1855- PETITION FOR A GOWN. 281 



debtor. For, to tell the truth, I am not without a selfish 

 interest in the matter ; the party for whom I beg being one 

 for whom, as I will honestly confess, I have a regard, I will 

 not say greater, deeper, more romantic, more self-denying 

 than I have for any one else, but still, as my heart acknow- 

 ledges, a regard of a totally different kind from that ex- 

 perienced for all other persons in the world. Yet this 

 peculiarly beloved person, whom some day I hope to com- 

 mend to your indulgent kindness, is not good-looking, nor 

 handsome, nor graceful, nor stately (a foot shorter than 

 John), nor attractive in any way; but nevertheless, and in 

 spite of the poverty which would make most gownless per- 

 sons an object of dislike, I have for years, more than I care 

 to mention, clung to the unfortunate, and now take courage 

 to beg a gown for my companion since childhood. 



" To prevent mistakes, please address, ' Gown for Dr. 

 George Wilson, Professor of Technology, University of 

 Edinburgh.' I have been begging for myself; the Queen, 

 excellent Sovereign, has sent me her commission, and I am 

 now Professor George." 



A few months later he writes to a friend in London, who 

 had attained a similar dignity, " I longed to ask you how 

 you liked your gown. I seldom wear mine. Since I left 

 my native hills and my kilts behind me, I find pantaloons 

 come more natural. Do you wear caps? I do not. Do 

 you favour curls or bandeaux? I allow a few curls au 

 nature!. An apron, I feel, would not come amiss when 

 acids are splashing about, but I have not ventured on one 

 in public. Is it the case that you wear a coral necklace 

 and bracelets of students' hair 1 I confess to a fur boa, but 

 otherwise cultivate a severe simplicity in my attire, eschewing 

 all tartan, though not, you may suppose, without a sigh." 



One more jeu cTesprit before proceeding to notice the 



