450 MAN OF SCIENCE. 



met only with popular neglect I would have clung to it 

 the more resolutely, as the father will dote the more 

 lovingly on that daughter in whom the silly beaux see 

 no merits. I had fortified myself against both praise 

 and blame ; but there were two men in Edinburgh 

 about whose good opinion I felt somewhat sensitive : 

 these were Sir William Hamilton and Hugh Miller. I 

 asked my publishers to send a copy of my work to each. 

 Meanwhile the public scarcely knew what to make of 

 my big, and, as some deemed, pretentious book. The 

 Athenceum noticed me contemptuously, evidently with- 

 out reading me it praised some of my works after- 

 wards, when I had earned a reputation. My very 

 friends shook their heads, and were expecting a failure. 

 Now it was at this time, when readers were hesitating 

 which side to take, that the two Edinburgh giants spoke 

 out, and spoke out courageously ; not uttering am- 

 biguous oracles, which would make them right whatever 

 the way in which the public might ultimately decide. I 

 was not known at the time beyond a limited district in 

 the north of Forfarshire, and the south of Kincardine- 

 shire ; I believe neither of the eminent men referred to 

 had ever heard of me before ; and this led them to ex- 

 aggerate my merits. I feel in this distant land a deep 

 gratitude to the many kind Scottish friends who helped 

 to bring my book into notice ; but I feel most to the 

 great Scottish metaphysician ; and with him, and above 

 him, to the man who spoke first, to Hugh Miller. 



' I felt now as if I ought to seek the acquaintanceship 

 of Hugh Miller. This was brought about by our mutual 

 friend, the Rev. Dr Guthrie, who invited him to meet 

 me at dinner. And this may be the fittest place for 

 describing his outward appearance as it first came under 

 my notice. In dress he neither affected a slovenly care- 



