Ohituary Notices. 47 



deprived of the fostering care of his mother, as she died 

 six weeks after his birth. He was in consequence taken 

 to Prestonpans, where his infancy and childhood were 

 spent. In boyhood he removed to North Berwick, and 

 lived with his maternal grandfather, Dr Oliver, who was a 

 medical practitioner in that town ; and here he obtained 

 his early education. When sixteen years of age he went 

 to Glasgow University, where he studied for four years, 

 and after having thus completed his Arts curriculum, he 

 came to Edinburgh to study divinity, and, what is inter- 

 esting to note, w^as the first student enrolled by Dr 

 Chalmers in his first session as professor here. During 

 the five years that he attended our University he joined 

 many Societies, and in 1827 was a Member, and subsequently 

 Secretary, when Allen Thomson was President of the 

 Plinean Natural History Society, and that at a time 

 when young men of high intellectual gifts and exten- 

 sive knowledge constituted the membership, and took an 

 active part in the lively discussions, many of whom 

 also held high and honourable positions in after life. 

 These latter pursuits he successfully cultivated, and to 

 them he continued to the end to have a warm attach- 

 ment. 



He was licensed to preach the Gospel in 1831, and was 

 ordained to the charge at Prestonpans in 1833. 



He took a deep interest in his parish, and faithfully 

 ministered to the spiritual wants of old and young ; he 

 also with Chalmers, Cunningham, Begg, and Candlish, took 

 an important part in the great questions of that time. 

 When the Free Church was formed he took a prominent 

 part in its public business. During one winter session, he 

 delivered in the Free Church College a course of lectures 

 on Natural Science, which were characterised by great 

 ability, and into which, as being congenial to his long 

 cherished tastes, he threw his whole soul. To the "Presby- 

 terian Eeview" and the " British and Foreign Evangelical 

 Eeview"he contributed freely; for in science, literature, 

 and theology he was well-versed, and he brought to bear 

 on these themes a mind of a high stamp, and imbued 

 with a fine Christian spirit. 



He was related by marriage to the late Professor Banner- 



