14 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
sophy in King’s College, London, was little better than a title ; for 
he never had a class. 
There was no physicist of his time so universally respected. His 
remains were brought from Paris for interment in the family burial 
place at Kensal Green. The procession was followed by a vast 
number of carriages, including many of the nobility; and even the 
shops in the streets along which the funeral cortege passed were 
shut, whenever it was known whose it was. 
David Aitken, D.D., who had been seven years an Ordinary Fellow 
of this Society, was born about the beginning of this century. He 
died on the 27th March last, in his own house in Charlotte Square, 
Edinburgh. He was educated at the High School and University 
of Edinburgh, and became a licentiate of the Church of Scotland. 
I believe that he had been tutor in the family of the Earl of 
Minto, by whom, or through whose influence, he was in the year 
1829, presented to the parish of Minto. There he remained 
minister for thirty-seven years ; and on resigning his charge, pur- 
chased a house in Edinburgh, where he- lived till his death. 
Being fond of travel, he visited Norway, Italy, Egypt, and 
Syria. As he suffered extremely during the winter season from 
delicacy of chest, he often spent the winter abroad. Possessing an 
independent fortune, he was able to obtain the services of an 
assistant during his absence. 
He was a person of literary tastes, was well acquainted with the 
German language, and was a friend and correspondent of the 
German philosopher Hegel. In the year 1827 he wrote an 
article in the “Edinburgh Review” on German literature. He 
also drew up the Statistical Accounts of Minto Parish, embodying 
an excellent account of its geology, botany, and zoology. 
His knowledge of Church history was so considerable that he 
was offered the Chair of Church History in the University of Edin- 
burgh. On his declining it, the late Dr Welsh was appointed. 
His sermons were in composition marked by great elegance and 
clearness ; but owing to delicacy of chest, his voice was weak, and 
his manner in the pulpit had not the earnestness necessary to 
create interest. 
He was exceedingly fond of natural history, and took great 
