414 JOHN DUNCAN, WEAVER AND BOTANIST. 



truly dearer to the fading botanist than the prized hoard of 

 the veriest miser. 



Happily, however, amongst his friends there were more 

 than one that possessed the requisite intimacy, and know- 

 ledge as well as will, for the delicate, difficult and long-con- 

 tinued work. His friend James Taylor, of Clashfarquhar, 

 at last determined that it should be done, having already 

 gradually approached the shy old student on the subject. 

 It was not an easy thing to manage, for the proposal was 

 associated, not only with an upturning of all his receptacles, 

 but with a confession of decay and near decease which his 

 unusual vitality and keenness made painful, even when he 

 was far above fourscore. In 1880, Mr. Taylor determined to 

 act before it should be too late, and wrote to John to that 

 effect. He had also sounded him on the wisdom of present- 

 ing them to the Aberdeen University, as both a fitting and 

 honourable memento of his own long devotion to science 

 and an incentive to others to taste its undying joys. This 

 idea pleased the old man vastly. As he had abundantly 

 shown, nothing gave him more pleasure all through life 

 than to extend the number of the lovers and students of 

 science ; and this would be a very good means of doing so, 

 which he hoped would be more fruitful of good result than 

 had been his own endeavours. James Taylor communi- 

 cated his ideas to John M. B. Taylor ; and among all 

 John Duncan's friends and disciples there was none with 

 the necessary knowledge who would be more willing to give 

 the time and trouble required for the work. To John 

 Taylor, it would truly be a labour of love, for the sake of 

 the man, the plants and the science. 



On the 1 7th of April of that year, the two friends paid 



