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PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 149 
back to their country residence at Parkhall, where young Michael's 
early years were spent. Owing to financial losses, his father was 
obliged to sell his property and return to India, where he died in 
1829. Young Michael was educated at a private school, and 
afterwards spent some years at Glasgow University, where his 
studies are said to have been marked with considerable ability. 
He was at first inclined to follow the legal profession, and 
intended to go to the Scottish Bar, but having received the offer 
of an opening in his uncle’s office, he finally resolved to adopt a 
mercantile life. In 1845 he was admitted to partnership with 
his uncle, Mr. William Connal, and the firm then assumed the 
well-known name of William Connal & Company. In 1864 other 
changes took place, which resulted in the separation of the firm’s 
pig-iron departiment from its general mercantile and colonial 
business. The latter continued to be carried on by Mr. Michael 
Connal and his partner, Mr. William Wilson, under tle firm’s 
old name. For many years the principal branch of the business 
has been sugar, and until about twelve years ago Mr. Connal 
was accustomed to go to Greenock every morning to attend the 
Sugar Exchange. His high reputation as a merchant, and his 
long and honourable business career, crowned with well-merited 
success, are too generally known to require more than a passing 
mention here. 
But although deeply engrossed with the cares of a business life, 
he found plenty of time for other pursuits. While still a young man, 
his keen interest in charitable and philanthropical institutions was 
manifested in many ways, while his active benevolence became 
more widely extended with advancing years. It has, indeed, been 
said that there was scarcely a good institution in the city that he 
was not in some way or other connected with. It is notable, also, 
that he did not rest contented with supporting existing schemes, 
‘but was ready to inaugurate others wherever a need for them was 
apparent. Thus, in 1848, he founded the Spoutmouth Bible 
Institute; which had for its object the religious and intellectual 
improvement of young men, especially those in the poorer parts 
of the city. This institution possessed a reading-room, library, 
and savings’-bank ; lectures on literary and scientific subjects were 
frequently given ; and on Sunday evenings a bible-class was con- 
ducted, which for many years was under the personal superinten- 
