204 Biographical Account of the 



of specimens for the use of his students. It is to be hoped 

 that means may be devised to remedy this evil, and that 

 Marischal College, which has already done so much to rais v 

 the standard of education in the north, will make a vigorous 

 exertion to procure a suitable Museum, so that, in future, the 

 Professor of Natural History shall not be obliged to spend most 

 of his income, for the first few years of his holding the office, 

 in procuring the most common and necessary objects. On 

 the present occasion, in particular, it is to be hoped that Dr 

 Macgillivray's collections will not be allowed to be dispersed, 

 but purchased for the use of the class. 



He was a careful lecturer, explaining every part of his 

 subject as minutely as his time would permit. To his stu- 

 dents he was ever kind and courteous, and he delighted in en- 

 couraging all who shewed any taste for their studies, — all 

 his information was ever at their service, as indeed it was to 

 any one who took an interest in Natural History. 

 _ He kept good order and discipline among his pupils, 

 with little trouble either to them or himself, for they gene- 

 rally loved him ; and if he at times found occasion to re- 

 prove sharply, it was done as a painful duty which he owed 

 to those who were deliberately wasting precious time, and 

 neglecting to improve the talents which he saw that they 

 possessed. 



He was mild and gentle in his manners, and of a retiring 

 and unobtrusive disposition, never thinking highly of him- 

 self or his acquirements, but rather disposed to give place 

 to others. Engrossed by his own pursuits and duties, he 

 took little interest in the public affairs of the world, or 

 in the momentous changes both in state and church which 

 occurred in his day. 



By his colleagues in the University he was highly esteem- 

 ed. In an address of condolence to his family, adopted at 

 the first meeting of the Senatus after his death, they thus 

 express their feelings regarding him: — "The Senatus, tak- 

 ing into consideration the high and acknowledged eminence 

 of their late colleague, Dr Macgillivray, in natural science, 

 his zealous and laborious efforts to promote the interests 

 thereof, both as a teacher and as an author, and his amiable 



