THOMAS HOPKIRK OF DALBETH. 253 



^anxious, as I have already shown, to secure them 

 for his fellow-citizens. He was so fond of gardens 

 ^nd green fields that every neglected or waste piece 

 of ground about the city was an eyesore to him as 

 £i lost opportunity of common good. 



In the very first number is a clever sketch of 

 George Square in these days of ignorant misuse, 

 which had a direct result in bringing about its 

 proper enclosure. In the second number, under the 

 heading "Fashionable Promenade," there is a view 

 of part of the Royal Botanic Garden, and the fol- 

 lowing remarks are added: "This fashionable place 

 of resort has this season been more numerously 

 attended than ever. We observe that additional 

 grass walks have been added to the Promenade 

 ground, and the excellent TrumjDet Band of the 5th 

 Dragoons, we believe, will be in attendance on 

 Saturday next. The splendid Cactus speciosissiinus, 

 which has been in flower for some time past, has 

 given increased interest to the houses. Vide et credeJ' 



The arrangements for the erection of a monument 

 to John Knox had just been completed, and Hopkirk 

 was one of the five members of the superintending 

 committee. His connection with this movement may 

 have developed in his active mind the scheme of 

 far-reaching proportions which is suggested in the 

 third number of the LooJdvg- Glass. It is a happy 

 anticipation of the future, for which the credit is 

 vindoubtedly due to him. Under the heading, 

 ^'Merchants' Park — Monument to John Knox," there 

 is a sketch of the Fir Park as a Necropolis, with 

 the following explanation: "The summit of the 

 Merchants' or Fir Park, as it is called, is now finally 

 fixed upon as the situation for the monument to 

 John Knox. It has been suggested that this piece 

 of ground might be made use of for a burying 

 place, a monvimental garden we may call it, similar 

 to the celebrated Pere-la-Chaise at Paris; the effect 

 would be beautiful, and its vicinity to the Cathedral 

 would add much to its interest. We have given a 



