PREFACE 



IN the absence of material dealing especially with his 

 last years in Edinburgh a complete Life of Hugh 

 Miller will probably never be attempted. I am in- 

 formed by his daughter, Mrs. Miller Mackay, F.C. 

 Manse, Lochinver, that the letters and materials sent 

 out to Australia to form the basis of a projected 

 biography by his son-in-law and daughter disappeared, 

 and have never been recovered. The recent deaths 

 of his son and of others who knew Hugh Miller in 

 Cromarty and in Edinburgh still more preclude the 

 appearance of a full and authentic presentation. To 

 the scientist the works of Miller will ever form the 

 best biography; to the general reader and to those 

 who, from various causes, regard biography as made 

 for man and not man for biography some such 

 sketch as the following may, it is believed, not be 

 unacceptable. 



To treat Hugh Miller apart from his surroundings 

 of Church and State would be as impossible; [as 

 it would be unjust. Accordingly the presentation 



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