LIFE AT OXFORD. 51 



order to raise a debate. It was evident that (like Dr. Johnson) he had 

 not determined which side of the argument he would take upon the 

 question he had raised. Once he had decided that point, he opened 

 with a flow of eloquence, learning, and wit, which became gradually 

 an absolute torrent, upon which he generally tided into the small 

 hours. No interruption, no difference of opinion, however warmly 

 expressed, could ruffle for a moment his imperturbable good temper. 

 He was certainly one of the most charming social companions it has 

 ever been my lot to meet, although I have known some of the most 

 agreeable and witty that Ireland has produced. There was a ver- 

 satility of talent and eloquence (not of ojnnions) in Wilson, such as 

 I have never seen equalled. I have heard him with equal cleverness 

 argue in favor and disparagement of constitutional, absolute, and 

 democratic forms of government; one evening you would suppose 

 hirn to be (as he really teas) a most determined, unbending Tory; 

 the next he assumed to be a thorough "Whig of the old school ; on 

 a third, you would conclude him to be a violent and dangerous 

 democrat ! You could never suppose that the same man could 

 uphold and decry, with equal talent, propositions so opposite : and 

 yet he did, and was equally persuasive and conclusive upon each. 

 In the same manner with religious discussions : to-day there could 

 be no more energetic and able ' defender of the faith ;' to-morrow 

 he would advance Voltaireism, Hobbism, and Gibbonism enough to 

 induce those who did not know him to conclude that he was a 

 thorough unbeliever. He was, on the contrary, of a highly pious 

 and religious mind. I may sum up his characteristics, as they ap- 

 peared to me, in a few words : simplicity, kindness, learning, with 

 chivalry ; for certainly his views and sentiments were highly chiv- 

 alrous, and had he lived in those days, he would have been found 

 among the foremost of ' les preux chevaliers.' 



" The established rule of our common room was, that no one 

 should appear there without being in full evening dress ; non-com- 

 pliance involved a fine of one guinea, which Wilson had more than 

 once incurred and paid. Having one day come in in his morning 

 garb, and paid down the fine, he asked, ' What then do you con- 

 sider dress ?' ' Silk stockings,' etc., etc., was the answer. The next 

 day came Wilson, looking very well satisfied with himself, and with 

 us all. ' Now,' he cried, 'all is right, I hope to have no more fines 

 to pay ; you see I have complied with the rules,' pointing to his 



