1855-5(5. SYLLABUS OF LECTUKES. 423 



baker, tanner, sugar-planter, sugar-refiner, teacher, doctor, and 

 clergyman, besides young men entered simply as students, but 

 chiefly training for industrial callings ; as well as retired military, 

 medical, and legal officers of the East India Company's Service, 

 and amateurs." In spite of all drawbacks, above forty attended 

 the first course, of whom six returned the following year to con- 

 tinue the study of the subjects included in the syllabus. Three 

 years were required to go over its contents : the first course 

 being devoted to Mineral, the second to Vegetable, and the third 

 to Animal Technology. After preliminary special lectures, that 

 of Mineral Technology branched out into a series of lectures on 

 Fuel ; Building Materials of Mineral Origin ; Glass and Glass- 

 making; Pottery; Metallotechny ; Electrotechny ; and Mag- 

 netotechny. Under the three latter heads were comprised the 

 working of metals, and electricity in its industrial relations. 



It was fervently hoped that in this new sphere, George 

 Wilson would enjoy greater ease. His health had so long with- 

 stood the ravages of disease, with little apparent detriment to 

 his general vigour, that many anticipations were now formed 

 more sanguine than at any previous period of his public life. 

 People wilfully shut their eyes to all but the fact which they 

 tried to impress on their minds, that he might live many years 

 more, and even medical men who knew the frail tenure by 

 which any such hopes could be held, argued favourably from 

 the time of repose which seemed to them now before him. We 

 have seen that he himself hoped for more rest as one of the ad- 

 vantages of his appointment ; but so ardently did he enter on 

 its duties, that the only rest obtained was from the necessity of 

 more than one lecture daily, and that rest of heart arising from 

 a sense of acknowledged worth, which the affectionate welcome 

 of his fellow- citizens had afforded him. For once the proverb 

 seemed unsuitable, that " a prophet hath no honour in his own 

 country," and his generous mind too readily received the im- 

 pulse. His labours hitherto were now far surpassed, as if but 

 a resting-place for a higher elevation had been attained. " I 

 am determined," he sometimes said, " to let no day pass without 

 doing something for my dear Museum." By something was 

 meant not the daily duties of his post, but special efforts put 



