DISCIPLES AND SYMPATHISERS AT DROUGHSBURN. 343 



earnestness, securing assistance and encouragement from 

 the old star-gazer ; and in 1872, he made observations in the 

 Vale, for the "Astro-Meteorological Society" of London. 

 Since that, he has gone more or less into several branches 

 of Natural History, as shells, insects, and animals, of which 

 he has a good selection. He has passed the Science and 

 Art examinations in Botany, Geology, Animal Physiology, 

 and Practical and Theoretical Chemistry. Altogether, he 

 has developed, under the extraordinary difficulties that beset 

 poverty and lowly condition in the country, remarkable 

 aptitude and enthusiasm for the natural sciences. As he 

 gratefully acknowledges, he received his first and deepest 

 impulses towards these from John Duncan. 



Some years ago, he abandoned farm labour, and gave 

 a realistic account of his experiences in a book called 

 " Eleven Years at Farm Work : a True Tale of Farm- 

 Servant Life from 1863 onwards." In 1876, after marrying 

 a daughter of Mr. Allanach's, whom he had met in his 

 visits to Droughsburn, he removed to Aberdeen. There 

 he was engaged for some years in several employments, 

 and occupied his leisure in writing for the newspaper press 

 and in prosecuting science. 



He is now assistant in the Public Library of Paisley, 

 having been recommended to that post by an Irish 

 professor, who examined his private collections. It is to 

 be hoped that his scientific knowledge and enthusiasm will 

 ere long be utilized in connection with some museum or 

 other similar institution, in which he would be an undoubted 

 gain. His affection and respect for Duncan are deep and 

 permanent. From the first, he perceived the genuine worth 

 and ability hid beneath the unpromising exterior of the 



