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of Edinburgh, Session 1878 - 79 . 
power of memory. Hearing the name of “ Martyn Roberts ” he 
asked, “Did you as a boy write me a remarkable letter on astronomy?” 
It was quite true, and occurred some forty years before. 
It would be impossible and unnecessary here to enumerate all his 
fugitive writings and the many things to which he turned his atten- 
tion during his life, or to notice the testimony of those who knew 
his usefulness. 
Through all his activity there glowed a very passion for the 
beauties of that extensive prospect at Pendarven and the glories of 
light and shade on the distant hills. This was to be expected in 
one ever looking out for perfection, and crying “ Excelsior ! ” and 
often, while gazing on those splendid mountain sunsets, he was 
“ Rapt into still communion that transcends 
The imperfect offices of prayer and praise. 
Of him it might be said that he was found 
By his intense conceptions, to receive 
Deeply, the lesson deep of love.” 
He dearly loved his home, and delighted in listening to the music 
of his family. Yet like most men of imaginative wit, he was not 
only full of genial humour, but excitable, and ready with slashing 
sarcasm for obstructive stupidity and dishonesty. His family and 
friends can testify to his affectionate and attachable disposition. 
Indeed, his heart was too tender to admit of his ever joining in the 
ordinary country sports. He took delight in the songs and flight of 
birds, and never could hurt or shoot a living thing for pleasure. 
The last few years of his life were spent in Bath, where he under- 
went much suffering, until he died on the 8th September 1878. 
But his mortal remains rest beside those of his eldest son in the 
Welsh churchyard of Llangenny, where he had so often listened 
to the rush of the mountain stream, and felt that all was to him a 
revelation of the Divine. 
Robert Harkness was born at Ormskirk, Lancashire, on 28th 
July 1816. He was educated first at Dumfries, and afterwards at 
the University of Edinburgh ; so that although English by birth he 
was Scotch by early training and residence, and even to the last 
was often supposed to be a native of the north side of the Tweed. 
It was while attending the lectures of Professor Jameson that he 
