22 Transactions. 



from being present "ben the hoose," as she had to attend to the 

 frying of the ham in the kitchen ; but Mr Dunlop obviated the 

 difficulty by saying that she could leave the door open between 

 the apartments, and so would benefit by his ministrations, while 

 at the same time she attended to her duties in the kitchen. This 

 plan was adopted, and Mr Dunlop so managed as to conclude 

 his devotions just as the ham was heard to give the concluding 

 frizzle. On their way home in the evening, Mr Dunlop remarked 

 to his companion — "Mr Tammas, did ye notice hoo I nicket the 

 time?" Another instance of Mr Dunlop's eccentricity I may 

 mention, as I was present on the occasion, and heard the 

 rev. gentleman's remarks. When quite a youth I went one 

 Sunday evening with my mother to hear Mr Dunlop preach, 

 and at the conclusion of the service, which was conducted in his 

 usual broad lowland " Doric," as he descended the pulpit stair 

 he espied my mother, and addressing her in a loud tone, audible 

 to all about him, said — " Glad to see ye here, Mrs Tyler ; ye'U 

 hear nothing in this place but soon' doctrine, according to the 

 Shorter Catechism and the Confession o' Faith." Poor. Wattie ! 

 I do not know what was his end, but I have heard that he lost 

 his popularity, and was in very straitened circumstances at the 

 close of his life. 



My first acquaintance with the Academy must have been 

 previous to 1822, when I was pupil with a worthy old gentleman 

 named Haigh, who wore a brown curled wig, and in a sort of 

 paternal fashion instructed a number of juveniles of both sexes 

 in the rudiments of reading and writing. One recollection I 

 have of him was his looking over ray shoulder when making 

 some of my first essays in writing, and saying that " I need not 

 add so many fringes to my letters." In 1822 I joined the Latin 

 class then taught by Rector Harkness, a very enthusiastic person, 

 and, I should think, an able scholar. He certainly possessed 

 the faculty of inspiring many of his pupils with his own love of 

 learning. I recollect that he had a large chair constructed after 

 the pattern of the " sella curulis," the public seat of the Roman 

 consuls. This machine, which was ascended by steps, was 

 placed at the top of the class, and was the coveted seat of the 

 " dux," and the cause of many an intellectual contest in order to 

 gain the envied elevation. I have learned from one who was a 

 pupil of the Rector's at a later date, that he was rather severe 

 in the exercise of his authority, and liberal in the use of the 



