2/0 JOHN DUNCAN, WEAVER AND BOTANIST. 



by felt considerable interest in, and would have pursued its 

 study, especially after Charles had begun it. But when he 

 had more leisure to do so, he had no longer any opportunity 

 of practical guidance in a science that, more than most, 

 requires initiation into it on the field, under the practical 

 tuition of another. So it remained with the weaver a 

 barren subject. He did in time gather a collection of 

 minerals, " Geology stones " as he called them, almost the 

 only available specimens in the Vale of Alford. 



The last ramble the two friends had together was long 

 recalled by both as a happy memory. Charles remained 

 only a year at Leithhall, leaving it in November, 1849, for 

 Hamilton Palace gardens on the Clyde, where a brother of 

 his was chief gardener. Before setting out for the south, 

 the companions determined to have a long, quiet pilgrimage 

 together as of old. As Charles's leisure was limited, they 

 settled on a beautiful Sunday in the beginning of October, 

 for what proved to be, though happily then unknown 

 to them, their last joint excursion in the dear old style. 

 They met that morning near Auchleven, and walked over 

 the hill together, past Keig and across the bridge of Don, 

 admiring the fine glimpse of the old Kirk of Keig from 

 its high parapets, by Bankhead where an unsurpassed 

 view of Benachie and the pass of the Don and Castle 

 Forbes is got, on to the Free Church of Keig. There John 

 sat once more in his old seat, hearing his former minister, 

 Mr. Smith. After service, they went to see an old friend, 

 one of the Netherton circle, Charles Lawson, at Barnley, 

 where they dined. Then they walked by the old paths to 

 Prospect Hill and Whitehouse, and enjoyed their splendid 

 outlook over memorable scenes, but they did not enter 



