314 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. VII. 



reached, and the phosphorus is safe. Some grand specimens for 

 my lecture-table might have been got next day. But the police- 

 men have not very elevated views of science, and would not 

 permit the search after them. From one enlightened attache of 

 the corps, however, I obtained a piece of the melted lead of the 

 roofing of the porch, and with that I suppose I must be con- 

 tented. 



" A longer letter next time, till which hopping you is well, 

 which i am, affectionate brother, " GEOEGE." 



Instead of improving in health, his cousin James became 

 increasingly and hopelessly ill, as extracts from letters will 

 show. In him were united to genius of no common order, 

 powers of tenderness and fascination that made him intensely 

 loved by all who knew him well ; so that, even after the lapse 

 of sixteen years, his very name possesses a charm, awaking in- 

 expressibly sweet memories. 



In the following letter to a sister, allusion is made to a paper 

 read to the Eoyal Society, Edinburgh, in which the results of 

 the repetition of Dr. Brown's experiments were detailed. They 

 may be summed up in a few words to Dr. Cairns : " His 

 experiments I can confirm only in the most partial way ; his 

 theory and the doctrine of transmutation (by experiment) not at 

 all." 



" Thursday. 



' DEAR JESSIE, My time is so entirely taken up at present 

 with a multitude of duties, that I find it impossible to fulfil my 

 promises. 



" On Monday night all went well at the Eoyal Society. 

 My paper 1 was read to a large meeting, and all the hearers were 

 very attentive. Dr. Christison rose and complimented me, 

 referring to the great impartiality of the paper. Dr. Abercrombie 

 lauded it also, and from many quarters compliments were 

 privately sent forth. Let us, therefore, be thankful, and say no 

 more of praise, of which we had quite enough. 



1 ' Account of a Repetition of several of Dr. Samuel Brown's Processes for the Con- 

 version of Carbon into Silicon.' By George Wilson, M.D., and John Croinlne Brown, 

 Esq.' Trans. R. S. E.,' vol. xv., part iv. 



