9J: Obituary Notice. 



favour of evoluLiou ; but although he showed distinctly enough 

 that his own incliuation was to believe that for the explanation 

 of the phenomena of life no order of things was required addi- 

 tional to those which are recognised in the inorganic world, he 

 exhibited abundantly his habitual care not to commit himself 

 to any dogmatic expression of speculative views in detail. 



Perhaps it is owing to the circumstance that the bent of his 

 mind was more in the direction of criticism than of inde- 

 pendent exploration, that Dr Thomson has not left behind 

 him any great monument of original work or discovery; but 

 a more thoroughly accomplished man, versed and interested 

 in the progress of all branches of biology, is not often met with. 

 His habitually urbane and gentle manner, bis dix^lomatic tact, 

 and, most of all, the exceedingly winning character of his smile, 

 and the joyous expression which lit him up when he was more 

 than usually pleased, will linger long in the memory of those 

 who have experienced their wonderful influence. 



Dr James Rohson Scott, M.D. By F. Douglas, M.D., 



Kelso. 

 (Read 13th March 1884.) 



Dr RoBSON Scott was the eldest son of ]\rr John E-obson, 

 tenant in Belford on Bowmont Water, and grandson of 

 James Robson, Esq. of Samiestou, whose name has long 

 been held in grateful remembrance by Border farmers and 

 stock-breeders as the first great improver in the breed of 

 Cheviot sheep by crossing with the Leicester blood. Dr 

 Scott was born at Belford in 1814, and, after a home 

 education, entered the literary classes of Edinburgh Uni- 

 versity. He chose the study of medicine as a profession, 

 and, after graduating in 1836, proceeded to India as an 

 assistant-surgeon on the Madras Establishment of the East 

 India Company. After serving some years in that Presi- 

 dency, he accompanied his regiment to Singapore, and 

 subsequently to China, towards the conclusion of the war 

 with that country in 1841. On returning to Madras he 

 served at Yellore, and afterwards for two years had medi- 

 cal charge of the Nilghiri Hills Sanitarium. Thence he 

 took furlough to England, and, on his return to India, was 

 appointed to a cavalrj' regiment, which he retained until 

 he finally left the service in 1858. By his brother officers 



