258 JOHN DUNCAN, WEAVER AND BOTANIST. 



Meanwhile the parent society, while multiplying classes, 

 continued to perfect its own organization, and increase its 

 method of influencing those in its immediate neighbourhood. 

 A class library was formed, scientific apparatus procured 

 for the use of the members, public social meetings were 

 held, and annual courses of public lectures delivered under 

 its auspices. 



In the spring of 1849, the class entered the field of 

 authorship, and published a tract entitled " An Address to 

 Farm Servants, on their Intellectual Condition, by the 

 Rhynie Mutual Instruction Class," the joint production of 

 the class. It passed through two editions, was favourably 

 noticed by the press, and created no small stir among those 

 to whom it was addressed, as well as directed public atten- 

 tion to the condition of farm servants. This led to consider- 

 able discussion of this important social question in the 

 public press at that time, and many plans were proposed 

 for their amelioration. 



At a later date, the class published a very valuable 

 lecture delivered under its auspices by Mr. William 

 McCombie, of Cairnballoch, already mentioned, an honorary 

 member of the society. The delivery of this lecture, which 

 quickly passed through two large editions, was the occasion 

 of Mr. McCombie's first appearance as a public lecturer, a 

 function which he frequently thereafter discharged, to 

 the great advantage of the country and city populations of 

 Aberdeenshire. 



Early in 1849, an important step was taken by the 

 Rhynie class for the consolidation of the Mutual Instruc- 

 tion movement. This was the formation of " The Aberdeen 

 and Banffshire Mutual Instruction Union." This institution 



