The late Mr John Hail. 223 



Mr. Hart was a native of Borrowstouness ; born 18th August, 1783, 

 died 27th June, 1851 ; was consequently in his 68th year. It may be 

 noticed that his natal day was that on which the great meteor or fire- 

 ball traversed the horizon of Great Britain. After getting the school 

 education usually given in a country town at that date, ho was for some 

 time employed by a timber merchant in his native place as an interim 

 clerk. When about seventeen years of age, he removed to Glasgow in 

 search of similar employment, but not finding a suitable place, he learned 

 the trade of a pastry-baker with an uncle. His brother Robert followed 

 soon after, and also learned the same trade. The two brothers ultimately 

 succeeded their uncle in his business, in which they continued till 1831. 

 At this date both retired from all business pursuits. It may be here 

 mentioned, what indeed is known to many present, that Mr. Robert Hart 

 was not only a co-partner in business, but was also a hearty co-operator 

 with the deceased in all his learned and scientific pursuits. That gentleman 

 is still amongst us, and, it is hoped, will long continue to prosecute the 

 useful arts which he and his brother so creditably pursued for many years. 



The only instruction in philosophy or the arts which the deceased got 

 was in the Mechanics' Class of Anderson's University, he all the time 

 following his business of pastry-baking. Feeling the great advantage 

 which he derived from this source, he at an early period took an active 

 part in the management of that class for the good of others, and not only 

 of that particular class, but also of all the concerns of Anderson's Uni- 

 versity. For about forty years, and up to the period of his death, he was 

 a trustee and a member of the Managing Committee of that Institution, 

 and he has been a member of this Society for nearly thirty years. In 

 addition to philosophy and mechanics, the deceased had a taste for, and a 

 considerable knowledge of, the fine arts. He was a good draughtsman, 

 and excelled in the art of modelling. We have a good specimen of his 

 work in this line in the full-sized statue of the late Professor Anderson 

 in the museum of the University. His great knowledge of many of the 

 sciences and of the mechanic arts, his being also of easy access, modest, 

 and unassuming, and withal ever ready to communicate, encouraged his 

 friends and the citizens generally to draw upon him for information. This 

 was done frequently for their guidance in applying the information thus 

 acquired to the arts and manufactures in which they were respectively 

 engaged. And it is believed that much useful knowledge was got in this 

 way. In his workshop, or laboratory, were to be seen or heard of, on all 

 occasioiiB, almost every thing that was new in science or art. At one 

 time you might see, in a half finished state, a tiny steam-engine, the 

 speculum and other parts of a large sized telescope, also in a half finished 

 state, and perhaps the plan of a gas apparatus. On your return you 

 might find the engine driving his turning-lathes, the telescope on its 

 pedestal, and the gas apparatus brilliantly illuminating all his premises. 

 This was the case prior to the operations of the Gas Company in 1818, 

 for Messrs. Harts' premises alone were lighted with gas at that date. As 



Vol. III.— No. 4. 2 



