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who was a member of this Society from 1840 till his death 1871, and 
is known as the author of numerous works, including the Traditions 
of Edinburgh, the History of the Rebellion , the Ancient Sea Margins , 
and the (anonymously published) Vestiges of Creation. William 
became a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1860 ; and 
he was made LL.D. by Edinburgh University in 1872. For his 
services to the cause of public instruction, and his work as a civic 
ruler, an offer of knighthood, which he declined, was made in 
1881. But when, a fortnight before his death, a baronetcy was 
offered him, he accepted it. It had not, however, been formally 
conferred or gazetted, when on the 20th May 1883 he died, at the 
advanced age of more than 83 years, and but a few days before the 
ceremony that marked the completion of the last work of his life, 
the reopening of the 'restored church of St Giles. He was buried 
in the place of his birth, and many manifestations were made of 
esteem and gratitude for his services to English-speaking men and 
women, by providing works of instruction and entertainment ac- 
cessible at small cost to all of whatever rank or condition. His 
life of unremitting labour and his remarkable business abilities 
brought to him wealth, honour, and influence, and these were by 
him faithfully turned to account for the general good. 
David Stevenson. 
David Stevenson, the third son of the late Mr Robert Stevenson, 
the well-known civil engineer, was born at Edinburgh on the 1 1th. 
January 1815. Educated at the High School and University of 
Edinburgh, he elected from the first to follow his father’s profession. 
Before entering on his apprenticeship he was for some time in the 
workshops of one of the best millwrights of the day, where he 
acquired manipulative skill and the proper methods of working in 
different materials, — a course he always advocated for those who 
intended to follow the profession of civil engineering. After 
serving a regular pupilage under his father, during which period he 
had ample opportunities of attending various engineering works in 
progress, he was for some time engaged with Mr Mackenzie on 
k 
