THE LATE MR. R. D. WILSON.
(To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.")
Ern,—If you can let me have the space in these restricted days, I will ask your leave to add a few words to Mr. Tollemache's kindly apprecia- tion of his Harrow and Balliol friend R. D. Wilson, who embodied a type of all-round scholarship and English culture now too seldom met with. Of his brilliant classical attainments others can speak better than I can. It must suffice here to point out that in 1858 the First Class in Lit. Hum. consisted of the present Provost of Worcester, the late Provost of Oriel (Monro), A. C. Sella; and It. D. Wilson. He had travelled much from early childhood, and was well acquainted with foreign languages and literature, having an almost passionate love of Dante. Though he knew enough to consider that he had gone but a very little way in scientific studies, he was no mean mathematician and astronomer. But all study was easy to him ; he could learn whatever to wished, aided by a perfect memory, which never failed him in quota- tion, sacred or secular. All his acquaintance were perhaps not aware of the dry Scottish humour which was his great characteristic in more Intimate circles, nor of his considerable dramatic talent. Amongst other interests in early life were the Inns of Court Volunteers—those who heard his description of the muster of the Devil's Own veterans on the occasion of the 1887 Jubilee are not likely to forget it; mountairszering—not long ago it gave him pleasure to receive through the Secretary the oongratulations of the Alpine Club on his completion of fifty years' membership ; and last, but chiefest, his perfect devotion to his mother, by whose side he was lately laid to rest in Addington
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