Grampian Club > Leaves from my autography

92 LEAVES FROM MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
were privileged to partake, will he inclined to exclaim sorrow-
fully-
" ' We shall not look ujjoii his like again.' "
My own sentiments, on the occasion of my father's
death, are thus expressed in my diary :
" I have lost a true and loving friend. . . . Had my
father died when I was at college, I could not have complained,
for he was then beyond the appointed threescore years and ten.
Had he been removed earlier — had he died in INIarch 1836,
when he was thrown from his horse and severely injured — how
could I have been educated ? Even if he had died prior to
July last, I should have had no home in which to receive my
aged aunt, and no means of supporting her."
My father, as formerly stated, was deficient as a
financier. Before his death I undertook to discharge
his liabilities, towards which I surrendered my
mother's portion, an allowance of £200 to wdiich I
was entitled from a church fund, and the half-year's
stipend allowed to the heirs of deceased clergymen.
There remained a balance of £300, which, if I had
early obtained a living, would have proved no incubus,
but which, under existing circumstances, encumbered
me for years.
Though my position at Dunfermline was, from the
nature of my ministerial duties, as well as my re-
stricted resources, not very comfortable, I possessed
counterbalancing advantages. From the outset I en-
joyed access to the best society of the place. Among
my acquaintances was an ingenious local antiquary,
Mr Joseph Neill Paton, and in his elegant villa I was