146 The Naturalist of Cumbrae. 



idea of the immense activity which Mr. Robertson 

 did in fact exert during this period in different 

 departments of science. 



That he had not altogether forgotten his medical 

 training is shown by a long letter which he wrote, 

 about this time, to a friend on the symptoms and 

 treatment of croup. But knowledge of the laws of 

 health did not enable him to secure himself against 

 much suffering in the year 1858. The trouble and 

 anxiety which this entailed on his wife involved her 

 in her turn in a prolonged illness in the following 

 year. She had a long, tedious recovery, and her 

 medical attendant strongly advised her removal from 

 Glasgow to Cumbrae as soon as she could be moved. 

 He said that she must never think of returning to 

 the warehouse if she valued either her health or her 

 life. To be banished from a sphere in which she had 

 always taken so active a part, as might be imagined, 

 did not at all accord with her wishes. But necessity 

 knows no law. Taking all the circumstances into* 

 account, they resolved to give up their share of the 

 business. The hardware and fancy goods department 

 was sold, and the glass and china warehouse was 

 taken over by Mr. McDougall and his sons, the latter 

 having already, not long previously, been taken into 

 partnership. 



The Robertsons had worked in harmony with the 

 McDougalls for many years. The two husbands felt 

 themselves under deep obligation to the two wives,, 

 both for their counsel and for the energetic part they 

 had taken in practice. Mr. and Mrs. Robertson, on 

 their part, could not but feel some regret at the 



