INTRODUCTION. 
Xlll 
city his unbounded love for botanical pursuits began to show 
itself so prominently, that be obtained the situation of assist- 
ant to the Professor of Botany in the University, and this no 
doubt afforded many facilities for increasing his information 
and improving his taste. After remaining for some time in 
this place, he went to Edinburgh, where he soon became 
acquainted with the Messrs Dicksons, and these gentlemen 
introduced him to the notice of other votaries of the science, 
both Scotch and English, more particularly to Sir J. E. 
Smith, the President of the Linn man Society, who took a 
great interest in him, and warmly patronised his efforts to 
extend the knowledge of British Botany. On his return to 
his native town, Forfar, he obtained a piece of ground, and 
established a small botanic garden, to which he gave the 
name of “ Dove- hill,” where he cultivated many rare plants, 
especially those indigenous to Scotland. To procure these 
he made many excursions among the mountains, and as the 
ground had been hitherto almost unexplored, he could not 
have failed to make numerous and important discoveries. 
The roots and seeds he collected were propagated in the 
garden, and plants sent out to various parts of the united 
kingdom ; and the specimens dried and distributed in like 
manner. Frequently, it is said, he would spend weeks in 
these mountain explorations ; and there being then no com- 
fortable inns to bivouack in after the fatiguing labours of the 
day, he had just to munch his cheese and bread for supper, 
and lay himself down under the shelter of a rock for the 
night, with his knapsack and wallets as companions. Com- 
forts and luxuries were sacrificed to a zeal for the love of 
Flora, and a desire to make her beauties known to those of 
kindred spirit, who lacked the opportunity to seek for them 
in these wild solitudes. Perhaps his last thoughts before 
laying down his head upon the moss-covered stony pillow, 
might be thus expressed — 
“ Blessed be God for flowers ! 
For the bright, gentle, holy thoughts 
That breathe 
