TVOODVILLE. 115 



room ; but, as befitted a philosopher's sanctuary, its in- 

 tellectual features predominated Like Sir Walter Scott, 

 who used sometimes to write with sunshine on the paper, 

 Mr Wilson held that " light is pleasant,'' and betwixt a 

 southern window and the fire stood the writing table at 

 which most of his work was done. At one end of the 

 room was a much-cherished purchase of his youthful am- 

 bition, the cabinet which eventually held the entomological 

 spoils of nearly half a century; the remaining wall- space 

 being occupied with the works of Cuvier and Lamarck, 

 Dumeril and Bibron, "The British Birds" of Donovan, 

 "The Ornitholooia Toscana" of Savi, "The German Insects" 

 of Panzer, and all the apparatus of a general zoologist. 

 As the genius of the place, from above the mantel-piece 

 flashed down the animated form and fiery eye of Audubon ; 

 and, in his own corner, Wordsworth drooped his heavy 

 brow and sombre face, — surrounded and surmounted by 

 the effigies of Selby, and Cuvier, and Lucien Bonaparte, 

 and other friends and correspondents. 



Within these quiet precincts, and in the society of one 

 whom every day made dearer, the mornings came welcome 

 and the hours passed swiftly. The garden was itself an 

 endless occupation ; and the time not required for literary 

 or scientific labour was absorbed in books. Amidst in- 

 fluences so friendly the heart of our invalid speedily 

 revived. Although he was never to become a Hercules. 



