



Produced by Larry B. Harrison, Chuck Greif and the Online
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                           _William Nelson._

                    [Illustration: Yours Faithfully

                            William Nelson]




                           _William Nelson_

                               A MEMOIR

                                  BY

                  SIR DANIEL WILSON, LL.D., F.R.S.E.,

                PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO.

                       [Illustration: colophon]

                   Printed for Private Circulation.

                   _T. Nelson and Sons, Edinburgh._

                                _1889._


                                  TO

                          Mrs. William Nelson

                                 THIS
                         MEMOIR OF HER HUSBAND
                    IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED BY
                          HIS OLD FRIEND AND
                              SCHOOLMATE




FOREWORD.


The volume here produced for the eye of friends is the memorial of one
whose life presented a rare example of simplicity, of thoroughness in
working up to a high standard in all that he undertook, and fidelity in
his responsible stewardship as a man of wealth and a captain of
industry. The friendship between us extended in uninterrupted union,
with the maturing estimation of years and experience, from early boyhood
till both had passed the assigned limits of threescore years and ten. It
would have been easy to swell the volume into the bulky proportions of
modern biography: for William Nelson keenly enjoyed the communion of
friendship; and his correspondence furnishes many passages calculated to
interest others besides those who knew and loved him as a friend. But
the aim has been simply to present him “in his habit as he lived;” and
thus to preserve for relatives, personal friends, and for his
fellow-workers of all ranks, such a picture as may pleasantly recall
some reflex of a noble life; and record characteristic traits of one of
whom it can be so truly said: “To live in hearts of those we love is not
to die.”

D. W.

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO,

_September 26, 1889_.




CONTENTS.


I.