156 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. III. 



Queen, and therefore the child's name should unfailingly be 

 Victoria. The good woman smiled, but I'm not quite sure that 

 the logic told on her. The upshot of this childish story is that 

 neither that night, nor last night, which was its successor, was 

 I in an epistolary vein. You may well suppose I was very 

 thankful to get to bed soon last night ; in truth I could not fall 

 asleep, for felicitating myself on my good fortune in not having 

 to sit up or tremble in fear of a knock. In real earnest, I spent 

 twenty-four hours in a state of the most miserable solicitude 

 and timorous apprehension, prophesying for myself I know not 

 how many unwelcome things, and quite unable to rest at any- 

 thing. I was never made to be a physician, and I'll never, I 

 do believe, try practice again. 



" I'm much delighted to think you are beside Miss Campbell. 

 I pray thee, Mary, question diligently anent our genealogy ; I 

 have a very particular reason for wishing to know our lineage. 

 I know that Highland lore is more concerned in tracing out the 

 lateral ramifications, and interweaving families of this Ilk with 

 families of that Ilk, and goeth seldom up to the stock, whence 

 the sprouts have budded ; but if you can get our lineage some 

 good way back, either among the Campbells, which I suppose 

 is the only chance, or among the Wilsons, which is a doubtful 

 clue, I should be greatly pleased. Follow it up to Adam, or as 

 near as you can, unless midway, about Noah's time or so (N.B. 

 not Noah Webster's time), you find out some vagabond who 

 was hanged, drawn, or quartered, or who hung, drew, and quar- 

 tered some one else ; there you may stop and take a rest, and 

 we'll refresh ourselves about the scoundrel's prowess. In serious 

 verity, I would willingly believe the rumour that the Wilsons 

 are of Danish extraction, and swear that my veins throbbed 

 with the blood of Hamlet, but that good prince having died 

 without issue, leaves me in an awkward dilemma, and forbids 

 that line of descent. I'll be satisfied if you trace up any of the 

 branches ; the Campbells surely can be linked on to the Duke 

 of Argyle, and that may do for them." 



On September llth, the final arrangements for visiting Lon- 

 don are announced : " You will be surprised not to have heard 



