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Proceedings of the lioyal Society 
illustrated by extracts from rare works which he had collected f6r 
the purpose. In his first session (1861-62), the period embraced 
in his lectures was only from a.d. 30 to 100. 
Although the Government, when he was appointed Professor of 
Church History, dissociated from the Chair the valuable appoint- 
ment of Secretary to the Bible Board for Scotland, still Dr 
Stevenson, from his private resources, was enabled to gratify to the 
utmost his passion for adding to his library. He was a member of 
the Bannatyne Club and other literary societies originated for 
printing valuable historical manuscripts, ancient poetry, &c., &c., 
and the recondite works he thus received were not in his case put 
hastily on his shelves, but were carefully read and criticised. 
He was Vice-President of the Society of Antiquaries for several 
years, and, as his colleague, Sir James Simpson, had given a great 
impetus to archseological matters in Scotland, Dr Stevenson went 
with him hand in hand. His reminiscences of excursions (“ howking 
expeditions” as they were called) planned by Sir James to places 
of antiquarian interest in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, were 
very amusing.* 
As Dr Stevenson, from his excellent scholarship, desired extreme 
minuteness and accuracy in every literary work, this may account 
for his published writings being fewer than his abilities led his 
friends to expect. But, while it was supposed that his appoint- 
* One of these, arranged in honour of Dr Reeves, of Trinity College, Dubliu , 
was to inspect the curious buildings still existing at Culross, and Sir James 
had chartered a steamer to take a large party from Leith to visit that ancient 
Burgh. So much time, however, had been lost in visiting Inch Garvie and 
other islets in the Firth, that on reaching Culross, from the shallowness of 
the water, the steamer had to anchor a long way from the shore. Nothing 
daunted. Sir James, with a dozen of followers, got into a small boat, but it at 
last ran aground. The rest of the party getting into another boat, and avoid- 
ing the error the first had committed, reached the pier by a circuitous route, 
and lent their aid to bring the party which had first left the steamer ashore. 
They were at last carried through the shallow water and mud on the shoulders 
of the Culross boatmen, and the appearance of Sir James himself as he was 
supported on the backs of two sailors, with other two lending their assistance, 
created great merriment This was often referred to by Dr Stevenson as one 
of his happiest excursions. Although differing in Church politics, a great 
friendship existed between Sir James and Dr Stevenson, and on the death of 
the former Dr Stevenson was much affected. He expressed his feelings in a 
poem, a portion of which was inserted in the Life of Sir James by the Rev. 
Dr Duns. 
