202 Short Biographical Notice of the late Dr. Johnston. 



was employed by him for the advancement of his favourite 

 science, and he was the founder and first President of the Ber- 

 wickshire Naturalists' Club, an association which has already 

 given to the world some valuable papers upon the natural history 

 of that district, and which has served as the model upon which 

 similar societies have been established in other parts of the 

 country, from the united labours of which we may expect great 

 advantage to the progress of British zoology. In fact, both 

 from his published works and the manner in which his per- 

 sonal influence was employed, we cannot but regard Dr. John- 

 ston as one of those to whom natural history will be most in- 

 debted for its advancement in this country. He took great 

 interest in the establishment and progress of the Mechanics' 

 Institute in his town, and delivered many highly successful 

 lectures there, not only on different branches of natural history, 

 but also on the local traditions and antiquities of the Eastern 

 Border, which had occupied a considerable share of his attention. 



Another circumstance, which doubtless contributed greatly to 

 his popularity amongst his neighbours, was the active part which 

 he most unexpectedly took in public business during the stormy 

 period of agitation in favour of Municipal and Parliamentary 

 Reform, which intervened between the years 1830 and 1835. 

 Well known as the accomplished physician and the studious phi- 

 losopher, he appears rather to have astonished the good people of 

 Berwick by a display of judgment and practical ability for which 

 they probably had not given him credit. He speedily, however, 

 took a prominent place in the politics of his native district, and 

 was elected one of the members of the first Town Council in 

 1835. In this position he remained until the year 1850, and 

 in the course of that period was three times elected to the office 

 of Mayor, and twice to that of Sheriff. He was also for ten 

 years an Alderman of Berwick. In public life he exhibited the 

 same love of truth and kindliness of disposition which characterized 

 him in private, and as a man of science ; his judgment appears 

 to have been greatly relied on by his colleagues, whilst his tact 

 and good-nature enabled him to command constant respect and 

 affection. 



The best proof of this is to be found in the universal regret 

 of his fellow-townsmen at the decease of one whom they justly 

 regarded as " the most distinguished ornament of their town/' 

 The Mayor and Members of the Corporation, the Town Council 

 and the members of the medical profession all followed his re- 

 mains to the grave ; the shops were closed during the ceremony 

 of interment, and a great crowd of the townspeople assembled to 

 witness the performance of the last rites over the body of one 

 who had for many years been the object of their love and 

 respect. 



