20 
MEMOIR OP DR. WALKER. 
to the public, and may thus he considered the 
founder as well as the builder of that splendid 
museum, which is the boast of our university, and 
one of tlie most attractive as well as useful objects 
of curiosity in our city. 
When Mr. Walker had finished with propriety 
his preliminary course at the university, and gone 
through with approbation his trials before the pres- 
bytery of Edinburgh, he was licensed to preach the 
gospel. He did not, however, continue long what 
is called a probationer, having been ordained as 
minister of the parish of Glencross on the 1 3th day 
of September, 1758. This parish, which lies south 
from Edinburgh seven miles, w T as delightfully situ- 
ated for a botanist, among the Pentland heights ; 
and here Mr. Walker spent the next four years of 
his life, assiduously cultivating the science he loved, 
not only amid the romantic scenery by which he 
was surrounded, but making extensive excursions 
to explore the vegetable and mineral kingdoms 
throughout the country, and examine any of the 
remarkable productions of nature which claimed the 
attention of a philosopher. 
Among the acquaintance he formed at this time, 
and with whom he ever after kept up a correspond- 
ence upon subjects in which they both felt equally 
interested, was the Honourable Henry Home of 
Kames, one of the senators of the college of justice, 
&c., better known as Lord Kames ; and one of their 
great bonds of connexion was a desire for the im- 
provement of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. 
