450 MEMOIR OF JOHN WILSON. 



the place of that stately bearing. His step, that once seemed to 

 ignore the ground beneath his feet, was feeble and unsteady. He 

 no longer had the manner of one who challenged the inroads of 

 time. In these moments he presented a serene and beautiful picture 

 of calm and o-enial old afire. He had not lost his interest in outward 

 things nor yet in those of literature. He writes the subjoined play- 

 ful note to his son Blair, or rather causes it to be written. The 

 contents of it are evidence of how he intends to occupy his time : — 



" "Woodburn, Dalkeith, 4th December, 1851. 



" My dear Blair : — Anne's* fair hand holds the pen. The sup- 

 ply of books was most acceptable. The volume of Pascal was right ; 

 but I see there are two others by the same translator, viz., vol. 1st, 

 'Provincial Letters;' vol. 2d, 'Miscellaneous Letters.' Have you a 

 translation of Cicero's ' De Finibus ?' Is there a volume on Philoso- 

 phy by Price or Dring ? also by one Dymond, a Quaker ? also by 

 one Oswald, a Scotchman ? Sir William Drummond's 'Academical 

 Questions?' That vol. of Lord Jeffrey's collected works containing 

 a Review of Sir William Drummond ? That vol. of Lord Jeffrey's 

 w r orks containing a Review of Bishop Warburton ? Send the above 

 to my brother Robert. Come out, if convenient, on Saturday. 

 Yours affectionately, John Wilson. 



" (Signed by order of the Presbytery.) 



"P. S. — You may give my regards to Mary, and perhaps to 

 Gordon, — Golly,f Adel, Pa, Charles Dickens, and the young lady. 



"John Wilson." 



He also kept himself au courant with public affairs by reading the 

 journals of the day. His political ardor was not so much abated as 

 to prevent him from expressing his sentiments with his' usual ani- 

 mation ; and he found an opportunity of giving one last memorable 

 proof of his independence and magnanimity of spirit in favor of an 

 illustrious political adversary. In 1852 the representation of the 

 city of Edinburgh became vacant by the dissolution of Parliament. 

 There were three candidates, and one of them was Thomas Babing- 

 ton Macaulay. During the summer the Professor was more than 

 usually feeble, seldom taking exercise out of doors, but preferring 



* His niece, the eldest daughter of Mr. E. 8. Wilson, 

 t His five grandchildren. 



