HUGH MILLER

PREFACE

In the absence of material dealing especially with his last years inEdinburgh a complete Life of Hugh Miller will probably never beattempted. I am informed by his daughter, Mrs. Miller Mackay, F.C.Manse, Lochinver, that the letters and materials sent out to Australiato form the basis of a projected biography by his son-in-law anddaughter disappeared, and have never been recovered. The recent deathsof his son and of others who knew Hugh Miller in Cromarty and inEdinburgh still more preclude the appearance of a full and authenticpresentation. To the scientist the works of Miller will ever form thebest biography; to the general reader and to those who, from variouscauses, regard biography as made for man and not man for biography somesuch sketch as the following may, it is believed, not be unacceptable.

To treat Hugh Miller apart from his surroundings of Church and Statewould be as impossible as it would be unjust. Accordingly thepresentation deliberately adopted has been from his own standpoint—theunhesitating and undeviating traditions of Scotland.

Geology has moved since his day. In the last chapter I have accordinglyfollowed largely in the steps of Agassiz in the selection of materialfor a succinct account of Miller's main scientific and theologicalstandpoints or contributions. My best thanks are due to PrincipalDonaldson of the University of St. Andrews for looking over theproof-sheets; to Sir Archibald Geikie, Director-General of theGeological Survey, London, for his admirable reminiscence of his earlyfriend contained in the last pages of this work; and to my friend J. D.Symon, M.A., for the bibliography of Miller in the closing appendix.

W. K. L.

Aberdeen, April 1896.

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