MEMOIR. 25 



enjoyment of his Elgin residence was much increased by his 

 friend and companion in sport, Captain Gordon Gumming, or 

 later, Major Gordon Gumming, having a house in the neighbour- 

 hood. 



His life at Elgin was indeed, I believe, very happy. His 

 letters were full of active pursuits, with now a fair mixture of 

 literary work. All his talents were turned to account. No walk 

 or drive but furnished a note on his favourite study. He no longer 

 complained that he was an idle man. 



I sometimes visited him at " The College," and used to admire, 

 perhaps a little to envy, his manner of living among his children. 

 The boys were the constant companions of his sport when school 

 permitted, and sometimes the schoolmaster was forgotten when the 

 car came to the door to take papa and Eennie to the Loch. Then, 

 on return, there were the contents of the game-bag to examine 

 rare specimens to note, and sometimes to preserve and stuff after 

 Mr Hancock's directions, who was a great friend and ally of old 

 and young. In the evening the drawing-room table was a pretty 

 sight. Some rare bird, or if no rarity offered, a good, handsome, 

 old blackcock was displayed en pose for the artists, and father and 

 children made studies in water-colours of a head, a claw, or a tail 

 of the fine bird. Without pretending to much skill in art, St 

 John drew easily and coloured dexterously what was placed 

 before him, and he made all his children able to do the same. 

 I remember with what pride he showed me the journals sent 

 him by Harry on his first voyage in Admiral Seymour's ship, 

 where the young middy described the places he visited as 

 well as he could, and supplied defects by views drawn on the 

 margin. 



St John spent some happy years at Elgin, and his friends 

 looked forward to many days of life and enjoyment for one so 

 vigorous and active, and of most temperate and healthy habits ; but 

 this was not to be. He had been for a long time subject to violent 

 attacks of nervous headache, quite disabling him for any exertion ; 

 but these were of short duration, and we little thought that they 

 might be symptomatic of some cerebral affection, as it seems they 



