PRINCIPAL GARDENERS—WILLIAM MCNAB. 317 
A ready response was given to the proposal of the circular, 
and on the 14th March, 1844, a “ Presentation Dinner” took 
place in the Café Royal, Edinburgh, under the presidency of 
Professor Traill, supported by many distinguished citizens. The 
speech of the Chairman and Mr. McNab’s reply on the occasion 
are cited here from the Edinburgh Evening Courant of 14th 
March, 1844. Professor Traill said :-— 
“I have now come to the toast of the evening, and, in introducing 
it to your notice, I do not consider that it is necessary to make many 
observations. When we turn to our worthy friend who sits at my 
right hand, we cannot but congratulate him on the number and 
respectability of those who have met here to do him honour. . 
might say a great deal about Mr. McNab, but I know that his 
character and his merits are so well known, and so justly appreciated 
by you, that 1 do not require to point them out or to dwell upon 
hem. A short history of our excellent and esteemed friend may 
not, however, be uninteresting to this meeting, nor uninstructive to 
those who would attain to the same eminent position which he holds. 
To trace the successive steps by which he rose to that place will 
serve to show what may be accomplished by indomitable per- 
Severance, well directed industry, and unbending integrity, and may 
prove an example to others to follow in his footsteps.” 
After a summary of the chief incidents in Mr. McNab’s life, 
of which an account has been given above, Professor Traill 
continued :— 
and we accordingly have to request your acceptance of a draft for 
£400 on the epee and hea Bank, enclosed in this silver 
snuff box. This other snuff magazine which I hold in my hand, 
fashioned into the form of a thistle, is from the root of a Scottish 
) i e cane 
amboo, gr Ww 
