104 . THE REPORT OF THE No. 19 



will be quite in harmony with my condition to indulge a little in what is regarded at that time 

 of life as an excusable natural propensity. 



My acquaintance with Mr. Angus was brought about throuoh a somewhat peculiar chain 

 of incidences that will require relating. 



Living in Hamilton at the time, and having Uirned my attention to the collecting of 

 insects as a recreation in ill-health, having all my life been afflicted with a feeble digestion, I 

 found it necessary to avoid business in order to secure some prospect of recovery. And as 

 idleness was misery to me, I found collecling insects such a congenial occupation that it soon 

 claimed my whole attention. Having discovered that cider was to me an aid to digestion, I 

 one day came upon a person who was disposing of cider in small quantities, and made arrange- 

 ments with him to supply me regularly. After we became acquainted he informed me that his 

 name was Oeorge Anderson — that he lived for some time in the neighborhood of Providence, 

 Rhode Island, and had been gardener for a man <^ means there, who at the outbreak of the 

 Civil War had to close up his establishment in order to curtail expenses. So Mr. Anderson 

 had moved to Canada, purchased land on the opposite side of the Bay from Hamilton, part of 

 an estate called " (^aklands," and was then engaged in market gardening on his own account. 

 He also informed me that he was well acquainted with a family in Providence of my name, and 

 was wondering if we might not be related. ] told him that I was too young when brought to 

 this country to know much about my relatives there ; but I had heard that some of my father's 

 folks had moved to this side of the Atlantic, but where they were located I did not know. 

 Nevertheless, if there was any connection between us, there would be no difficulty whatever in 

 tracing it ; as my father had a brother in Glasgow who was well known. Dr. William Moffat, 

 who had served as a surgeon under Wellington during the peninsular war, and had attained 

 some fame. Mr. Anderson, laughingly remarked that he had often heard them speak of " their 

 uncle the Doctor," as Mrs. Anderson came from Glasgow and knew the Doctor, consequently 

 he was a frequent subject of conversation between them. Dr. Moflat had become a Baptist, 

 and attended the same church as Mrs. Anderson and her people went to and was in the habit 

 of regularly addressing their church meetings. Thus a friendship was established between Mr. 

 Anderson and me. He invited me to visit his place and make the ac({uaintanceof Mrs. Ander- 

 son, which I gladly accepted, it being just a pleasant walk round the head of the Bay from 

 Hamilton, during which I could do a little collecting by the way. Then, when Mr. Anderson 

 learned that I was engaged in collecting insects, he informed me that he had a brother-in-law 

 in New York, who was a collector and had an extensive collection, James Angus by name, a 

 brother to Mrs. Anderson, and thus I first learned of Mr. Angus. It was not long before Mr. 

 Angus heard of me through Mrs. Anderson, he having a great admiration of Dr. Moffat in 

 religious matters. And here I may introduce an incident of quite recent occurrence. 



Whilst looking over the list of members of the Philosophical Society of Glasgow for the 

 year 1901, rny eye rested on "J. Carfrae Alston." Thinking it was likely that I had many 

 relatives of that name in Glasgow, I became curious to know if he uiii;ht not be one of them, 

 and as his address was given I thought I would make bold to enquire. So T wrote to him, 

 stating how I had come by his name and address, and that my curiosity had been excited to 

 know if we were connected, and he being a member of a similar society an interchange of 

 thought might not be objectionable, ;uid if there was any connection it could be easily deter- 

 mined, as my mother was a sister of the late John Als'on, of Rosemount, more generally 

 known as Bailie Alston, who took a deep and active interest in the Royal Glasgow Asylum for 

 the Blind, and had the Bible printed in raised letters for their use so that all could read. A 

 marble l)ust of him stands in the main entrance of the institution as it^ most eminent benefac- 

 tor, with other means of identitic;ition. 



