420 MEMOIR OF JOHN WILSON. 



We shall now follow him through a small portion of the year 

 1845, when he appears to have resumed his work with steady pur- 

 pose, as may be seen by looking at the Magazine for seven consecu- 

 tive months. North's Specimens of the " British Critics" make a 

 noble contribution to that periodical. Those papers, along with 

 too many of equal power and greater interest, have found jealous 

 protection within the ceinture of its pages, and seem destined to a 

 fate which ought only to belong to the meagre works of mediocrity- 

 The eighth number of " British Critics" was written at Elleray, 

 whither he had gone for a few weeks, tempted by a beautiful sum- 

 mer, and the natural longing of his heart to roam about a place full 

 of so many images, pleasant and sad, of the past. The following 

 note to Mr. Gordon refers to this article : 



"Elleray, Wednesday. 



" My dear Gordon : — I am confidently looking for best accounts 

 of dear Mary every day. 



" Pray, attend ! I have sent a long article to Blackwood — ' No. 

 VIII. on Critics,' — about MacFlecnoe, but chiefly the ' Dunciad.' It 

 will be very long — far longer than I had anticipated, or he may 

 wish. It cannot be sent here for correction, and I wish much you 

 would edit it. 



" Blackwood will give it to you when set up — and I hope cor- 

 rected in some measure by the printer — along with the MS. ; and 

 perhaps on Tuesday you may be able to go over it all, and prevent 

 abuses beyond patience. I will trust to you. I also give you power 

 to leave some out, if absolutely necessary. Don't let it be less 

 than thirty-two pages — if the MS. requires more. In short, I wish 

 the article in this number, and all in if possible. If not, I leave 

 omission to your discretion ; but read it all over carefully first, that 

 you may not leave out something referring to something remaining 

 in. ' We ship on the 24th.' Yours ever, in haste for post, 



"J. W." 



In the same year (1847), when the Philosophical Institution was 

 established in Edinburgh, he was elected its first President, and 

 delivered the opening address. To this honorable office he was re- 

 elected by the members every year as long as he lived. 



We have now come to a longer blank, relieved by no letter, by 

 no work. From the autumn of 1845 till that of 1848 there is noth- 



