213 MEMOIR OF JOHN WILSON. 



" I have only to add, that supposing it possible that malice 

 might have some slight ground for some of the stories which have 

 been circulated, I am positive, from Mr. Wilson's own declaration, 

 and that of those who best know him, that he is altogether inca- 

 pable either of composing parodies upon Scripture, of being a 

 member of any association for forwarding infidelity or profaneness, 

 or affording countenance otherwise to the various attacks which 

 have been made against Christianity. To my own certain knowl- 

 edge he has, on the contrary, been in the habit of actively exerting 

 his strong powers, and that very recently, in the energetic defence 

 of those doctrines wdiich he has been misrepresented as selecting 

 for the subject of ridicule. 



" I must apologize to your Lordship for intruding on your time 

 such a long letter, which, after all, contains little but what must 

 have occurred to every one of the honorable and worthy members 

 of the elective body. If I am anxious for Mr. Wilson's success on 

 the present occasion, it is because I am desirous to see his high 

 talents and powers of elocution engaged in the important task of 

 teaching that philosophy which is allied to and founded upon reli- 

 gion and virtue. 



" I have the honor, etc., " Walter Scott." 



The day of success at last arrived ; and Mrs. Wilson thus com- 

 municates the joyful news to her sister : — 



"I am sure you will rejoice to hear that Mr. Wilson was yester- 

 day elected Professor of Moral Philosophy, and that in spite of all 

 the machinations of his enemies, the Whigs. He had twenty-one 

 votes out of thirty, — a majority of twelve, which out of so small a 

 number is pretty considerable. Poor 'Billy Balmer' took such an 

 interest in the thing that he went yesterday morning and stayed 

 near the scene of action till it was all over, and then came puffing 

 down with a face of delight to tell me that ' Master was ahead a 

 good deal.' " 



A few days later she writes in a strain of high triumph. Like 

 a good and brave wife she regards her husband's enemies as hers, 

 and under the summary designation of Whigs they come in for a 

 proper share of her notice : — 



