CHAP. ix. WORKING MEN AND GEOLOGY. 105 



ultimately, as I could arrive at no satisfactory conclu- 

 sion from the drawings, he with great liberality made 

 over to me the fossils themselves." 



With reference to the manual labour by which Dick 

 earned his bread, Hugh Miller says " There is no work- 

 ing man, if he be a person of intelligence and informa- 

 tion, however unlearned, in the vulgar acceptation of the 

 phrase, who may not derive as much pleasure and 

 enlargement of ideas from the study of geology, and 

 acquaint himself as minutely with its truths, as if he 

 were possessed of all the learning of Bentley." * 



In a subsequent letter, written during the same month, 

 Dick says "We have gentlemen-geologists here; but 

 not one of them though they have been many years in 

 the pursuit have a single piece similar to those I send 

 you. They have repeatedly gone down to Thurso East, 

 and returned empty. And why ? For this simple reason, 

 that they were afraid to fylef their trousers !" 



Certainly, Dick discovered and elucidated many things 

 which lie hidden from the eyes of common men. His 

 indefatigable industry in the cause of science enabled 

 him to accomplish much more than thousands of men 

 furnished with the best available education, and with 

 ample means and time at their command, had been able 

 to achieve. His was only another case of " the pursuit 

 of knowledge under difficulties." 



In a future letter to Hugh Miller he said" I got 

 your enclosed extract. I will proceed to make you a 



* Footprints of the Creator, pp. 25, 26 ; Ed. 1876. t Dirty. 



