92 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. III. 



CHAPTER III. 



A YEAR OF STUDENT LIFE IN EDINBURGH. 



" The pleasure and delight of knowledge and learning, it far surpasseth 

 all other in nature." BACON'S 'Advancement of Learning.' 



A LETTER to Dr. Niven, his friend and companion alike in 

 school and college life, gives particulars as to the purposed re- 

 laxation from labour mentioned in the close of last chapter. Ten 

 days only were available, as his connexion with Dr. Christison's 

 laboratory, as assistant, was about to begin. That the most was 

 made of those few holidays, will be evident from the notice of 

 the excursion in letters which follow, and speak for them- 

 selves : 



To JOHN NIVEN, ESQ., WILLOW GROVE. 



" September 20, 1838. : 



" MY DEAR FRIEND, I very much regretted my being out on 

 the evening you called before you went to the Highlands. In 

 truth, I am so seldom out at untimeous hours, that I do feel 

 annoyed when a chance call finds me out wandering ; and I 

 should have called the next day to testify my anxiety to wish 

 you well in your northern journey, had not all -my doubts, and 

 dreads, and fears, been occupied with the approaching horrors 

 of Chirurgeons' Hall. In truth, I made no visits anywhere, 

 dreading to be asked anything about the unwelcome subject. 

 Now, however, I am relieved from all apprehension, ' from the 

 consummation so devoutly to be wished' having left me learned 



1 The date of this letter ought to l>e 1837, as the facts it contains show. Mistakes 

 as to the year are of very frequent occurrence in early letters, characteristic of the 

 inaptness for numbers in George Wilson. When there is no doubt as to the correct 

 date, it will henceforth be altered without referring to the blunder. 



