

IN MEMORIAM—DAVID ROBERTSON. 27 
Up to this time, the ceaseless round of duties had retarded the 
development of his taste for natural history. Without any definite 
aim in view, he had collected fossils from the Carboniferous shales 
in the various districts where his earlier years had been spent; 
and it is possible that a latent interest in the subject, as well 
as a desire to utilise these hoards, may have been the causes that 
induced him to attend a course of evening lectures on geology 
which were delivered by Mr. John Craig about the year 1837. But 
Robertson had just made his first start in business, so science had 
to be put aside for a time. About the year 1845, however, he 
became desirous of knowing the names of some of the mosses he 
had often seen and admired. He called upon Dr. James Rattray, 
a well-known lecturer on botany in Glasgow, whom he asked to 
visit him and give an hour's lesson on mosses several nights a week. 
Rattray, however, was not acquainted with mosses, and proved 
much better able to relate long stories than impart instruction in 
bryology. He advised Robertson to study flowering plants and 
leave the mosses alone, and in this decision the pupil was forced 
to acquiesce. 
For several years after his marriage with Miss Alston, Mr. 
Robertson devoted a good deal of time to literary pursuits. 
Besides various poetical pieces, his thoughts and reflections in 
prose were committed to writing. Many of his prose essays, and 
humorous sketches in the lowland Scottish dialect, were pub- 
lished in the Glasgow Herald, and in the Reformer’s Gazette of 
which Peter Mackenzie was editor. 
The Natural History Society of Glasgow was founded on 2nd 
July, 1851. At the meeting on 5th October, 1852, Mr. Robert- 
son was proposed for admission to the Society ; and the form of 
application bearing his signature was also signed by Messrs. 
Roger Hennedy, Matthew P. Bell, and William Ingleton, as his 
proposers. At the following meeting (2nd November) he was 
elected a member. This connection had an influence greater than 
any other in developing his taste for biological research. Many 
congenial acquaintances were formed which ripened into lifelong 
friendship. Among the most intimate of his early associates in 
the Society was Roger Hennedy, Lecturer on Botany in the 
Mechanics’ Institute, and author of the Clydesdale Flora. 
Hennedy was a recognised authority on flowering plants, and had 
