105 
strumentality. The great Tercentenary celebration of 1884 will, 
through all the future history of the University, be associated with 
his name. The conception of the celebration was altogether his, 
and its successful realisation owed more to him than to any one else. 
The shock of his unexpected death, on the 30th of November 
1884, following so quickly on the memorable events of the pre- 
ceding April, is still fresh in the memory of his colleagues in the 
University and in this Society. 
James Napier. By Bobert R. Tatlock, F.I.C., F.C.S., F.R.S.E. 
James Napier was born in the village of Partick, one of the 
suburbs of Glasgow, in 1810. His father was a hand-loom weaver 
in humble circumstances, and his mother was a sempstress. At the 
age of seven or thereby he was sent to a small day school in the 
village, kept by Mr Neil, a medical student, where in less than 
twelve months he learned to read with comparative fluency. On 
account of the straitened means of his parents, however, he was 
then sent to work, and found employment as a “tearer” in a calico 
printing works, his remuneration being Is. 3d. per week. When 
he was between twelve and thirteen years of age he was put to his 
father’s trade, and, being conscious of the limited character of his 
education, he endeavoured successfully to earn a little money, by 
extraneous efforts of various kinds, to enable him to attend a night 
school for two winters, by which his writing and knowledge of 
arithmetic were greatly improved. 
Owing to dulness in the weaving trade, he betook himself to that 
of a dyer, and was employed by the Messrs Gilchrist at their works, 
Meadowside, Partick, where, at the age of eighteen, he was promoted 
to the post of foreman “piece dyer,” his wages being then 11s. per 
week. When only twenty-one years of age he married, on the 
slender income of 13s. per week. About the year 1833, on account 
of the dull condition of the dyeing trade, a trades-union was formed 
among the workmen, in which he joined, and would not be dissuaded, 
even by offers of extra remuneration from his employers, in conse- 
quence of which he was dismissed. He was next employed as a 
