260 THE JOURNEYMAN. 



Principal Baird, at this time one of the most eminent 

 ministers of the Church of Scotland, was among the 

 first to stretch out a friendly hand to the Cromarty 

 poet. Miller was introduced to him in Inverness by 

 Mr Carruthers shortly after the appearance of the poems, 

 and Baird suggested that he should draw up that 

 account of his education and opinions which has been 

 so frequently mentioned. The first part of the narrative 

 was soon ready, and Miller despatched it, in the autumn 

 of 1829, to Baird in Edinburgh. He took occasion 

 at the same time to thank Baird for ' the very favour- 

 able critique ' on the poems which had appeared in the 

 Caledonian Mercury. The critique in question had been 

 written by Dr James Brown, working editor of the 

 Encyclopedia Britannica, and Baird hastens to de- 

 clare that he "had no hand whatever, directly or 

 indirectly/ in its publication. ' But you say nothing/ 

 adds Baird, ' in your letter as to my suggestion when at 

 Inverness of giving your busy hours to your profession 

 here during the ensuing winter, and your leisure hours 

 to reading books, and plying your pen, and extending 

 your acquaintance with the living as well as the dead 

 world of literature/ These words occur in a letter dated 

 November 24, 1829. We have Miller's reply, bearing 

 date the 9th of the following December. ' Prom my 

 engagements here and at Inverness, I cannot avail 

 myself of your kind invitation to spend the winter 

 at Edinburgh, but I appreciate its value and feel 

 grateful for your kindness. My acquaintance with 

 the dead world of literature is very imperfect, and 

 it is still more so with the living ; instead, however, 

 of regretting this, I think it best to congratulate myself 

 on the much pleasure which from this circumstance 

 there yet remains for me to enjoy. If I live eight or 



