372 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. IX. 



some in a minor key, which never fails, in all its sweet wander- 

 ings and eccentricities, to return to the key-note, leaving the 

 listener with a sense of refreshment and invigoration. The 

 mass of such letters is so large, however, that it has seemed un- 

 desirable to attempt more than a selection from them. Per- 

 sonal allusions also frequently make them unsuitable for the 

 public eye. Without passing beyond the ten years to which 

 we have limited our consideration latterly, we shall only add, as 

 a closing stanza to this portion, one more quotation from a let- 

 ter to Mr. A. Macmillan, in June 1854 : "This is a peaceful 

 Sabbath evening, and my heart is full of gratefulness to God 

 for many and great mercies to me. Amongst these are my 

 friends, and my gratefulness shapes itself into a prayer to God 

 that He will give them His choicest blessings, make them like 

 His own dear Son, Christ the Lord, and fill them with His 

 Spirit. And may we all have some work given us to do for 

 Him, and find such pleasure as the angels feel in doing His 

 work and obeying His will !" 



The desire to conduct a Bible class was more fully met by a 

 request from some young men, in 1852, to meet with them on 

 Sabbath evenings. It was gladly responded to, and some of 

 them remember with vivid interest those hours, and the eluci- 

 dations given of the book of Hebrews and that of Ecclesiastes. 

 Very full notes remain as evidence of the great care and dili- 

 gence with which preparation for these meetings was made. His 

 broken health and constant overwork made it impossible for him 

 to continue this work long, dear as it was to him. His services 

 on behalf of the Medical Missionary and other benevolent So- 

 cieties, can only be glanced at. It may safely be said that, ac- 

 cording to his ability, yea, often far above it, as regards physical 

 strength, he was at all times found to be " ready to every good 

 work." 



It has been remarked of George Wilson, that he was one of 

 the very few scientific men who, in this restless age, had never 

 crossed the British channel. This peculiarity was far from be- 

 ing the result of choice, as to see new places, things, and people, 

 was a great delight. But uncertain health made travelling irk- 

 some and difficult, while the pressure of work during nine or 



