Obituary Notices. 
493 
to devote large sums of money in its behalf. Chalmers, whose 
views impressed Gunning very much, was well acquainted with 
the apologetic value of such questions, and was in the habit of 
complaining that no provision was made in the theological course 
for it. There might be willing students, and Gunning resolved to 
do something for them. His strong efforts in this direction comes 
out in his correspondence with Sir Robert Christison. Sir Robert 
entered cordially into his proposals and brought them under the 
notice of leading University friends. The second object in the 
benefaction list, £5000, must be associated with Sir Robert 
Christison’s friendly desires to help him to realise his long-cherished 
designs. I am greatly indebted to David Christison, Esq., M.D., 
for documents bearing on this and other matters. He says: — “I 
send you all the correspondence with Dr Gunning which my 
father had preserved. It relates, 1st, to the procuring of specimens 
of the ipecacuanha plant with the object of cultivating it in India, 
at a time when its enormous importance as a specific in dysentery, 
taken in large doses, was being realised. The 2nd series relates to 
the negotiations about the Gunning Fellowship.’ 5 There are also 
documents bearing on Sir Robert’s first acquaintance with him. 
Among the letters is one in which he informs Sir Robert that 
“Professor Agassiz passed a couple of days with him, seeking 
specimens of fresh- water fishes in the river not far from his resi- 
dence. He was going south with Count Portales on the Gulph 
Stream Exploration.” Gunning’s mind was at the time charged 
with strong dislike of what he believed to be the tendency of the 
science of the day : “ Telling Agassiz my disgust with the modern 
caricature of the doctrine of the production (spontaneous genera- 
tion) and reproduction (evolution and development) of living beings, 
he thought well of my idea to help research for the solution of these 
questions.” Another letter to Sir Robert is from Principal Tulloch, 
St Andrews, approving of his suggestions in favour of Dr Gunning’s 
plans, and concluding “I do not think, therefore, you could give 
your friend better advice than what you indicated to me.” 
In the Life of Sir Robert Christison (vol. ii. p. 257) an 
extract from his private Journal (June 27, 1870) is given relating 
to ipecacuanha as referred to above. “ A box of ipecacuanha plants 
arrived from Dr Gunning of Rio Janeiro It has recently 
PROC. ROY. SOC. EDIN. — VOL. XXIII. 2 K 
