208 JOHN DUNCAN, WEAVER AND BOTANIST. 



his first fiddle. Barclay also joined a scientific plasterer 

 called James Murray in his pursuits, amongst others the 

 making of terrestrial globes. Beveridge also assisted in 

 that work, and now possesses a specimen. Murray, who 

 lived at the farm of Stonefold, was a man of great ability 

 and higher tastes. He was also a dial-maker of unusual skill, 

 a fine example of which stood in his garden ; a mathe- 

 matician, famed for his solutions of difficult problems ; a 

 land surveyor, much employed ; and a worthy man. 



The painter soon became acquainted with John Duncan 

 and Charles Black, first meeting John when painting the 

 greenhouse at Whitehouse. Barclay was at that time 

 taking out, in parts, " Pinnock's Guide to Knowledge," and 

 hearing of their difficulties in the want of suitable text- 

 books, recommended to them "Pinnock's Catechism of 

 Botany," which John soon afterwards bought in Aberdeen. 

 He had no special interest in Botany, beyond a strong and 

 intelligent desire to know something of the world around 

 him, for his tastes lay more in Art than in Nature. He had 

 a high appreciation of the two enthusiasts, who, he said, 

 were simply " wild " about plants, and he liked to listen to 

 their talk regarding them. John and he frequently met at 

 the Craigh, and elsewhere. They were often seen walking 

 together on the public road, the one carrying a web under 

 his arm and plants in his hand, and the other his paint-pot 

 and brushes, while talking on botanical and other subjects. 

 Barclay was also a student of astronomy, and saw John's 

 " horologe," which the weaver still used. 



He removed from Tough in 1840, to Mountgarrie on 

 the Don near Alford, where he still survives, the brightest 

 and heartiest of old men, in his seventy-seventh year. He 



