191C-1911.] 



4*3 



self-improvement with much diligence and perseverance. But 

 there were two men to whose inspiration and enthusiasm he owed 

 much, one influenced him as a lad to improve himself in general 

 education, the other later on in life to become a naturalist and 

 take up the systematic study of Natural Science. 



Stewart had a companion with with whom he " ran " at this 

 time, James Neill, who lived opposite the Stewarts in North Street. 

 He was somewhat older than Stewart, clever and intelligent, and 

 fond of country rambles. He began life in a seneschal's (or 

 lawyer's) office. Here he studied in spare time and acquired a 

 good education. Every Saturday afternoon he called for Stewart, 

 and they went for expeditions in the country, and on Sundays 

 when Sunday School was over, and in this way they explored 

 together all the neighbourhood and hills within reach of Belfast. 



William Stewart, the father, was a strict disciplinarian and 

 hard on his children, and regarded the boy's pursuits as waste of 

 time, but Samuel's bad health and need of fresh air stood to him 

 in this respect. Sometimes he had difficulty in getting away for 

 these rambles, and his sister (who helped and shielded him from 

 his father) would often throw him his cap out of the window so 

 that he might escape the father's notice. " I thought," said his 

 father, " I had reared two sensible children, but they have turned 

 out two fools." It was not the only time that love of nature 

 would bring upon him and his fellows of the Naturalists' Field 

 Club the designation " Naturals." I cannot find that the lads 

 pursued definitely any branch of natural history or made collect- 

 ions. There was no Field Club then, and they had no teacher. 

 All I can learn of them is that "they loved every green thing." It 

 was much later on in life that Stewart commenced in earnest the 

 systematic study of rocks and plants. I think he must have had 

 a love for them before, and may have collected and studied them, 

 but not with perseverance and system. 



Mr. Allen, his nephew, says " Mr. Neill was a beautiful 

 penman and expert book-keeper, and a widely-read man, but not 



