322 Sir W. Elliot on Denkolm and its Vicinity, 



of trows in Cocker's haugh pool I ought to correct 



this, however, by saying that it applies more to pronunciation 

 than idiom, for he uses of course the words of learned con- 

 versation, with a good mixture indeed of native phraseology 



and forms of speech It may, perhaps, he rather 



in written than spoken language that he is so astonishingly 

 learned, and it may he the gift of pens rather than tongues 

 that has fallen upon him. If he had been at Babel he would 

 infallibly have learned all the languages there, but in the 

 end they must all have merged in the ' Tivitdale.' .... I 

 must say, to his honour, that he has as intimate and profound 

 a knowledge of the geography, history, mutual relation, char- 

 acters and manners of every tribe in Asia, as he has of their 

 language. On the present occasion there is not an island or 

 petty state in the multitude of islands and nations among 

 which we are going of which he has not a tolerably minute 

 and accurate knowledge. His conversation is rather excur- 

 sive, because on his way to the point of enquiry he strikes 

 aside to some collateral topics, and from thence diverges still 



wider from the original object His pen is sober, 



steady, concise, lucid, and well fed with useful as well as 

 curious matter. His reasoning is just, his judgement ex- 

 tremely sound, and his principles always admirable. His 

 mind is upright and independent, his character spirited and 

 generous, with a strong leaning to the chivalrous, and in my 

 own experience I have never found any traces either of wrong 

 head, or of an impracticable and unpleasant temper. .... I 

 have indulged myself in this portrait, because I feel an interest 

 in which you all share in so distinguished a worthy of Teviot- 

 dale." 



The only other name calling for special mention in connec- 

 tion with Denholm is that of the late James Duncan, who 

 died here in December, 1861. He was the eldest son of the 

 Rev. James Duncan, already noticed as having been in charge 

 of the Cameronian congregation, a duty which he performed 

 for upwards of 60 years, until his death in 1830 at the ripe 

 age of 75. He was a man of some classical attainments and 

 seems to have had the talent of imbuing others with a love 

 of literature ; for he was the earliest preceptor of Leyden, and 

 his tastes had probably no small influence in forming the 

 mind of his son. 



Young James, who was born in 1804, completed his educa- 

 tion in Edinburgh with reference to his destined profession 

 of the ministry. But being naturally of a shy, nervous 



