1844-54. LOVE OF PUPILS. 351 



those much with him, more resembled that of affectionate rela- 

 tionship than the usual intercourse of teacher and pupil. Deceit, 

 dishonourable conduct, or idleness, met with little mercy; but 

 with faults of ignorance, youthful impetuosity, or thoughtless- 

 ness, he had wonderful patience, accompanied by a power of 

 eliciting the better points of character, which seemed at times 

 to transform a youth of whom all were in doubt, into one abound- 

 ing in rich promise. A pupil says of him, after an interval of ten 

 years, during which there was little intercourse, and that chiefly 

 by letter : " I cannot say more than that Dr. Wilson's life and 

 character have always been an example to me, as a realization, 

 in some degree, of the highest life. My acquaintance with him 

 would in ordinary cases have been but slight, as I was thrown 

 so little into his society, and that at an age when I was hardly 

 capable of valuing him. But there was something in him which 

 I cannot define, which made me feel more than ordinary friend- 

 ship, real affection for him, boy as I was ; and I think this feel- 

 ing towards him is what all had who worked under him while 

 I was with him. That something consisted partly in an earnest- 

 ness and practical goodness which inspired one with respect and 

 admiration, partly his great consideration for others, which gave 

 his inferiors confidence I mean inferiors in intellect, experience, 

 or anything else and a warmth of feeling which drew one to 

 him immediately, and which, so far as I knew him, never cooled. 

 All this falls very far short of my aim. I can only say that I 

 count it a blessing to have known such a man, such an example." 

 His assistants in the laboratory and lecture-room were objects 

 of much interest to him, and in almost every case his regard was 

 warmly reciprocated. One of them says, " He always treated 

 us as if we were his dearest friends ;" showing that the delicate 

 courtesy of his manner was appreciated. Another writes, " I 

 shall never require anything to remind me of one who was so 

 true a friend of mine at all times, and whose memory I respect 

 beyond that of any other man I ever knew." This attractive- 

 ness was one of the most remarkable features of his character ; 

 while it made him almost idolized by the circle of friends to 

 whom he was best known, it extended to his public audiences, 

 and even to the chance acquaintances of a day or hour. " The 



