480 Memoir of Mr. Alexander Jeffrey, by George Hilson. 



him, he might successfully have advanced himself, yet through 

 a backwardness of character, which he had to a large 

 extent where he was personally concerned, or some other un- 

 apparent cause, he could not seize them, and failed to push 

 himself on the notice of those who could, and willingly would 

 have helped him to obtain some of the preferment which 

 occasionally falls to country solicitors. The result was, that 

 his life was an incessant struggle for the maintenance of him- 

 self and family, and it is somewhat sad to think, that with his 

 many good points, in the later years of life his lot was that 

 of a hard toiler. Had he been able to enjoy a little more 

 ease and recreation, there is little doubt his life might have 

 been prolonged. To his credit he never complained, and 

 rather prided himself in declaring that whatever he had 

 done in this world, was by his own abilities and industry. 

 His latter years, as may be supposed, were rather anxious 

 and painful ones to him. He had many sorrows and trials. 

 The greatest was the loss of his wife, in May, 1872. Between 

 them there was a never failing affection and respect. Her 

 death he keenly felt, and it seemed to undermine his 

 physical and intellectual powers. This unfitted him greatly 

 for attending to business, and his later public professional 

 appearances were often painful to those who had been ac- 

 customed to see him in his vigorous days. This continued 

 rapidly to increase during the last year of his life, and on 

 the 22nd day of October, 1874, while quietly sitting unen- 

 gaged in the Sheriff Court at Jedburgh — where he had spent 

 so much of his time — a slight affection of paralysis came 

 over him, and though able with assistance to walk home, 

 his well-known person never appeared again on the streets 

 of Jedburgh. The disease soon overcame his already en- 

 feebled mental and physical- powers, and on Sunday, the 

 29th of November following, he peacefully died in the 68th 

 year of his age, and on Wednesday the 2nd day of December, 

 his remains were buried in the Abbey Church-yard of Jed- 

 burgh. 



[Mr Jeffrey was elected a member of the Berwickshire 

 Naturalist's Club, June 26th, 1862. He contributed two 

 topographical papers to the Club's " History." 1. On Jed- 

 burgh. — vol. iv., pp. 344-356. 2. On Ancrum. — vol. v., pp. 

 128-133.] 



