254 The late Dr. Thomas Thomson. 



suffer from the class being ineflBciently taught ; and if, on the other hand, 

 the substitute be found really worthy to become ultimately the professor, 

 a meritorious teacher, perhaps in the middle of his days, is left, on the 

 death of the incumbent, at the mercy of whoever may cliance at the time 

 to have the dispensation of the patronage. The system is, therefore, 

 a mischievously defective one, and I make the remark at this time with 

 the less reluctance, that neither has the substitute on the present occa- 

 sion been unworthy of the succession, nor, on the other hand, can the new 

 appointment, whatever may have been the motive of the minister, be con- 

 sidered otherwise than an excellent one. I will only add the hope that 

 the subject may receive attention in quarters where there is power to ' 

 apply the remedy. 



Dr. Thomson continued to attend the examinations for degrees for 

 some years after retiring from the duties of the chair, but in consequence 

 of the increasing defect in his hearing, be ultimately gave up these 

 examinations, and confined his public labours to attendance at the fort- 

 nightly meetings of the Philosophical Society. During the early part of 

 the present year his frame became visibly weaker, and latterly, having 

 removed to the country, where it was hoped the freshness of the summer 

 air might brace his languishing powers, he breathed his last in the bosom 

 of his family at his temporary residence at Kilmun. 



Dr. Thomson married, in 1816, Miss Agnes Colquhoun, daughter of 

 Mr. Colquhoun, distiller, near Stirling. He enjoyed uninterrupted 

 happiness with her; and her loss in 1834, T well know, he deeply 

 lamented. He has left one son. Dr. Thomas Thomson of the Bengal 

 army, the author of Travels in Tibet, which have just appeared — the 

 result of several years' researches into the botany and physical structure 

 of the Himalaya mountains. He has left also one daughter, married to 

 her cousin Dr. K. D. Thomson. 



Of Dr. Thomson's personal character I can scarcely speak too highly. 

 All who knew him must have remarked his manly independence — the 

 unbending rectitude of the course which he invariably pursued — the 

 sincerity displayed in all his intercourse — the readiness with which he 

 gave his assistance when it was wanted. I agree most thoroughly, from 

 personal observation, in all that has been said of the kindness of his 

 disposition and the steadiness of his friendships; and I believe there is 

 not one of his pupils who does not remember him with affection and 

 esteem. More than twenty years since I asked him to name one of his 

 pupils for a situation of some promise in Lancashire. He recommended a 

 young man, who subsequently accepted the appointment, and M'ho is now 

 an extensive manufacturer. On being asked by a fi-iend why he had not 

 named a nephew of his own, who was also well qualified, Dr. Thomson 

 answered that the other had a mother and a sister to support. That 

 former pupil travelled from Manchester to follow the remains of his 

 master to the grave. 



Dr. Thomson's deportment to strangers, of wliich perhaps too much has 



