1904.] Obituary Notice of Dr. G, B. Wilson, T6 



the Priucipalship — fought its battles, watched over its interests, and con- 

 tributed very greatly to its ultimate success. Unfortunately plague 

 came to Patna in 1901 and caused great anxiety to all in responsible 

 positions through the alarm and confusion which prevailed. It would 

 seem that the work and anxiety entailed on Mr. Wilson from these 

 various causes laid the seeds of weak health which have resulted in his 

 untimely death. He was very ill in July 1900 — so ill that in spite of a 

 great desire to do so — he was unable to be present at the ceremony, when 

 in August of that year the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir John Woodburn, 

 opened the Engineering School. Mr. Wilson got over his illness, but 

 it left him weak, and the plague in 1901 brought fresh strain, so that 

 in March J 902 he was feeling generally overtaxed and was intending to 

 take a year's f arlough. Just when his plans were laid for this purpose, 

 came the offer of the post at the Record Office which he held at the 

 time of his death. Though it took him from education, it was a post 

 thoroughly suited to his tastes and abilities and the offer was made in 

 a very flattering manner. He decided to give up his furlough and ac- 

 cept it. He took up his new work with eager interest; but his health 

 failed more and more, though he was home for a few weeks in 1902 and 

 again in 1903. It was while home in 1903 that he took the new degree 

 of doctor of letters at Oxford. He had qualified for and taken the B. Litt. 

 in 1901. In November 1903, the Chinese carpenters had completed 

 under his instructions, the beautiful model of the Old Fort which is now 

 placed in the Museum. He was also able to render efficient help to the 

 Viceroy in his collections for the Victoria Hall — help which was hand- 

 somely acknowledged by Lord Ourzon in his speech at the Museum in 

 March 1904, It is pleasant to remember now that Dr. Wilson was 

 thoroughly happy in this new work, and often contrasted the amenities 

 attaching to it with the rubs and jars and rebuffs of the life educa- 

 tional. But his friends were shocked at his increasing emaciation. 

 In May 1904, he went to Darjeeling, but instead of getting stronger he 

 grew worse and he was ordered home. He was terribly weak through- 

 out the voyage ; but when he reached England and his friends, the 

 doctors held out good hopes of his ultimate recovery. This hope has 

 proved vain ; the end came peacefully in his sleep on the night of 24th 

 July, 1904. 



It may well be supposed that his best work was yet to be done. 

 But the work he has accomplished is considerable in amount and of 

 varied nature, testifying to the versatility of his talents. Besides the 

 two volumes of Annals there was the text-book in Ethics, pre- 

 pared in collaboration with the^Kev. E. M. Wheeler in 1896. Though 



