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my correspondent concludes； 〃in his neighbourhood； and have a few
hours to spare； you would have no reason to regret the time spent
in his company。〃 I could not； however； arrange to pay the
proposed visit to Largo； but I found that I could； without
inconvenience； visit another astronomer in the neighbourhood of
Dunkeld。
In January 1879 I received a letter from Sheriff Barclay； of
Perth； to the following effect： 〃Knowing the deep interest you
take in genius and merit in humble ranks； I beg to state to you
an extraordinary case。 John Robertson is a railway porter at
Coupar Angus station。 From early youth he has made the heavens
his study。 Night after night he looks above； and from his small
earnings he has provided himself with a telescope which cost him
about 30L。 He sends notices of his observations to the
scientific journals； under the modest initials of 'J。R。' He is a
great favourite with the public； and it is said that he has made
some observations in celestial phenomena not before noticed。 It
does occur to me that he should have a wider field for his
favourite study。 In connection with an observatory； his services
would be invaluable。〃
Nearly five years had elapsed since the receipt of this letter；
and I had done nothing to put myself in communication with the
Coupar Angus astronomer。 Strange to say； his existence was again
recalled to my notice by Professor Grainger Stewart； of
Edinburgh。 He said that if I was in the neighbourhood I ought to
call upon him； and that he would receive me kindly。 His duty； he
said； was to act as porter at the station； and to shout the name
of the place as the trains passed。 I wrote to John Robertson
accordingly； and received a reply stating that he would be glad
to see me； and inclosing a photograph； in which I recognised a
good； honest； sensible face； with his person inclosed in the
usual station porter's garb； 〃C。R。 1446。〃
I started from Dunkeld； and reached Coupar Angus in due time。 As
I approached the station； I heard the porter calling out； 〃Coupar
Angus！ change here for Blairgowrie！〃＇1＇ It was the voice of John
Robertson。
I descended from the train； and addressed him at once： after the
photograph there could be no mistaking him。 An arrangement for a
meeting was made； and he called upon me in the evening。 I
invited him to such hospitality as the inn afforded； but he would
have nothing。 〃I am much obliged to you；〃 he said； 〃but it
always does me harm。〃 I knew at once what the 〃it〃 meant。 Then
he invited me to his house in Causewayend Street。 I found his
cottage clean and comfortable； presided over by an evidently
clever wife。 He took me into his sitting…room； where I inspected
his drawings of the sun…spots； made in colour on a large scale。
In all his statements he was perfectly modest and unpretending。
The following is his story； so far as I can recollect； in his own
words：
〃Yes； I certainly take a great interest in astronomy； but I have
done nothing in it worthy of notice。 I am scarcely worthy to be
called a day labourer in the science。 I am very well known
hereabouts； especially to the travelling public； but I must say
that they think a great deal more of me than I deserve。
〃What made me first devote my attention to the subject of
astronomy？ Well； if I can trace it to one thing more than
another； it was to some evening lectures delivered by the late
Dr。 Dick； of Broughty Ferry； to the men employed at the Craigs'
Bleachfield Works； near Montrose； where I then worked； about the
year l848。 Dr。 Dick was an excellent lecturer； and I listened to
him with attention。 His instructions were fully impressed upon
our minds by Mr。 Cooper； the teacher of the evening school； which
I attended。 After giving the young lads employed at the works
their lessons in arithmetic； he would come out with us into the
nightand it was generally late when we separatedand show us
the principal constellations； and the planets above the horizon。
It was a wonderful sight； yet we were told that these hundreds
upon hundreds of stars； as far as the eye could see； were but a
mere vestige of the creation amidst which we lived。 I got to
know the names of some of the constellations the Greater Bear；
with 'the pointers' which pointed to the Pole Star； Orion with
his belt； the Twins； the Pleiades； and other prominent objects in
the heavens。 It was a source of constant wonder and surprise。
〃When I left the Bleachfield Works； I went to Inverury； to the
North of Scotland Railway； which was then in course of formation；
and for many years； being immersed in work； I thought
comparatively little of astronomy。 It remained； however； a
pleasant memory。 It was only after coming to this neighbourhood
in 1854； when the railway to Blairgowrie was under construction；
that I began to read up a little； during my leisure hours； on the
subject of astronomy。 I got married the year after； since which
time I have lived in this house。
〃I became a member of a reading…room club； and read all the works
of Dr。 Dick that the library contained： his 'Treatise on the
Solar System；' his 'Practical Astronomer；' and other works。
There were also some very good popular works to which I was
indebted for amusement as well as instruction： Chambers's
'Information for the People；' Cassell's ' Popular Educator；' and
a very interesting series of articles in the 'Leisure Hour；' by
Edwin Dunkin of the Royal Observatory； Greenwich。 These last
papers were accompanied by maps of the chief constellations； so
that I had a renewed opportunity of becoming a little better
acquainted with the geography of the heavens。
〃I began to have a wish for a telescope； by means of which I
might be able to see a little more than with my naked eyes。 But
I found that I could not get anything of much use； short of 20L。
I could not for a long time feel justified in spending so much
money for my own personal enjoyment。 My children were then young
and dependent upon me。 They required to attend schoolfor
education is a thing that parents must not neglect； with a view
to the future。 However； about the year 1875； my attention was
called to a cheap instrument advertised by Solomonwhat he
called his '5L。 telescope。' I purchased one； and it tantalised
me； for the power of the instrument was such as to teach me
nothing of the surface of the planets。 After using it for about
two years； I sold it to a student； and then found that I had
accumulated enough savings to enable me to buy my present
instrument。 Will you come into the next room and look at it？〃
I went accordingly into the adjoining room； and looked at the new
telescope。 It was taken from its case； put upon its tripod； and
looked in beautiful condition。 It is a refractor； made by Cooke
and Sons of York。 The object glass is three inches； the focal
length forty…three inches； and the telescope； when drawn out；
with the pancratic eyepie