Biographical Sketch 2 3 



its prosecution as an agreeable and elegant 

 pursuit/' 



Forres Gazette. " L'ectures on Botany. Mr 

 Edmondston, a talented young gentleman 

 from the north, has been enlightening the 

 lieges here upon this delightful science. His 

 abilities as a lecturer are of a very superior 

 order. He has the most perfect acquaintance 

 with his subjects, and he communicates his 

 knowledge in the most plain, pointed and 

 practical manner possible, and chiefly extem- 

 pore." 



It should be borne in mind that scientists 

 were not such " common cattle " in that time 

 as they are now, and it was a rare thing to 

 see one so young lecturing as this juvenile 

 Shetlander did. 



On leaving Morayshire Tom went to dream 

 among the Highland mountains, carrying a 

 note-book which he filled with lists of plants 

 he found, and pen-and-ink sketches. On the 

 fly-leaf he had written, " O ! Dei sapientia in 

 rebus naturalibus." And in Greek, beneath 

 his name, he inscribed some words meaning 

 " Plants are my passion." 



When at home once more his parents saw 

 that he was so embued with the ambition to 



