IN MEMORIAM — DAVID ROBERTSON. 27 



Up to this time, the ceaseless round of duties had retarded the 

 development of his taste for natural history. Without any definite 

 aim in view, he had collected fossils from the Carboniferous shales 

 in the various districts where his earlier years had been spent; 

 and it is possible that a latent interest in the subject, as well 

 as a desire to utilise these hoards, may have been the causes that 

 induced him to attend a course of evening lectures on geology 

 which were delivered by Mr. John Craig about the year 1837. But 

 Robertson had just made his first start in business, so science had 

 to be put aside for a time. About the year 1845, however, he 

 became desirous of knowing the names of some of the mosses he 

 had often seen and admired. He called upon Dr. James Eattray, 

 a well-known lecturer on botany in Glasgow, whom he asked to 

 visit him and give an hour's lesson on mosses several nights a week. 

 Rattray, however, was not acquainted with mosses, and proved 

 much better able to relate long stories than impart instruction in 

 bryology. He advised Robertson to study flowering plants and 

 leave the mosses alone, and in this decision the pupil was forced 

 to acquiesce. 



For several years after his marriage with Miss Alston, Mr. 

 Robertson devoted a good deal of time to literary pursuits. 

 Besides various poetical pieces, his thoughts and reflections in 

 prose w^ere committed to writing. Many of his prose essays, and 

 humorous sketches in the lowland Scottish dialect, were pub- 

 lished in the Glasgoio Herald, and in the Reformer's Gazette of 

 which Peter Mackenzie was editor. 



The Natural History Society of Glasgow was founded on 2nd 

 July, 1851. At the meeting on 5th October, 1852, Mr. Robert- 

 son was proposed for admission to the Society ; and the form of 

 application bearing his signature was also signed by Messrs. 

 Roger Hennedy, Matthew P. Bell, and William Ingieton, as his 

 proposers. At the following meeting (2nd November) he was 

 elected a member. This connection had an influence greater than 

 any other in developing his taste for biological research. Many 

 congenial acquaintances were formed which ripened into lifelong 

 friendship. Among the most intimate of his early associates in 

 the Society was Roger Hennedy, Lecturer on Botany in the 

 Mechanics' Institute, and author of the Clydesdale Flora. 

 Hennedy was a recognised authority on flowering plants, and had 



