431 
The concluding volume has this line: 
“ Longarum hee meta viarum.” 
Throughout the whole progress of this work, its 
author had not merely the ablest, he had the most 
friendly assistance ; and it was one of the happy 
circumstances attached to a labour which was itself 
a pleasure, that it brought him the acquaintance of 
many amiable and accomplished characters whom 
he might otherwise never have known. 
The subjoined letters will convey an idea of the 
zeal and delight with which persons of similar pur- 
suits assist each other, and accord together; and 
as Sir James observes in the Preface to his Tour, 
long before he had much experience of the fact, 
“It brings those together who are connected by a 
most commendable, disinterested, and delightful 
tie,’—if indeed that may be termed “ disinterested ” 
which affords one of the purest, most engaging 
occupations in which a person possessing leisure 
and opportunity can fill up his vacant hours. 
The amiable correspondent whose communica- 
tion first appears, bequeathed to Sir James in 1805 
his whole collection of dried plants. His executor 
Prof. Dugald Stewart, in a letter to Sir James, says 
that “ Mr. Bruce died in the 80th year of his age, 
respected and beloved by all who knew him. His 
life was singularly blameless and tranquil. I avail 
myself,” he adds, “with much pleasure, of this op- 
portunity to express iy high ree for your cha- 
racter and learning.” 
