244 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. V. 



make my letter so heavy with them, that it would need two or 

 three of Mulready's nonsensical envelopes, stuck all over with 

 Her Majesty's penny heads, to get it through the Post- Office. 

 As it is, however, I fear the place is not worth my taking, even 

 in its best view. The school must be a very small and humble 

 one, for I never heard of its competition with University College 

 all last winter ; and no exertions on my part could make much 

 difference on the small income it must yield its chemist. I 

 never heard of Mr. - , B.A., nor do the Cambridge 



men here know about him ; and from what I know of the London 

 students, I can assure you a veiy, very slender stock of chemical 

 knowledge will go a great way among them. As to Mr. 

 going to the College of Engineers, he can only be going as 

 assistant, for Everett, formerly of Middlesex Hospital, is the 

 chemist of that institution. I could have stood with the best 

 chance of - 's place, for I knew of it when inquiring about 

 the Engineer's College last autumn, but I did not think it worth 

 my while. 



" The London students are notoriously the most unscientific 

 students on the face of the earth. My English friends need not 

 take offence at this, for the Englishmen who come here are 

 abundantly characterized by scientific enthusiasm ; but the 

 professional business spirit of the London schools is alien to the 

 true study of their subjects, and on such things as chemistry 

 they only ask what will pass the halls. I had full opportunity 

 of seeing this, last winter, in the practical class of Griffith of St. 

 Bartholomew's Hospital. An experienced and popular teacher 

 told me it was useless to discuss law or theory before them ; 

 they did not care for it. Although, therefore, last winter I 

 would gladly have caught at what you have indicated, I should 

 be loath now to land myself among strangers, in a place where 

 my love of science would be damped down by the want of 

 enthusiasm in my pupils, and my pecuniary income would at 

 the best be barely sufficient to keep life in. Further, I should 

 not like to come in opposition to Graham, as a rival teacher. I 

 have spoken to Forbes and other wise men, and they dissuade 

 me from it. And now, indeed, there is an opening in Edinburgh 

 such as will not soon occur again ; I have the kindest assistance 



