52 MEMOIR OF JOHN WILSON. 



silk stockings, which he had very carefully drawn over the coarse 

 woollen walking stockings which he wore usually ; his strong shoes 

 he still retained ! 



" He told us one evening that he imagined he had a taste for, and 

 might become proficient in music, and that he would commence to 

 practise the French horn ! which he did accordingly, commencing 

 after we had broken up for the night, which was generally long after 

 twelve. Some days after, old Dr. Jenner, one of the Fellows, ac- 

 costed me with piteous tones and countenance : ' Oh, Southwell ! do, 

 for pity's sake, use your influence with Wilson to choose some 

 other time for his music-lessons ; I never get a wink of sleep after 

 he commences !' I accordingly spoke to him ; he seemed quite sur- 

 prised that his dulcet notes could have disturbed his neighbors ; 

 but he was too good-natured to persevere, and, as far as I know, 

 his musical talents were no further cultivated. Being a Master of 

 Arts, he was no longer subject to college discipline, and might 

 have, if he wished, accompanied his horn with a big drum ! One 

 of his great amusements was to go to the 'Angel Inn,' about mid- 

 night, when many of the up and down London coaches met ; there 

 he used to preside at the passengers' supper-table, carving for them, 

 inquiring all about their respective journeys, why and wherefore 

 they were made, who they were, etc. ; and in return, astonishing 

 them with his wit and pleasantry, and sending them off wondering 

 who and what he could be ! He frequently went from the ' Angel' 

 to the ' Fox and Goose,' an early ' purl and gill' house, where he 

 found the coachman and guards, etc., preparing for the coaches 

 which had left London late at night ; and there he found an audi- 

 ence, and sometimes remained till the college-gates were opened, 

 rather (I believe) than rouse the old porter, Peter, from his bed to 

 open for him expressly. It must not be supposed, that in these 

 strange meetings he indulged in intemperance; no such thing ; he 

 went to such places, I am convinced, to study character, in which 

 they abounded. I never saw him show the slightest appearance 

 even of drink, notwithstanding our wine-drinking, suppers, punch, 

 and smoking in the common room, to very late hours. I never 

 shall forget his figure, sitting with a long earthen pipe, a great tie 

 wig on ; those wigs had descended, I fancy, from the days of Addi- 

 son (who had been a member of our College), and were worn by 

 us all (in order, I presume, to preserve our hair and dress from 



