A MEMOIR. 15 



It was during his term at Melville Castle that the 

 gardens of a large private place, which had formerly- 

 been open to the public, were closed. As the place 

 contained a very fine collection of plants, the eight or ten 

 young radicals, in the " Bothy " of Melville Castle, held 

 a council of war and decided that each should prepare art 

 article for the press protesting against the owner's 

 action in barring out the public. 



When the apprentices met again, the articles were 

 read, and the one contributed by Peter Henderson, the 

 youngest of them all, was unanimously adopted as the 

 best expression of their views. It was published, and 

 although its author years afterwards admitted that the 

 view taken was entirely erroneous, the article was suffi- 

 ciently strong and able to call forth a half column reply 

 from one of the leading London papers. 



While at Melville Castle, he first put into practical 

 application his temperance principles, by example and 

 entreaty inducing most of his companions to abstain 

 from going to the village tavern Saturday nights, which^ 

 previous to his arrival had been the regular custom. 



It was during his 'prentice days, not content with the 

 education he had received at school, that he and Mr, 

 Wilson walked ten miles twice a week for a year, to at- 

 tend a mathematical class in Edinburgh. And his thirst 

 for knowledge was so strong, that in his first apprentice 

 days, his companions in the " Bothy " used to laugh at 

 him for reading the Dictionary at his i leals. He kept 

 at it for six months, until he finished it, and then pro- 

 nounced it a most interesting book, "no matter what 

 others might say." The practical outcome of it was 

 that his " Bothy " companions found that when he was 

 through, he could spell and define any word which they 

 might put to him. But, with all his studiousness and 

 industry he was not a recluse by any means, for there 

 is ample testimony to show that in all the frolics of the 

 country side he was always the leading spirit. 



Old Adam Kitchen, for fifty-two years carpenter at 

 Melville Castle, where he still plies the hammer and saw. 



