48 MEMOIR OF DR. WALKER. 



Dr. Walker's own lectures were much esteemed 

 for the clear and scientific manner in which he con- 

 veyed his information, joined to his very superior 

 acquirements in natural history ; notwithstanding a 

 dry and formal manner, he interested his students 

 in no common degree in the pursuits he passionately 

 loved, and created an era in the history of that 

 science in Scotland : so much may a teacher effect 

 when he brings his whole heart to his business. 



In 1781 he printed, for the use of his class, 

 " Schediasma Fossilium," and in 1782, " Deliiieatio 

 Fossilium ; and in ] 788 he delivered an admirable 

 introductory lecture on the utility and progress of 

 natural history and manner of philosophizing, which 

 was afterwards printed, and appears among his 

 tracts. But it was not till 1792 that a complete 

 syllabus of the course was published, under the title 

 of " Institutes of Natural History." 



Early in 1783, Dr. Walker was translated from 

 Moffat to Colinton, where he was admitted Feb. 13. 

 In the same year, Principal Robertson having ma- 

 tured the plan of a society, upon the model of some 

 of the foreign academies, proposing for its object 

 the cultivation of every branch of science, erudition, 

 and taste, it was carried into effect, and the Royal 

 Society of Edinburgh was incorporated by charter 

 from the King, 1783. It comprehended almost all 

 the men eminent for science and literature in Scot- 

 land, and Dr. Walker was one of the first members 

 in the management ; he was very active, and many of 

 his essays illustrate the volumes of their Transactions 



