CHAPTER XXXVI. 



JOHN'S HERBARIUM PRESENTED TO ABERDEEN 

 UNIVERSITY. 



DUNCAN'S extensive collection of plants still lay decaying 

 and useless in the old weaving shop at Droughsburn. The 

 most of his specimens he had already named; but the 

 localities, widely scattered, had never been affixed. These 

 he knew himself with his remarkable memory, and many 

 of them had been taken note of by John Taylor during his 

 frequent visits. It had often occurred to his botanical 

 friends to have the now rapidly deteriorating gatherings 

 carefully examined, and fully named and localised, while 

 his now failing memory could be relied on. It was a great 

 and difficult task, involving much time, patience, and care, 

 as well as technical knowledge. It could not be success- 

 fully carried out by any outsider, however capable and 

 willing : for the silent man would reveal nothing except to 

 one in close and sympathetic intimacy ; much less would 

 he allow any but such a friend to touch them. Always 

 jealous of the least interference with them by any hands, 

 however tender and knowing, except his own, he was now 

 more careful than ever that they should be violated by no 

 one, unless under his own eye and direction. They were 



