CHAP. xxin. A , PUBLIC FUNERAL. 413 



Funeral, as the most suitable way in which they can 

 express their gratitude for what he has done, and their 

 sorrow for his removal from amongst us. We accord- 

 ingly invite all who wish to testify their respect for our 

 departed friend to assemble at his house in Thurso on 

 Thursday, the 27th current, at one o'clock p.m., to 

 accompany his remains to the New Burial Ground oi 

 Thurso." 



Of all the things that Eobert Dick could have desired, 

 the very last would have been a public funeral. He was 

 so modest in all that he did, so unwilling to be talked or 

 written about, so retired and self-sacrificing in everything 

 that carrying his remains to the grave amidst the 

 sound of drums and trumpets would have been alto- 

 gether revolting to him. But all this was done by the 

 Thurso people in respect for his memory, and that it 

 might be known that a great though modest man had 

 gone out from amongst them. 



The funeral was largely attended. Men came from 

 Wick and Castlehill, and from the country far and near, tc 

 be present. All the shops and places of business in the 

 town were closed during the funeral. The procession was 

 led by the bands of the Thurso rifles and artillery playing 

 the Dead March in Saul. After them were the Volun- 

 teer Eifle Corps and the Volunteer Artillery Corps. 

 Then came the coffin carried shoulder-high ; pall-bearers, 

 Sir George Sinclair, Bart., James Mill, Esq., Chief Magis- 

 trate, and William Bremner, Esq. The Clergy ; the 

 office-bearers of the Thurso Scientific Society ; the 

 various trades, including the bakers, masons, tailors, 

 19 



