What makes this census important
is the quality of the units that compose it. They are free
forcible men, in a country where life is safe, and has reached
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.
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