306 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. X. 



Besides making purchases, he had a "begging cap, which," 

 he says, " since I was made Director of this Museum, I have 

 industriously (and industrially) worn." No one was safe 

 from the begging cap, yet no one grumbled at the beggar, 

 but rather encouraged him to continue to wear it, and 

 by its successes to minister to industrial progress and 

 happiness. 



On returning to town he reports all as " much the better 

 of the rustication. I certainly feel stronger, and though 

 using all precaution, have been assuring myself of increased 

 strength, by visits to Hat Factories, and Comb-makers' 

 premises." 



In the opening lecture for the Session of 1856-7, while 

 defining Technology as " the sum or complement of all the 

 sciences which either are, or may be made, applicable to 

 the industrial labours or utilitarian necessities of man," he 

 dwells on those most closely related to the recurring urgencies 

 of daily labour, and, therefore, of pre-eminent importance. 

 The lecture appeared in the " Edinburgh Philosophical 

 Magazine" for January 1857, with the title " On the Physical 

 Sciences which form the Basis of Technology." It contains 

 beautiful personifications of some of the sciences, while 

 abounding in practical scientific details. Of these pictures 

 we take one : " Geology is half of the heavens, half of the 

 earth. She stands an imperial queen, with her head among 

 the stars, and her tresses are white with the snows of ages ; 

 but her feet, graceful and quick, are beneath the young grass, 

 and are wet with the dews of to-day. Her hands are often 

 raised to shade her eyes, as she gazes through space to 

 exchange greetings with each sister-presence in the worlds 

 around. But her fingers are as often busy with homely 

 cares, and with bended forehead she traces for the tenant- 

 lord of her estate the best track for his railway, and channel 



