1842-43. WONDER AND GRATITUDE. 301 



still small voice of gentle persuasion, to address me in the 

 whirlwind and the storm, and to vouchsafe me, in the prospect 

 of sore trial, a calmness, even a serenity and patience which 

 could have been supplied me from no other source. I look 

 back on the last month with wonder and speechless gratitude, 

 and place my reliance for the future on the same mighty arm 

 which wrought my deliverance from past affliction. 



" When you pray to God, let thanksgiving mingle with ear- 

 nest request that more light, and stronger faith, and greater self- 

 renunciation, and all other needful gifts, may be given to me, 

 still standing on the threshold of Christian experience. 



" It's a strange thought, the idea of your foot dying before the 

 rest of you. Well, I'll find it at the resurrection, or, if not, 

 something better. I have likewise been thinking that my mind 

 or soul must be in a more concentrated condition than that of 

 bipeds, seeing that it has a foot less of matter to encumber it. 

 What thinks your lordship ? The receipt for concentration ad- 

 mits of extension ; I am contented with the amount in my case. 

 I have no feeling of the want of a foot, and seem still to feel 

 toes, great and small. John Cairns thinks this must arise from 

 a pre-ordained harmony between soul and body ! 1 ! Well done, 

 John ! 



" All that I have already written has been intended to get up 

 the steam for what I now struggle out with, viz., that if, when 

 you held out those magnificent offers about Boerhaave and Tur- 

 ner, you thought that I would generously decline your kindness, 

 you were, my dear sir, very very much mistaken. 



" Your kindly offer made my morning tea and toast taste like 

 very nectar; I told it to my kind doctor, John Goodsir, the 

 moment he came, and asked him ; no, he asked me, would I 

 accept the offer ? Won't I ? was the polite answer. So, my 

 dear Jeems, you're in for them. Boerhaave I have studied 

 in Latin about the thermometer ; he'll be of great use to me for 

 my history. Turner is precious also. I will most thankfully 

 and gratefully accept your offered kindness, and will remind 

 you in return that you will enjoy the consciousness of having 

 performed ' a virtuous action.' Your loving affectionate 



" GEORGE WILSON." 



