288 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. X. 



of worship for the previous ten years and the hospital 

 adjoining, were secured, and in them stores of specimens 

 quickly began to accumulate. As no laboratory or lecture- 

 room was provided, Dr. Wilson continued to occupy those 

 he had already in use. His class was taught under great 

 disadvantages, the lecture-room being most inconvenient, 

 and at some distance from the temporary depository of 

 museum specimens. The introductory lecture was the only 

 one given within the University walls for the first four 

 sessions. The class was not imperative on the University 

 students, and those who attended represented the profes- 

 sions of " general manufacturer, architect, engineer, farmer, 

 merchant, baker, tanner, sugar-planter, sugar-refiner, teacher, 

 doctor, and clergyman, besides young men entered simply 

 as students, but chiefly training for industrial callings ; as 

 well as retired military, medical, and legal officers of the 

 East India Company's Service, and amateurs." In spite of 

 all drawbacks, above forty attended the first course, of 

 whom six returned the following year to continue the study 

 of the subjects included in the syllabus. Three years were 

 required to go over its contents : the first course being 

 devoted to Mineral, the second to Vegetable, and the third 

 to Animal Technology. After preliminary special lectures, 

 that of Mineral Technology branched out into a series of 

 lectures on Fuel : Building Materials of Mineral Origin ; 

 Glass and Glass-making ; Pottery ; Metallotechny ; Electro- 

 techny ; and Magneto-techny. Under the three latter heads 

 were comprised the working of metals, and electricity in its 

 industrial relations. 



It was fervently hoped that in this new sphere, George 

 Wilson would enjoy greater ease. His health had so long 

 withstood the ravages of disease, with little apparent detri- 

 ment to his general vigour, that many anticipations were 



