1813-36.] EARLY YEARS. 5 



with Saxon forethought and perseverance. We are not 

 sure but it gave a tinge to his affections, intensifying his 

 likes, and some of his dislikes too. His attachment to 

 Sir Roderick Murchison was quite that of a Highlander, 

 and hardly less so was his feeling towards the Duke of 

 Argyll — a man whom he had no doubt many grounds for 

 esteeming highly, but of whom, after visiting him at 

 Inveraray, he spoke with all the enthusiasm of a High- 

 lander for his chief. 



The Ulva emigrant had several sons, all of whom but 

 one eventually entered the King's service during the 

 French war, either as soldiers or sailors. The old man 

 was somewhat disheartened by this circumstance, and 

 especially by the fate of Charles, head-clerk in the office 

 of Mr. Henry Monteith in Glasgow, who was pressed on 

 board a man-of-war, and died soon after in the Mediter- 

 ranean. Only one son remained at home, Neil, the father 

 of David, who eventually became a tea-dealer, and spent 

 his life at Blantyre and Hamilton. David Livingstone has 

 told us that his father was of the high type of character 

 portrayed in the Cottar s Saturday Night. There are 

 friends still alive who remember him well, and on whom 

 he made a deep impression. He was a great reader from 

 his youth upwards, especially of religious works. His 

 reading and his religion refined his character, and made 

 him a most pleasant and instructive companion. His 

 conversational powers were remarkable, and he could 

 pour out in a most interesting way the stores of his read- 

 ing and observation. 



Neil Livingstone was a man of great spiritual earnest- 

 ness, and his whole life was consecrated to duty and the 

 fear of God. In many ways he was remarkable, being in 

 some things before his time. In his boyhood he had seen 

 the evil effects of convivial habits in his immediate circle, 

 and in order to fortify others by his example he became a 

 strict teetotaler, suffering not a little ridicule and opposi- 



