Records of the clan and name of Fergusson, Ferguson and Fergus

FERGUSON'S ABROAD 493
other meetings, after his retirement from active editorial
work, he would have become far better known to, and appre-
ciated by the younger generation of colonists. He especially
made his mark in Victoria as a speaker, and at the various
Exhibition banquets it was declared again and again, that the
Commissioner for little Ceylon was the most notable man
amongst them when on his legs. He was more than once
asked to go into the Legislative Council, notably by Sir
Arthur Gordon, but it was to take an " acting " appointment,
and having contended on principle that there should be no
acting appointments, he was far too consistent to accept an
offer which, in reality, would have led on to the permanent
seat a few months later. He prided himself in the early
days on being the means of securing cheap newspaper postage
for Ceylon, of freeing printing paper from customs duty, and
of securing the simplification of our tariff, at a time when it
was more cumbersome even than at present. His good Avork
in connection with the Carrier Pigeon Service of the Observer
will not be forgotten : it extended over seven years ; but no
one welcomed telegraphs, railways, or other modern improve-
ments more heartily. How he urged Harbour Works and
Railway Extension for years, is well known. In respect of
social and general legislation, he did much by his writings,
supporting the abolition of Polyandry, opposing the loose
Muhammadan Marriages Registration Bill, criticising in a
long State Paper for Sir Arthur Gordon's benefit, the Bud-
dhist Temporalities measure ; while the consistent stand he
took in opposing the Paddy rents abolition, while retaining
the Customs rice tax, is fresh in everybody's memory. But
all this, and much more, belongs to the record of a life which,
if written in detail, could not fail to offer much of instruction
to the youth of this island.'
Mr. A. M. Ferguson's brother, William Ferguson, F.L.S.
(1820-1887), passed his career in the public service of Ceylon,
and was distinguished as a botanist and writer on natural
history. His son, Mr. John Ferguson, prepared for press-
work in Inverness and London, 1859-61, became assistant-
editor of the Colombo Observer in November 1861 ; acting-
editor 1867-68, and 1871-72 and co-proprietor and editor of the