d the greatest value. They give the
bias to the current age; and that not by chance or by mass, but by
their character, and by the number of individuals among them of
personal ability."--Emerson: English Traits.

From Belfast to the Highlands of Scotland is an easy route by steamers
and railways. While at Birnam, near Dunkeld, I was reminded of some
remarkable characters in the neighbourhood. After the publication of
the 'Scotch Naturalist' and 'Robert Dick,' I received numerous letters
informing me of many self-taught botanists and students of nature,
quite as interesting as the subjects of my memoirs. Among others,
there was John Duncan, the botanist weaver of Aberdeen, whose
interesting life has since been done justice to by Mr. Jolly; and John
Sim of Perth, first a shepherd boy, then a soldier, and towards the
close of his life a poet and a botanist, whose life, I was told, was
"as interesting as a romance."

There was also Alexander Croall, Custodian of the Smith Institute at
Stirling, an admirable naturalist and botanist. He was originally a
hard-working parish schoolmaster, near Montrose. During his holiday
wanderings he collected plants for his extensive herbarium. His
accomplishments having come under the notice of the late Sir William
Hooker, he was selected by that gentleman to prepare sets of the Plants
of Braemar for the Queen and Prince Albert, which he did to their
entire satisfaction. He gave up his school-mastership for an ill-paid
but more congenial occupation, that of Librarian to the Derby Museum
and Herbarium. Some years ago, he was appointed to his present position
of Custodian to the Smith Institute--perhaps the best provincial museum
and art gallery in Scotland.

I could not, however, enter into the history of these remarkable
persons; though I understand there is a probability of Mr. Croall
giving his scientific recollections to the world. He has already
brought out a beautiful work, in four volumes, 'British Seaweeds,
Nature-printed;' and anything connected with his biography will be
looked forward to with interest.

Among the other persons brought to my notice, years ago, were
Astronomers in humble life. For instance, I received a letter from
John Grierson, keeper of the Girdleness Lighthouse, near Aberdeen,
mentioning one of these persons as "an extraordinary character."
"William Ballingall," he said, "is a weaver in the town of Lower Largo,
Fifeshire; and from his early days he