PROCEEDINGS FOR 1908 XXIII 



Thackeray. He took great interest in the town librar}- and devoted 

 considerable time to its interests. 



Mr. Macfarlane's first situation was in a lawyer's office in Pollock- 

 shaws, but this was not quite congenial. He had a small laborarory 

 fitted up in the pantry at home and there he spent most of his spare 

 hours in study and experimenting. The cliemioal text-books of tha,t 

 day were simple, but when, through the influence of Mr. Walter Crum 

 of Thomliebank, one of the leading chemists of the day and president 

 of the Cavendish Society, Mr. Macfarlane was able to obtain a complete 

 set of the publications of that great society, his joy knew no bounds, 

 and most excellent use he made of every volume. 



He soon obtained a situation with a chemical manufacturer in 

 Glasgow, and while there was able to take a course of study in the 

 Andersonian, or what is now the West of Scotland Technical College. 

 Dr. Penny was then professor of chemistry, an accomplished chemist 

 and successful instructor. 



The position of chemist at the Modimi Cobalt Works, Norway, was 

 offered him and accepted. Desiring to acquire further theoretical and 

 technical knowledge he went after a couple of years to the Freiberg 

 School of Mines, where he soon became prominent. 



The Saxon Government, which at that time had a practical mon- 

 opoly of the Cobalt business, selected Macfarlane to take charge of its 

 works in Xorway, where he remained until the ore deposits decreased in 

 value, and were no longer capable of being operated to a profit. 



WTiile in Xorwa}', he made a careful study of the geology of Tele- 

 marken, Eingerike and rocks of the Drammen Valley. This was sub- 

 sequently of much value to him, when working out geological problems 

 in Canada and their correlation to similar phenomena in Scandinavia. 



The memories of Norwegian life were always dear to him, and -with. 

 an old friend or two he continued an interesting correspondence up to 

 the last. 



In 1860, Macfarlane came out to Canada and was soon offered 

 charge of mining and smelting operations at Actonvale and Capelton 

 in the Eastern Townships. 



His knowledge and experience were recognized by Sir William 

 Logan, who offered him a position on the, Geological Survey. The 

 publications of the Survey bear testimony to his industiy and thorough- 

 ness. 



He was a devout and sincere christian, tolerant and liberal, but 

 an ardent supporter of the Church of England and a heartv'^ worker in 

 every good cause. When manager of the mines at Acton, over five 

 hundred men were employed, probably eighty per cent of whom were 

 Eoman Catholics. The Protestants were divided, each struajglins: for 



