The "Ark" at Millport. 341 



Henderson, who was then on the point of leaving 

 Great Britain for a distant appointment : 



"We are glad to hear that you got safely home. 

 The time is going fast, and you will, I am sure, have 

 quite enough to do before you leave. Millport now 

 seems dull since you all left. It often comes up, the 

 happy time we had while you were here. To keep 

 up old associations, Mrs. Robertson and I take a 

 walk to the Ark every day. We have had some 

 heavy weather for the last few days, with high tides, 

 but the Ark is keeping her ground well, which is 

 giving us hope that she will come safely through the 

 winter." 



In April of the following year he writes to Dr. 

 Murray : 



"I got the chain of the Ark tightened up a little. 

 I am getting the rock on her west side cut away, 

 which will be a great safety to her. I would be 

 sorry to see any mishap overtaking the old lady. We 

 had a pretty sharp gale last night, but she is still all 

 right." 



She is still all right at the time of this present writing, 

 pretty securely planted among the rocks, and fre- 

 quently visited by her faithful volunteer guardian. 

 Dr. Murray, it is understood, is willing to devote the 

 vessel to the purposes of a permanent marine station 

 at Millport. During the summer of 1889 an experi- 

 ment was made to test the interest which the public 

 would take in it An intelligent attendant was paid 

 to take care of it and empowered to admit visitors at 

 a fixed charge. A discussion took place as to what 

 the charge should be. One of the financial committee 



