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 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.
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