MEMOIR OF THE LATE MR. DAVID DOUGLAS. 
to David's surprise, placed a Bible in his 
hands, accompanied with the truly kind 
admonition, * There, David, I cannot re- 
commend a better or more important book 
for your perusal." 
It has frequently occurred to us, when 
admiring the many beautiful productions 
with which the subject of this memoir has 
enriched our gardens, that, but for his in- 
tercourse with two individuals, Messrs. R. 
and J. Brown of the Perth Nursery, these 
acquisitions, in all probability, would have 
een 
“ The flowers on desert isles that perish.” 
At this period of Douglas’s life, these gen- 
tlemen were very intimate with Mr. Beat- 
tie, and their visits to Scone afforded op- 
portunities to him to gain their acquaint- 
ance. Both were good British Botanists, 
and so fond of the study, as annually to 
devote a part of the summer to botanizing 
in the Highlands; hence their excursions 
were often the subject of conversation, and 
it is believed, that from hearing them re- 
count their adventures, and describe the 
romantic scenery of the places they had 
visited in search of plants, Douglas secretly 
formed the resolution of imitating their 
example. 
Having completed the customary term 
in the ornamental department, he was re- 
moved to the forcing and kitchen garden, 
in the affairs of which he appeared to take 
as lively an interest as he had previously 
done in those of the flower-garden. Lee's 
Introduction to Botany, and Donn’s Ca- 
talogue, his former text-books, if they may 
be so termed, were now laid aside, and 
Nicol's Gardener’s Calendar taken in their 
stead. The useful publications of Mr. 
Loudon, which ought to be in the hands 
of every young gardener, had not then 
made their appearance; so that his means 
of gaining a theoretical knowledge of his 
business were very limited, when compared 
with the facilities of the present day: but, 
what was of more consequence to one in 
his situation, he had ample scope for mak- 
_ 4g himself master of the practical part, 
oe and it is but justice to state that, when he 
NOL, dH 
81 
had finished his apprenticeship, he only 
wanted age and experience in the manage- 
ment of men, to qualify him for undertak- 
ing a situation of the first importance. 
His active habits and obliging disposi- 
tion gained the friendship of Mr. Beattie, 
by whom he was recommended to the late 
Mr. Alexander Stewart, gardener at Val- 
leyfield, near Culross, the seat of the late 
Sir Robert Preston, a place then celebrated 
for a very select collection of plants, Thi- 
ther David Douglas went in 1818, after 
having spent the preceding winter months 
* in a private school in Perth, revising es- 
pecially such rules in arithmetic as he 
thought might be useful, and in which he 
either had found or considered himself de- 
ficient. He was not long in his new situ- 
ation when a fresh impulse seized him. 
The kitchen garden lost its attraction, and 
his mind became wholly bent on Botany, 
more especially as regarded exotic plants, 
of which we believe one of the very best 
private collections in Scotland was then 
cultivated at Valleyfield. Mr. Stewart 
finding him careful of the plants committed 
to his charge, and desirous of improvement, 
encouraged him by every means in his 
power. He treated him with kindness and 
allowed him to participate in the advantages 
which he himself derived from having ac- 
cess to Sir R. Preston's botanical library, 
a privilege of the utmost value to one cir- 
cumstanced like Douglas, and endowed 
with such faculties of mind and me- 
mory as he possessed. He remained 
about two years at Valleyfield, being fore- 
man during the last twelvemonth to Mr. 
Stewart, when he made application and 
succeeded in gaining admission to the Bo- 
tanic Garden at Glasgow. In this improv- 
ing situation it is almost needless to say, 
that he spent his time most advantageously 
and with so much industry and application 
to his professional duties as to have gained 
the friendship and esteem of all who knew 
him, and more especially of the able and 
intelligent Curator of that establishment, 
Mr. Stewart Murray, who always evinced 
the deepest interest in Douglas's success 
in life. "Whilst in this situation he was a - pu 
F ee 
