184 Autobiographical Notes. 



a youth of labour with an age of ease." This business still 

 exists under the well-known name of Morrison & Gibb, and 

 occupies large premises at Tanfield in the Canonmills district of 

 Edinburgh. 



On Wednesday, August 4, 1841, Messrs Wilham and 

 Robert Chambers, of Edinburgh, were entertained at Peebles 

 and presented with the freedom of the burgh. Mr Murray was 

 among those who were present, and he replied to the toast of 

 "The Literati." In the course of his remarks he said: — "He 

 had all his lifetime been connected with literature, and every 

 sixpence he possessed was drawn from this source, of which he 

 was very proud. He would rather have been Homer than 

 Alexander; he would rather have been Addison than Marl- 

 borough ; and — not to mention invidiously any modern name — 

 he would rather have been Robert Burns than any man of his 

 age."^^ 



Among the many outlets Mr Murray found for his energies 

 the following are noteworthy. When the Slatisiical Account 

 of Scotland was in course of publication he was requested 

 and consented to write the description of his native parish of 

 Girthon, as also that of the neighbouring parish of Anwoth, and 

 he wrote for the same work the general observations on the 

 county of Wigtown. In 1843 he was one of the founders of the 

 Edinburgh Galloway Association, the pioneer of numerous 

 county associations now flourishing in Edinburgh. He also 

 acted as secretary to the Association from 1843 to 1866, when 

 he was succeeded by the late Sheriff Guthrie. ^^ He acted for 

 twenty-two years, 1848-1870i, as secretary of the Edinburgh 

 School of Arts, w-hich, established in 1820, was taken over by, 

 or amalgamated with, the Heriot-Watt College in 1886. ^'^ A 

 portrait of Mr Murray hangs on the walls of the Principal's 

 room, beside the fireplace. This portrait purports to be by 

 Horsburgh, Edinburgh, and bears the following inscription on 

 the frame: — "Thomas Murray, LL.D., Secretary of The Watt 

 Institution and School of Arts from 1848 to 1870. Presented 

 by an Old Pupil." During part of this period Murray was 



15. Proceedings at Peehhfi. Edinburgh : Printed for Private Distribu- 



tion. 1841. 



16. Communicated by the Secretary of the Edinr. Galloway Assocn. 



17. This information was obtained by the courtesy of the Town 



Clerk of Edinburgh. 



