15-1 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. III. 



a friend like you, and what a host of things I have to tell you, 

 that could not be written, with divers funny jokes and the like, 

 which the occasion no doubt will inspire, and as I'll not bring 

 any of the chemical stuffs, you need have no fear of your nose. 

 I'll bring Euclid, and get lessons in Mathematics and Algebra. 

 I have left mother laughing at the idea of studying Mathe- 

 matics with you. She sends kindest love, and requests as the 

 greatest favour, that you will conceal no difficulty from her. 

 My head yearns for the pillow, so good- night." 



" 7th August 1838. 



" Mother gives me this paper, as ' small paper ;' it looks very 

 large, however ; nevertheless I'll try what can be done in the 

 way of filling it. 



"Your letters and their bearer arrived safely, three days 

 ago, and we have all been feasting on them. The description 

 of London is exceedingly enticing and amusing, and all the 

 motives for visiting so goodly a metropolis, weigh well in my 

 mind to urge a visit ; but my main object in coming will be to 

 see you and spend a while with you, my dear brother and best 

 friend. I can now speak a little more confidently as to when I 

 shall come up. I am at present the only student in the Dis- 

 pensary. I shall have heavy and responsible duties till the end 

 of August, when my time expires. 



" I shall hope to spend a part of September and a bit of Octo- 

 ber, perhaps the whole of it, with you, and surely that would 

 satisfy you. Tell me, when you write, very particularly about 

 the arrangements you propose, mention the expenses and the 

 like, and I'll get all put right in time. I shall haul up with 

 me some books, and study beside you ; however, we'll not say 

 much about the study. 



" I am going to publish a paper in one of the Journals, on a 

 new exposition of a chemical law, which has been debated all 

 over Europe, and argued one way and another, without any one 

 being able to prove which of two opinions was the true one. 



" While engaged in a wholly different inquiry, I made a little 

 discovery which threw some new light upon the subject. I was 

 confined at home two days unwell, and tried an experiment or 



