134 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. III. 



ink-bottle, and a curved glass tube. In my next epistle, I 

 hope to tell you more about this ; meanwhile I am very glad, 

 with all my disappointments and labours, to have met with 

 some success. Enough of chemistry." 



" March 1st. 



" I am glad you were pleased with the chemical dissertations. 

 I shall give you more of them, for I give you all credit for sym- 

 pathy, but I cannot add very much definite as to results. The 

 compound I have got is a very curious one, and throws very 

 great light on the constitution of a supposed element, bromine, 

 which I am at present trying to decompose. Mr. K. Kemp is 

 much interested in the inquiry, but I dare say nothing yet as 

 to the results, for they may be very tedious, and complicated 

 processes must be gone through before any conclusion can be 

 safely drawn. I have to regret that I must almost entirely re - 

 linquish chemistry for the next two months, to study for exami- 

 nations, and revel in the delights of anatomy and practice of 

 physic. You must not contrast your situation and mine as you 

 do years of labour, and months rich in discoveries. Eemem- 

 ber that you have fairly begun, have got all the machinery set 

 in play, which can ' lead on to fortune/ You are engaged in 

 purely professional labours, and the result is very much in your 

 own hands. Now, I have not even entered on the threshold 

 of my profession. I am obliged to study what I abhor, and 

 cannot get pursuing the branches that I wish ; and even if I 

 could, I would not, my dear brother, make discoveries so very 

 plentifully as you think they may be made, and, like yourself, 

 I must imperiously mind the main chance, and alchemist or 

 no, study the art of gold-making. Don't think I am proving 

 myself to be miserable not at all; I'm content and willing 

 to wait and hope the best, but the future is very dim and 

 doubtful 



" I read, with very great pleasure and sympathy, of your 

 kneeling at the altar of St. Paul's. I cannot understand the 

 religion which mingles not with every act and feeling, or con- 

 ceive of those who dismiss God with the morning and evening 

 prayer, as too pure or holy for the affairs of this busy world. 

 The busy world may perhaps be the scene of many actions 



