320 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. VII. 



" Meanwhile, I would give a great deal if, with these solemn 

 thoughts around me, I could gather all my pupils, some two 

 hundred in number, together, and address to them a word on 

 something higher than anything chemistry can show. I would 

 take for the lesson of the day the thirteenth chapter of 1st 

 Corinthians, and would preach, with the* emphasis on the we, 

 from the words, ' We know in part, and we prophesy (or teach) 

 in part ; but when that which is perfect is come, then that 

 which is in part shall be done away.' " 



The sorrows of this winter and spring in no way materially 

 neutralized George's energies ; and from each of his Classes a 

 testimonial was presented to him expressive of their sense of 

 the gratitude due for his services. A sentence in a letter re- 

 minds us of members of the household, without a notice of 

 which the picture is incomplete : " All our kith and kin are 

 well, down to Stronach, the beloved terrier, and the absurd cat 

 without a tail." Both these individuals were great favourites 

 with George. The terrier accompanied him everywhere to 

 lecture-rooms ; while driving ; to the laboratory ; to the sofa ; 

 and to bed, where he reposed at his master's feet. "While he 

 lay on the sofa at supper- time, Strony (as he was usually called) 

 sat on his hind legs and begged for biscuits ; and puss (a Manx 

 cat) lay on his chest, and patted his mouth to coax bread out of 

 it. Their importunities were a pleasure, as expressive of the 

 strength of their love and trust, and his patience with them was 

 exhaustless. 



The summer session of 1844 was opened by a lecture on 

 transmutation, which attracted much attention at the time, 

 owing to its bearing on the new views then under discus- 

 sion. Dr. Chalmers and Lord Jeffrey were amongst the audi- 

 tors, and with both of them a lasting friendship was the result. 

 The lecture was afterwards published, with some enlargement, 

 in the 'Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal,' for July 1844, 

 and in it the whole subject of isomeric transmutation was dis- 

 cussed. 



His summer classes occupied three hours daily, besides labo- 

 ratory duties, so that it is not surprising to find the remark, " I 



