CHAP. III. 



WORKSHOP, AND COLLEGE. 



119 



and he returned to Phantassie full of valuable practical 

 information. The agricultural improvements which he 

 was shortly afterwards instrumental in introducing into 

 East Lothian were of a highly important character ; his 

 farm came to be regarded as a model, and his reputation 

 as a skilled agriculturist extended far beyond the bounds 

 of his own country, insomuch that he was resorted to for 

 advice as to farming matters by distinguished visitors 

 from all parts of Europe. 1 



Of the other sons, William, the second, went to sea : 

 he was taken prisoner during the first American war, 

 and was sent to Boston, where he died. The third, 

 James, studied medicine at Edinburgh, and entered the 

 army as an assistant-surgeon. The regiment to which 

 he belonged was shortly after sent to India : he served 

 in the celebrated campaign of General Harris against 

 Tippoo Saib, and was killed whilst dressing the wound 

 of his commanding-officer when under fire at the siege 

 of Seringapatam. John, the future engineer, was the 

 youngest son, and he was only five years old at the death 

 of his father. He was accordingly brought up mainly 

 under the direction of his mother, a woman possessed of 

 many excellent practical qualities, amongst which her 

 strong common sense was not the least valuable. 



The boy early displayed his strong inclination for 

 mechanical pursuits. When about six years old, his best 

 loved toys were his knife, hammer, chisel, and saw, by 

 means of which he indulged his love of construction. 

 He preferred this kind of work to all other amusements, 

 taking but small pleasure in the ordinary sports of boys 

 of his own age. His greatest delight was in frequenting 

 the smith's and carpenter's shops in the neighbouring 

 village of Linton, watching the men use their tools, and 



1 Amongst Mr. Rennie's other illus- 

 trious visitors in his later years was 

 the Grand Duke Nicholas (afterwards 

 Emperor) of Russia, who stayed 



several nights at Phantassie, and du- 

 ring the time was present at the cele- 

 bration of a "hind's wedding." 



