138 JOHN DUNCAN, WEAVER AND BOTANIST. 



gifted to John Duncan, who preserved and prized it to the 

 very last. 



Charles had also made some progress in the formation 

 of a herbarium before he came to Whitehouse, and during 

 the year and a half he was there before John knew him, he 

 had extended it greatly, and increased his theoretical and 

 practical knowledge of the science. He also received great 

 assistance in the discovery of local plants by the publica- 

 tion, in 1835 the year after he came to Whitehouse of the 

 first edition of the very book he required at this stage. 

 This was the "Flora Aberdonensis," which afterwards 

 developed into the " Flora of Aberdeen, Banff and Kincar- 

 dine," * by George Dickie, M.D., Professor of Botany in 

 Aberdeen, who has just died in honoured age, after doing 

 admirable service to science in the north of Scotland. 

 Aided by this new guide, Charles made rapid progress in 

 conquering the plants of the district, and in discovering new 

 localities. 



Since 1836, when he first enters our story, Charles Black 

 has passed through varied experiences, traversed many 

 scenes, and studied many subjects. He still follows the 

 aesthetic occupation of gardener, away down on the shores of 

 the Solway, within sight of the Cumberland hills. Like the 

 great poet that lived amongst these, and gained there those 

 " impulses of deeper birth " that have made him immortal, 



" He is retired as noontide dew, 

 Or fountain in a noonday grove ; 

 And you must love him ere to you 

 He will seem worthy of your love." 



* This is a capital local guide, and the pattern of what a local 

 Flora ought to be in plan and exhaustiveness, and in full acknow- 

 ledgment of obligations. 



