68 



Throughout his writings one feels that he wrought 

 his work not for fame or vainglory, but that that work 

 was to him its own reward, and that he felt the power 

 to perceive and in some measure to express the message 

 to man that pervades the universe constrained him to 

 communicate to others what meant so much to himself. 

 In his writings one meets now and again a lament (the 

 only one he makes, though for many years his life must 

 have been a continued struggle with hardship and 

 poverty), that so few will take the true and pure pleasure 

 so freely offered to all, that so few think the study of 

 the universe worth their attention or realise that through 

 it they can learn more fully the power, wisdom, and 

 goodness of the Creator of all. To him such study was 

 a necessity of his very nature, as well as a privilege 

 beyond price that he would fain have shared with all. 

 He held that the whole world is holy and God's message 

 is written everywhere a message that he sought to aid 

 all to interpret ; but one seems to hear from him the 

 burden, " Ye will not come." The introduction to his 

 History of the Molluscous Animals of the Counties of 

 Aberdeen, Kincardine, and Banff (a wonderful work 

 to be the result of less than two years' search) gives a 

 very vivid picture of his keen desire to advance the 

 progress of scientific study, the best interests of education, 

 and the honour of his University. No less does it show 

 how he succeeded in enlisting the sympathies of his 

 students and his pleasure in acknowledging their assist- 

 ance. He speaks in it of " the pleasure of continually 

 adding to one's knowledge, the sympathy of friends, the 



