252 JOHN DUNCAN, WEAVER AND BOTANIST. 



exercised the hopes and aspirations of humanity since 

 man first opened his eyes to the starry firmament. 



Duncan also paid some attention at that time to 

 Entomology, which Charles and James Black afterwards 

 successfully pursued ; and Dr. Mackay recollects an ingenious 

 box he used, which had one compartment for his victims 

 and another for burning sulphur, by the fumes of which he 

 killed them. He also showed the young man the proper 

 way of transfixing them with pins. 



Duncan also studied Meteorology, and was counted 

 a kind of weather prophet. His constantly taking obser- 

 vations of the state of the weather gave rise to a peculiar 

 habit of his of looking upwards and round about, with his 

 hand above his eyes. 



But, next to Botany, Theology was then, as at all times, 

 his chief study. He was noted as an ardent Free Church- 

 man, and no one was more regular in his attendance at the 

 plain, barn-like temple near Waukmill. He dressed on 

 Sunday in a blue serge suit of his own weaving, with 

 shining buttons, tall hat, and well-brushed boots, and sat 

 in front of the pulpit in reverent attention. He also went 

 on week days to missionary and Bible class meetings, 

 which were held three miles distant, at Insch. He hoped 

 to see in time a Free Church founded also in England, that 

 is, he looked for a great secession from the establishment 

 there ; for, in his view, as well as in that of many others 

 then and since, secession was held to be essential to religious 

 freedom and progress. 



He was also a diligent student of Biblical Criticism, 

 which he pursued by the help of the numerous dictionaries 

 and commentaries he possessed. In order that, as he said, 



