Memoir of the late John Hutton Balfour. 225 



loved him more than the membei's of the Scottish Alpine Botanical Club. 

 Endowed by nature with a wiry frame, he was able, even in his advanced 

 age, to accomplish long and fatiguing journeys over hill and moor; and he 

 inspired his comrades with his own indomitable energy and pluck. His 

 very humour and unfailing good fellowship were a constant source of 

 enjoyment ; and his Spartan disregard of luxury and faithful adherence to 

 the programme of the day, however arduous, had a wholesome and bracing 

 influence on all the members of the Club. While engaged in the pursuit 

 of Botanical science, he never forgot the claims of humanity, and he was 

 always found taking a daily interest in the welfare of those whose lot was 

 cast among the hills and glens of his native land. He was a true servant 

 of the Master, and when among f 1 1 o hills spent his Sundays in visiting the 

 humble homes of the cottagers and shepherds on the hillsides, and 

 ministering to their spiritual and material welfare. His memory is 

 cherished in many a lonely hamlet, and his kind words and deeds will not 

 soon be forgotten. He died full of years and honours, leaving behind him 

 the memory of a life well-spent in the advancement of Botanical science, 

 and in the training of thousands of the youth of his native land in the 

 diligent and reverential study of the works of Him to whose service lie 

 consecrated his life. His loss is felt and mourned by all lovers of Botany, 

 and by none more than by the members of the Scottish Alpine Botanical 

 Club." 



He took a deep interest in the University, and for 30 years was 

 Dean of the Medical Faculty, and not only discharged the duties 

 of the office with credit to himself and with much advantage to 

 the University ; but as Dean undertook most cheerfully an 

 amount of work which few are able or willing to perform. He 

 was personally fond of work, being by nature of active habits. 

 For upwards of ten years he was General Secretary to the Royal 

 Society of Edinburgh, and latterly was one of its Vice-Presidents. 



He was a member of many learned Societies in this and other 

 countries, among which may be mentioned the following : — He 

 was a Fellow of the Royal Society of London, Fellow of the 

 Royal Society of Edinburgh, Fellow of the Linnean Society, etc., 

 etc. He was also Queen's Botanist for Scotland. 



Three Universities conferred on him the degree of LL.D., 

 namely — Edinburgh, Glasgow, and St Andrews. 



He devoted much of his time to literary work. He was for 

 many years joint editor of the Annals of Natural History with 

 Sir William Jardine and Professor Babington of Cambridge, 

 and was also Editor of the Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal. 

 Among his published works may be mentioned : Plant Temperature, 

 1861 ; Manual of Botany, 1875 ; Botany and Religion, 1859 ; Cla.su 

 Bool of Botany, 1871 ; Outlines of Botany, 1862 ; Plants of Scrip- 

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