498 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. XII. 



much satisfaction by all who had any acquaintance, either with 

 his personal character or numerous contributions to literature 

 and science, will, we are sure, be held in lasting and affec- 

 tionate remembrance." l 



Bequests from the magistrates, and the representatives of 

 public bodies, that his funeral should be a public one, at which 

 they might be present, continued to pour in during the week 

 subsequent to his death. Amongst such proposals the most 

 touching and gratifying was a letter from " An Artisan," in a 

 newspaper, suggesting that every working man in the city should 

 follow the remains to their last resting-place. These requests 

 for publicity could not be put aside, though it was felt that 

 privacy would have been more in accordance with his retiring 

 modesty of character. The torrent of love, however, carried all 

 before it, and on Monday, the 28th November, the hush and awe 

 of expectancy pervaded the city. A bright sunny day it was, as 

 if for once that gloomy month cast off her despondency, in 

 acknowledgment of the truth, " light is sown for the righteous, 

 and gladness for the upright in heart," and as if the influence of 

 the bright and sunny spirit still lingered to shed a parting 

 radiance when the body was laid to rest in hope. 



The company of personal friends assembled at Elm Cottage 

 joined in a short religious service before leaving the house, Dr. 

 Alexander presiding over one group, and Dr. Cairns over 

 another. We now conversant with his life can imagine why 

 the latter chose the 15th chapter of 1st Corinthians, and can 

 understand what tender memories crowded 011 him, making the 

 voice tremulous with suppressed emotion while reading it. A 

 prayer followed, and then the carriages with private mourners 

 passed slowly into town. 



On the long- line of streets through which the cortege denied, 

 the shops were closed, and " business suspended for a time in 

 other parts of the city : multitudes of both sexes crowded the 

 way ; and as the hearse moved along, many tears were shed, 

 and the crowd looked on with bated breath, and even the 

 rude and thoughtless uncovered their heads, and offered their 

 silent tribute of homage. Never before was such a tribute of 



1 ' The Canadian Naturalist and Geologist,' June 1860. 



