8 Proceedings of Royal Society of Edinburgh. [sess. 
on his genuine sterling worth, so that he fully merited the encomium 
of the aforesaid Countess : — “His skill was almost as great as his 
honesty, and had it stretched so far, would have made Nature 
immortal, and death should have play for lack of work.” 
Duncan had a naturally robust constitution, hut it was observed 
by his friends for some months before his death that his health 
was seriously impaired, and a general feeling was entertained that 
his unwearied devotion to work was at the root of this. He 
abandoned teaching and professional duty, and went for a short 
and thorough rest to Belgium, and subsequently to Baden-Baden, 
where he had a severe attack of angina pectoris, from which how- 
ever he rallied, and had made arrangements for his return home 
when he died suddenly on 1st September last. He left behind him 
his amiable lady, and a family of five sons and four daughters. 
James Matthews Duncan will long be remembered by his pro- 
fessional brethren, and those who benefited by his skill, as a true- 
hearted friend and adviser, an unobtrusively pious Christian, and a 
genuine sample of that honest man who is the noblest work of God. 
David Milne Home of Milne-Graden was born in 1805. His 
father was Admiral Sir David Milne, his brother being Admiral of 
the Fleet Sir Alexander Milne. He assumed the surname of Home 
on his marriage in 1832 with Miss Home of Paxton, in Berwickshire. 
He devoted himself to the study of Law, entered the Faculty of 
Advocates in 1826, and at the time of his death was the second 
oldest member of that learned body. In 1844 he was Senior 
Advocate-Depute, but did not continue to practise at the bar after he 
succeeded to the family estates. He betook himself to country life, 
but did not confine himself to the management and enjoyment of 
his property, but devoted himself to Science, for which he had 
manifested a strong inclination from his boyhood. He became a 
Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1828, and was for a 
long time a Vice-President and active member of the Council. He 
was Vice-President of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, the 
Meteorological Society of Scotland, and the Geological Society of 
Scotland, of which he was elected President in 1874. This office 
he held at the period of his death. In 1870 the University of 
Edinburgh, in consideration of his scientific attainments, conferred 
on him the degree of LL.D. 
