274 Proceedings of the Royal Society 
appointed in his professional prospects, he purposed spending a 
year at one of the G-erman universities, but from this he was 
turned aside in consequence of the death of his elder brother, who 
was a banker in Brechin, and who, dying somewhat suddenly, left 
his business in danger of being transferred to other hands, unless 
some one should be found to carry it on until such time as his 
son, then a boy, should be able to succeed him. In this emer- 
gency the only one of the family who was free to come to the help 
of the minor was his uncle Thomas, and he at once threw himself 
into the breach, and for two years conducted the business of the 
bank. On this he looked back with satisfaction as affording not 
the least valuable part of his training and education, as it brought 
him acquainted with the busy world, enlarged his knowledge of 
men and things, and gave him an aptitude for the management of 
affairs of which he found the advantage in after life. Whilst 
engaged in the business of the bank he did not intermit his studies 
or neglect opportunities of preaching when these were offered to 
him. He thus let it be known that he had no intention of aban- 
doning his proper profession, and was only waiting till some suit- 
able sphere was opened for him to enter upon the active discharge 
of its duties. Such a sphere was at length obtained by his being 
presented to the church and parish of Arbirlot, in Forfarshire, 
where he was ordained minister on the 13th of May 1830. Here 
he continued to labour with much assiduity and success for seven 
years, caring not only for the spiritual interests of his people, but 
bringing all the resources which previous culture and observation, 
as well as natural ability and good sense, had enabled him to 
accumulate, to bear upon the promotion of their temporal welfare. 
Here he laid the foundation of that eminence as a preacher which 
he afterwards attained, and here also he entered on that acquaint- 
ance with the condition, habits, wants, and perils of the poor, 
which in after years he turned to such excellent account in his 
philanthropic efforts. The fame of his power in the pulpit as a 
preacher, as well as of his administrative ability in his parochial 
cure, having reached the metropolis, where personally he was a 
stranger, he was in 1.837 presented to the church and parish of 
Old G-reyfriars, Edinburgh, as colleague with the lateKev. J. Sym. 
This charge he accepted, on the understanding that he would 
