44 MEMOIR OF JOHN WILSON. 



the College among the gentlemen-commoners. His father is the 

 best Greek scholar in England, and I have given this yonth the sur- 

 name of Sophocles, a famous Greek tragedian. He has a taste for 

 the Fine Arts, and paints, and plays upon the piano ; but he is the 

 worst hand at both I ever saw or heard. He is good-natured, and 

 a gentleman." 



Another still more genial companion is spoken of in the same 

 letter: — 



" is a young man of large fortune, and still larger prospects, 



so he does not think it worth his while to study much ; but he is 

 naturally very clever ; is an elegant classical scholar, writes good 

 verses, and has very amiable dispositions. He lives in the same 

 stair with me, so we are often together, and I am very fond of him. 

 His cousin is also a clever fellow, has lived long in dashing life in 

 London, and is intimate with Kmnaird, Lamb, Lewis, Moore, and 

 other wits in London ; ' a merrier man, within the limits of becom- 

 ing mirth, I never spent an hour's talk withal.' He delights in 

 quizzical verses, and we are writing together a poem called Magda- 

 len College, which, should we ever complete, I will send to you." 



The journal breaks off here, and we find no more such familiar 

 sketches of " men and manners," but more serious matter, for what- 

 ever bears upon work is treated Avith earnest respect. His obviously 

 methodical study obtained for him that clearness of perception and 

 correctness of knowledge, without which no mind perfectly per- 

 forms its work. Accuracy may in fact be called the foundation and 

 the stronghold of all properly directed mental energy. There is no 

 fault more common than want of accuracy, and none that might be 

 so easily cured. Great intellect never has it, though cleverness may ; 

 and there was no fault of which my father was more intolerant. He 

 often used to say to his children, in a spirit of fun, " You know I am 

 never wrong ? Whatever I state is correct ; whatever I say is right." 

 It was truly the case with regard to his information. 



The early efforts of genius are always interesting, and in his case 

 they are enhanced in value, when it is considered with what they 

 were combined. Very rarely does it happen that the same individ- 

 ual possesses an equal proportion of mental and bodily activity, of 

 intellect and imagination; and the seductions that lie in the way of 

 a youth so gifted, whose path of life is smoothed by fortune, must 

 be taken into account in estimating the use made of his powers. No 



