298 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. X. 



pleased to observe, he did not doubt I had made special 

 subjects of study. After that it would have been a despis- 

 ing of dignities to have hinted that a sky-rocket was above 

 me, and I proceeded to descant on Roman candles with all 

 the learning and precision, consistent with my attachment 

 to Protestantism, which were to be expected from so expe- 

 rienced a pyrotechnologist as I am known to be. Well ! 

 well ! I did my best, and you did better than my best, and 

 I hand over the civic crown to you." 



To be considered an authority upon things in general 

 was no new experience. Even in the High School he was 

 distinguished from the other boys in regard to this qualifi- 

 cation. His classical master, Mr. Mackay, had a fancy for 

 asking out-of-the-way questions when strangers happened to 

 be present, to impress them with the fund of information 

 possessed by his pupils. Soon perceiving George Wilson's 

 fitness to do him credit in this respect, he used to call out 

 at the appearance of visitors, " Wilson, make ready ! " 



After his appointment as Professor, his fellow-citizens 

 seemed to look on him as their storehouse of knowledge, 

 and very peculiar were often the demands made on him. 

 While waiting for an audience, a gentleman one day in- 

 formed the Museum-assistant of the purport of his visit, 

 and was assured, in reply, there was no probability that Dr. 

 Wilson could solve his difficulty. The assurance was vain, 

 "For," urged the inquirer, "he knows everything." The 

 belief of this man seemed one generally held, and certainly 

 not without cause, for few applied in vain, and the assist- 

 ance was given so cheerfully and readily as to leave an 

 impression that he himself was the party under obligation. 

 Once, while in London on Museum business, he was amused 

 at being hailed on entering the Government office, " O, 

 here's Wilson, he '11 be able to tell us;" and so the puzzle 



