has made astronomy the subject of
passionate study. I used to spend my school vacation at Largo, and
have frequently heard him expound upon his favourite subject. I
believe that very high opinions have been expressed by scientific
gentlemen regarding Ballingall's attainments. They were no doubt
surprised that an individual with but a very limited amount of
education, and whose hours of labour were from five in the morning
until ten or eleven at night, should be able to acquire so much
knowledge on so profound a subject. Had he possessed a fair amount of
education, and an assortment of scientific instruments and books, the
world would have heard more about him. Should you ever find yourself,"
my correspondent concludes, "in his neighbourhood, and have a few hours
to spare, you would have no reason to regret the time spent in his
company." I could not, however, arrange to pay the proposed visit to
Largo; but I found that I could, without inconvenience, visit another
astronomer in the neighbourhood of Dunkeld.

In January 1879 I received a letter from Sheriff Barclay, of Perth, to
the following effect: "Knowing the deep interest you take in genius
and merit in humble ranks, I beg to state to you an extraordinary case.
John Robertson is a railway porter at Coupar Angus station. From early
youth he has made the heavens his study. Night after night he looks
above, and from his small earnings he has provided himself with a
telescope which cost him about 30L. He sends notices of his
observations to the scientific journals, under the modest initials of
'J.R.' He is a great favourite with the public; and it is said that he
has made some observations in celestial phenomena not before noticed.
It does occur to me that he should have a wider field for his favourite
study. In connection with an observatory, his services would be
invaluable."

Nearly five years had elapsed since the receipt of this letter, and I
had done nothing to put myself in communication with the Coupar Angus
astronomer. Strange to say, his existence was again recalled to my
notice by Professor Grainger Stewart, of Edinburgh. He said that if I
was in the neighbourhood I ought to call upon him, and that he would
receive me kindly. His duty, he said, was to act as porter at the
station, and to shout the name of the place as the trains passed. I
wrote to John Robertson accordingly, and received a reply stating that
he would be glad to see me, and inc