314 The Naturalist of Cumbrae. 



complete success over the whole, I do not think we 

 in Glasgow could do it. We Scotch are a contrary 

 people, a kind of antagonistic people that do not 

 work well together. We are split into small parties, 

 and our strength is only known under an absolute 

 leader. Many a time, when we had good prospects 

 of making a great bonfire, that would have illuminated 

 the country far and wide, the thing has been spoiled 

 by disintegrating into small lights flickering here and 

 there. Each, although good of itself, lost the effect, 

 the charm of spectacle, the influence of a whole. 



" I was particularly pleased with the lesson brought 

 out by the history of your society, which showed so 

 clearly that liberality was the precursor of prosperity, 

 with fewer barriers and less exclusiveness. One or 

 two may do great work, but work that is to be 

 continued and improved, and to have its benefits 

 enlarged through coming ages, must gather strength 

 by enlisting the many, and to do that successfully 

 it must be adapted to the requirements and tastes of 

 the many." 



Like that "poet of their own," who is cited as a 

 not untruthful witness when he says "the Cretans 

 are always liars," we have here a Scotchman, himself 

 the most amiable of colleagues, telling us that the 

 Scotch are difficult to work with. Nevertheless, 

 what he says is very much in keeping with what Sir 

 Walter Scott tells us of the character of his country- 

 man in " The Legend of Montrose." On the other 

 hand, those who have had much experience of 

 societies, learned or otherwise, will be disposed to 



