134 Obituary Notices. 



the "Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society," 

 He became a member of the Highland and Agricultural 

 Society in 1826, and for many years was one of its Council. 

 " For some months previous to his death, Mr. Stephens 

 was prevented by increasing age and infirmities from carry- 

 ing on his literary labours. But in intimate conversation 

 with those friends who delighted to visit him in his retire- 

 ment, his intellect shone bright and clear as ever. His 

 interest in passing events, in politics, and in contemporary 

 literature, never flagged. The laws of hospitality were 

 ever, though modestly, reverenced by the kind old man; 

 who, conscious of not having lived in vain either for 

 ;elf or his fellows, patiently and with the utmost cheer- 

 fuln ss awaited the close of his long life and assiduous 

 labours." 



yood & Son kindly furnished a printed Memoir, of which 

 this irf au outline.] 



William Smellie Watson, Esq., R.S.A. 



Mr. William Smellie Watson, a well-known member of 

 the Royal Scottish Academy, and one of the few survivors 

 of the band of artists who originally formed that corpora- 

 tion, died at his residence 10, Forth Street, Edinburgh, 6th 

 November, 1874, aged 77. Mr. Watson has been twenty- 

 four years a member of the Club, having joined it on the 

 12th September, 1850. The deceased painter was the son 

 of Mr. George Watson, the first President of the Royal 

 Scottish Academy, and cousin of Sir John Watson Gordon. 

 His mother was a daughter of Mr. William Smellie, the 

 printer — well known as the friend of Robert Burns —author 

 of " The Philosophy of Natural History," and of a transla- 

 tion of " Buffon's Natural History "; who also originated the' 

 " Encyclopedia Britannica," as well as many other im- 

 portant and useful undertakings for the increase of know- 

 ledge and the benefit of society. Mr. Watson was born in 

 Edinburgh, where he received the first rudiments of his art 

 education at the Trustees' Academy. He afterwards prose- 

 cuted his studies in London, where he enjoyed the friendship 

 of Sir David Wilkie. He returned to his native city, where 

 he was soon established in good practice as a portrait 

 painter; his portraits being specially remarked for their 

 excellence as likenesses, while not without attractive 

 qualities of colour. During a successful professional career 



