A REMINISCENCE OF HUGH MILLER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3249, 21 June 1916, Page 61

A REMINISCENCE OF HUGH MILLER.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Consideration of your great kindness to me as an old reader of the Otago Witness, tends to open up old memories of your prototype, Mr Hugh Miller, of the Edinburgh Witness. It was in the very early fifties of the last century a Session of the British Association was being held in the City Hall in Glasgow. I was then an apprentice to the engineering, and was anxious to see some of the big people taking a lead in the various branches of science and art. The leading name amongst the officials for that session was the Duke of Argyle, father of the late Duke, who married into the royal family. He was a great geologist. I had an outside privilege of seeing some of the big guns stepping from their coach into the blaze of light of the vestibute of the Candlerigg's street entrance. In personal appearance the Duke struck me as a smart little man with a big round head. But the Edinburgh Mason, Mi' Hugh Miller, had not yet turned up. He was to dilate on the testimony of the rocks and the old red sand stone, and though his part was relegated to one of the side halls, yet he was the most anxiously looked for person of all the learned people of the great gathering. Yet he somehow had not turned up though he was known to have arrived in town, as his rustic plaid and broad bonnet ' had been seen, and spoken of. All the young fellows about willingly volunteered to look for him, as they knew he was a stranger to the city. Some with learned speculation went west to George square, thinking to find him amongst the monuments at the shrine of Sir Walter Scott. He was not there; but those who had gone eastwards came upon a traii of him in the High street. Mr Miller having had the address of an old crony of his Cromarty days, and having some time to spare ere his part of the official duties at the hall required him, and seeing the distance between the hall and High street so short, he looked up his old friend. By good chance some of the local people had noticed the rustic Scotchman, and when the searchers inquired about him the neighbours were able to trace him to the very door of the house where Miller and his friend were immured in a crack en old Cromarty, by the light of a tallow candle. Ho got back to the hall to take his share in the part 'which was alloted to him, ere many knew ho had been lost. Yet I missed seeing him. as my searching had been westwards. I do not think the incident has ever been published, as people usuallv connected with the sessions of the British Association, have their minds set upon bijr subjects. —I am, etc., Greatful Memory.