82 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CIIAI'. H. 



whose accomplishments added much to the enjoyments of his 

 leisure hours. His passionate love of music made it a delight 

 to see the exquisite pleasure their performances gave to him. 

 His manner to ladies whom he respected was peculiarly fasci- 

 nating, and he was a very general favourite with them. Music 

 seemed a necessity of his life ; even the acquirements of his 

 younger sister, then a school-girl, were daily called into requi- 

 sition, and the interval between dinner and tea thus filled up. 

 He expresses the influence it exercised over him to his sister 

 Mary in a letter : " I know this, that I cannot by any word I 

 could learn from others, or by one of my own coining, or by any 

 form or number of words, tell of the passionate love for music I 

 have." 



In the autumn of this year the family circle lost two of its 

 members by his cousin John Eussell's marriage, and subsequent 

 departure for Australia, and his brother Daniel's settlement in 

 London. The loss of the brother who had been his daily com- 

 panion for so long a time, was keenly felt by George. Their 

 intercourse had been more like that of lovers than any other. 

 Community alike of goods and thoughts had been theirs, and 

 henceforward George, with his usual self-forgetfulness, tried to 

 contribute to the happiness of the absent one, in making letters 

 do their best to compensate for the pleasures of confidential con- 

 verse. To this we owe an abundant store of letters, not such as 

 the penny-postage has introduced, but long, well- filled sheets 

 of foolscap, written within and without. 



Before this parting occurred, the examination for the College 

 of Surgeons' Degree was passed. Here is its announcement to 

 Daniel, who was then from home on a visit : 



" 6th September 1837. 



" MINE GOOD BROTHER AND FRIEND, Give me hold of your 

 right hand ; there, shake it right stoutly, and congratulate me 

 on having passed Surgeons' Hall. Ah ! ha ! ha ! it is but two 

 hours since the memorable metamorphosis took place, and here 

 I am ready not merely to perform all kinds of bloody opera- 

 tions, which is small matter, seeing diplomaless folks can haggle 

 wonderfully well, but ready, prepared, and resolved to take fees, 



