24 JOHN DUNCAN, WEAVER AND BOTANIST. 



theological, often religious, well versed in all the intricacies 

 of Calvinism, severest critics of the minister's discourses, 

 and keenest of heresy-hunters, scenting it r from afar, 

 in phrase or simile, herein only being strong conservatives 

 in a word, general guardians of the Church, reformers of 

 the state, and proud patrons of learning and the school- 

 master ; but, withal, good fathers, good churchmen, good 

 citizens, and not seldom good men favourite subjects 

 with all delineators of Scottish character, " douce Davie 

 Deans" being a mild but picturesque specimen. At the 

 same time, it should be remembered that John Duncan 

 entered this once universal and well-remunerated occupa- 

 tion at a transition period in national progress, when 

 the hand was being rapidly superseded by steam, a fact 

 which accounts for much of the poverty that pressed him 

 during his latter days. 



At first sight, it might seem a mistake to exchange 

 an occupation so much connected with nature and natural 

 phenomena for one so sedentary and confined. But the 

 advantages of an agricultural life for natural study are 

 more seeming than real, and were much more so at that 

 time than now. It is not the shoemaker's children that 

 are the best shod ; nor are our field workers the best field 

 students. Many things account for this, patent to the 

 most casual observer, but chiefly then the long laborious 

 and depressing hours. But in his new employment, 

 the passion for nature, already generated in the lad by 

 his early life, could still be gratified in leisure hours, 

 outside the weaver's shop, as it would have required to 

 have been in the other case, beyond the farmer's fields. 

 Then, in autumn when work was slack, he could return 



