470 Proceedings of the Boyal Society 
estate of Balmadies. He seems, from his earliest youth, to have 
had an enthusiastic love for agriculture, and to have from the first 
regarded it not as a business to he conducted by empirical or 
routine rules, hut as an art to be practised under the guidance of 
scientific principles. He intended that he should be a practical 
farmer, but he resolved that to fit himself for this he should make 
himself a well-educated gentleman. His motto seems all along to 
have been u thorough, ” and his guiding rules diligence and method. 
Nothing can illustrate this better than a manuscript volume which 
he left behind him, hearing on its title page, “ A Course of Educa- 
tion, comprising Mathematics, Natural Philosophy, Natural History, 
Chemistry, and Agriculture. Dundee, 1815.” The volume, which 
looks almost as if he intended it to be printed as a text-book for 
young agriculturists, was begun by him when he was 19. It is 
not original work, but consists of notes taken by him during his 
attendance on courses of instruction, of which he gives the follow- 
ing account in a formal preface to his manuscript volume : — 
“ The notes on mathematics, natural philosophy, and the outlines 
of chemistry, were taken at the lectures of Mr Duncan in the 
Dundee Academy, from 1st October 1809 to 1st August 1810, and 
from 1st October 1810 to 1st August 1811, which completed the 
session at the academy. 
“ The notes on chemistry were taken when attending the lectures 
of Dr Charles Hope in the University of Edinburgh, from 6th 
November 1812 to the 26th April 1813. Those on natural history, 
when attending the class of Mr Kobert Jameson, in the same place 
and during the same period. In the same place the lectures on 
agriculture by Dr Andrew Coventry, commenced 5th January 1813 
to 28th April of the same year; but during that period [I] attended 
his class twice a day, at 8 o’clock in the morning and at 3 o’clock 
in the afternoon.” 
This preface is a true index of the character of the man, even as 
he was known in his old age — complete methodicity, unsparing 
energy, and perfect precision in everything. 
Stephens had, by theoretical preparation, made ready for culti- 
vating his own estate, but he felt the necessity for practical study 
also, and therefore he placed himself, with a view to learning his 
work practically, with one of the largest and most skilful agricul- 
