344 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. VIII. 



to their author alone could the preparation of a fit memorial of 

 him be intrusted. With what feelings he responded to their 

 urgent solicitations, we learn from various letters of that period. 

 " I can sincerely say that I have no personal end in view in 

 undertaking the sketch. My hands are full of work, and only 

 the hope of preserving a most estimable man's memory from 

 untimely oblivion, and his character from misconception, would 

 induce me to engage in the task. His death and latter days 

 were believed to have made a profound impression on the pro- 

 fession, one such as no death in my remembrance has made on 

 medical men." " His life was so completely one into which 

 hundreds of medical men can enter, and the example of which, 

 they cannot refuse as lying above and beyond their sympathies, 

 that it commended itself to me as peculiarly deserving to be 

 recorded." The great matter to be illustrated is, " the eminent 

 Christian example which Dr. Eeid's later days afforded to all 

 men, but especially his professional brethren, who so much need 

 to be reminded of the claims of Christianity upon them. To 

 dwell upon this would be to myself a labour of love. It has 

 fallen to my own lot to sit by the sickbeds and deathbeds of many 

 near relations and friends, and to have deeply impressed upon 

 me what the power of Christianity is to sustain under protracted 

 suffering and the approach of death. I have more than once 

 been at the brink of the grave myself, and was led to see the 

 need of a Saviour, and to experience that He is mighty to save, 

 at a time when recovery was very doubtful. I have supposed 

 that, in consequence of these things, I could better enter into 

 Dr. Eeid's conflicts and triumphs than many could. ... I have 

 a great delight in the study of men's lives." " I promise myself 

 an amount of personal gain from the contemplation of such a 

 life as John Reid's was, that will amply recompense me for any 

 trouble. To promise this is presumption ; I should rather have 

 said that I pray for God's blessing to myself and others in con- 

 nexion with the undertaking, and already have cause to thank 

 Him that He has put it into my heart to take up the matter. 

 Let not your prayers, my true friend, 1 be wanting ; for nothing 

 but His help will enable me to write serviceably a sketch which 



1 This letter is addressed to Dr. Cairns. 



