20 MEMOIR OF DR. WALKER. 



to the public, and may thus be considered the 

 founder as well as the builder of that splendid 

 museum, which is the boast of our university, and 

 one of the most attractive as well as useful objects 

 of curiosity in our city. 



When Mr. Walker had finished with propriety 

 his preliminary course at the university, and gone 

 through with approbation his trials before the pres- 

 bytery of Edinburgh, he was licensed to preach the 

 gospel. He did not, however, continue long what 

 is called a probationer, having been ordained as 

 minister of the parish of Glencross on the 13th day 

 of September, 1758. This parish, which lies south 

 from Edinburgh seven miles, was delightfully situ- 

 ated for a botanist, among the Pentland heights; 

 and here Mr. Walker spent the next four years of 

 his life, assiduously cultivating the science he loved, 

 not only amid the romantic scenery by which he 

 was surrounded, but making extensive excursions 

 to explore the vegetable and mineral kingdoms 

 throughout the country, and examine any of the 

 remarkable productions of nature which claimed the 

 attention of a philosopher. 



Among the acquaintance he formed at this time, 

 and with whom he ever after kept up a correspond- 

 ence upon subjects in which they both felt equally 

 interested, was the Honourable Henry Home of 

 Kames, one of the senators of the college of justice, 

 &c., better known as Lord Kames ; and one of their 

 great bonds of connexion was a desire for the im- 

 provement of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. 



