n his native
district, and afterwards as a stone-mason in different parts of
Scotland. In a work published in 1854, "My Schools and
Schoolmasters, or the story of my Education," Mr. Miller gives a
most interesting account of his early history, and of the training
and self-culture by which he rose to honorable rank in literature
and science. Notwithstanding the unpretending statements of this
narrative, and the disavowal of any other elements of success than
are within ordinary reach, every reader of that book feels that
homage is due to a genius original and rare, as well as to natural
talents diligently and judiciously cultivated. While professedly
written for the benefit of the working classes of his own country,
there are few who may not derive pleasant and profitable lessons
from this most remarkable piece of autobiography. After being
engaged in manual labor for about fifteen years, Mr. Miller was for
some time manager of a bank that was established in his native
town. While in this position, a pamphlet that he published, on the
ecclesiastical controversies which then distracted Scotland,
attracted the attention of the leaders of the party who now form
the Free Church, and they invited him to be editor of the _Witness_
newspaper, then about to be established for the advocacy of their
principles. Mr. Miller had already published a volume of "Legendary
Tales of Cromarty," of which the late Baron Hume, nephew of the
historian, himself a man of much judgment and taste, said it was
"written in an English style, which he had begun to regard as one
of the lost arts." The ability displayed by Mr. Miller as editor of
the _Witness_, and the influence exerted by him on ecclesiastical
and educational events in Scotland, are well known. Mr. Miller did
not confine his newspaper to topics of local or passing interest.
In its columns he made public his geological observations and
researches; and most of his works originally appeared in the form
of articles in that newspaper. It was in 1840, the year at which
the autobiographical memoir closes, that the name of Hugh Miller
first became widely known beyond his own country.

At the meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of
Science at Glasgow that year, Sir Roderick, then Mr. Murchison,
gave