiciously with his great bright eyes, but I suppose 

 he intended only to eat the weeds. He was well dressed, 

 better than myself, a handsome fur cloak, and other things, 

 as the old writers say, ' conform.' My greatness was ac- 

 knowledged yesterday in a highly satisfactory way. A clown 

 walked into the garden straight up to me, and begged to 

 know ' if I selled any berries 1 ' " 



A daily drive in the beautiful neighbourhood diversified 

 such pleasures. One day, finding that no newspapers could 

 be obtained in the little town, he drove to Galashiels, about 

 five miles distant, and after purchasing a copy of the " Scots- 

 man," proceeded to read it on the way home. "This is 

 decidedly worth a penny," he said to his sister ; " read that." 

 What she read was a notice of his appointment as Professor 

 to the newly-founded chair of Technology. The official 

 document apprising him of it reached by a later post. 

 Though it took him by surprise at the time, he had been 

 aware such a step was in contemplation. It was suggested 

 first by the professors in the Edinburgh University, to whom 

 it seemed more advisable to have the director of the New 

 Museum amenable to their laws, than to have in him one 

 who might set up rival claims as a public teacher, with a 

 salary from Government, and valuable museums at his 

 disposal. This recommendation was approved by the 



