340 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. XI. 



Retiring to the country during the few weeks' interval 

 between the winter and summer sessions, he for the last 

 time visited his spring resort. Dr. Gladstone, to whom 

 the following letter is addressed, had shortly before been 

 appointed as one of the Commissioners for the inspection 

 of lighthouses : 



" BRIDGE OF ALLAN, April 20, 1859. 



" MY DEAR LIGHT, BUOYANT, AND BEACONAL ROYAL 

 COMMISSIONER, From the moment I set foot in Edin- 

 burgh on my return, till three minutes past four o'clock, 

 Greenwich time, yesterday, when the guard whistled, the 

 bell rang, the engine snorted, and the train ' for the North ' 

 started, I have not known what the feeling of rest was. 

 When one piece of work was completed, instead of the trum- 

 pets playing ' See the Conquering Hero comes,' the drum- 

 major, or some other noisy fellow, shouted out, ' Silence in 

 the ranks.' Order of the Day, ' G. W. to be in two places 

 at once, to do three things at the same time, to have as 

 many hands as a Hindu god, and all his Sabbaths to be 

 merely Sundays.' By command. 



" In consequence of this order I have been showing the 

 Museum to the Duke of Argyle's family, whilst I was giving 

 evidence in a court of law on the nature of sea-water, and 

 examining the candidates for an agricultural diploma, and 

 visiting the glass-works with my class, and lecturing to the 

 assembled teachers of Glasgow, and studying calico, printing 

 with Mr. Walter Crum, and writing certificates for my class, 

 and adjudging prizes, and reading a paper to the Royal 

 Society of Edinburgh on Cavendish, and paying away lots 

 of money ; besides many other things too numerous to 

 mention. 



" In sober seriousness, I have seemed for the last three 

 weeks to hear a little imp constantly dinning in my ear 



