No. 8.] CAMPBELL — REV. JAS. SOMERVILLE. 451 



likely to have possessed very accurate instruments ; but such as 

 it was, in the absence of any better statistics of temperature and 

 other elements affecting the weather, it would be at least curious, 

 if not very valuable, could it only be discovered ; but after full 

 inquiry I have been unable to ascertain what has been the fate 

 of this journal. 



When he died, in 1837, he left the most of his property to 

 religious and benevolent institutions. I will let Dr. Wilkie tell 

 how he was led to do so : — " It has been seen throughout the 

 course of this narrative that his mind was eminently sociable. 

 Being at the same time of a strongly benevolent cast, his socia- 

 bility gave rise finally, or at least greatly contributed, to two 

 most excellent institutions — the Natural History Society and 

 the Montreal General Hospital. His practice of rambling in 

 the fields in quest of objects suitable for the study of natural 

 history has been already noticed. His attractive conversation 

 naturally drew to his society others who possessed similar tastes, 

 particularly his two brethren in the church, and some of other 

 professions. One gentleman especially, of highly scientific attain- 

 ments, supposed to be A. Skakel, a teacher in this city, assisted 

 to give accuracy and order to their observations. A considerable 

 collection of natural objects was, in consequence, formed ; a place 

 was found necessary for their reception, the assistance of others 

 was solicited and obtained, and out of these humble endeavour.s 

 arose ' The Natural History Society ' of Montreal." 



In consequence probably of his connection with the origin of 

 this institution, and certainly from his devotedness to the cause 

 of knowledge and truth, he left a munificent bequest for the 

 endowment of a lectureship in furtherance of its objects. 



His sympathetic nature and public spirit seem to have had 

 much to do also with originating the Montreal General Hospital. 

 Here is what the memoir says on this point: — •' Ee always 

 considered the first suggestion of the Montreal General Hospital 

 as due to himself. " The first idea of it," he said, "was su":- 

 gested by his servant fjtlling sick of an infectious fever. She 

 had no friends in the city. He could not turn her out of doors. 

 He was apprehensive for his own family. He thought how 

 advantageous it would be for the patient, how satisfactury to his 

 own mind, if there was an hospital to which she could be sent, 

 where she would receive the necessary attention and care, while 

 his family would run no risk of infection. Others might be in 



