261 Proceedings of the Royal Society 
found at the old Brocli on Cockburn Law. His greatest delight 
and recreation was to explore ancient ruins, caves, and encamp¬ 
ments ; to decipher inscriptions or sculptures on standing stones or 
rocks ; and to explore the rubbish of antiquated chronicles or musty 
parchments. Legends, superstitions, and charm stones were not 
beneath his notice, and were carefully studied, in the hope of 
extracting from them some gleam of historical truth. As a ray 
of sunlight enters a prism colourless and comes out radiant with 
beauty,—so these old inscriptions, sculpturings, and legends, after 
passing through Simpson’s scrutiny, often appeared in a new light, 
and gave out a meaning not before suspected.* 
His memory was surprising. Notwithstanding the legions of 
books which he read,—notwithstanding the numbers of places he 
visited, and the multitudes of facts which he gathered up at these 
visits,—he made no notes, and kept no diary, as most persons have 
to do. Any information obtained, whether from his own obser¬ 
vation or from other persons; or any new views expressed on sub¬ 
jects which interested him, he seldom forgot; and could at once 
reproduce or refer to, when necessary. 
Professor Simpson, engaged as he was in the teaching of youth, 
and attentive to subjects of public interest, could scarcely avoid 
taking some part in the educational discussions which have occurred 
during the last ten or twelve years in Scotland. The points he 
chiefly urged for improving public instruction were peculiar, and 
gave surprise to many of his friends. As President of the G-ranton 
Literary Association, he, in November 1867, delivered an address 
or lecture, which was published, on the necessity of some change 
in the mode and object of education in schools, in reference to 
modern and ancient languages .” In this lecture the following pithy 
sentences occur :— 
“ Should they teach the modern languages, that are throbbing with life and 
activity ? or should they teach the old languages of Greece and Lome spoken 
2000 years ago ? 
“ Was it right that one-seventh of a man’s life should be spent in the 
acquisition of these dead languages ? For the clerical profession, he admitted 
* As examples, see Simpson's paper on “ The Cat-stane; Is it not the Tomb¬ 
stone of the Grandfather of IIeng ist and Horsa?" Also to his paper “On 
Ancient Sculpturings of Cups and Concentric Rings in Scotland." 
