of this prize, as I was sure it was honestly won, and
as I also felt that from my position in class I failed to get
credit for anything like what I knew. This session I went in for
the classical and philosophy parts of the degree, and got them. I
enjoyed a happy week after it was known that I had passed; and the
next thing I had to look forward to was going to the Theological
Hall of the Congregational Church of Scotland, which met in
Edinburgh in the beginning of May. The session at Edinburgh I
enjoyed very much. I had not too much work, and used at odd times
to take long walks and go long excursions. I was often on the
heights, and about Leith and Portobello.'

The Rev. John Paterson of Airdrie, N.B., Gilmour's most intimate college
friend at Glasgow, thus records his recollections of what he was in
those days:--

'I first made James Gilmour's acquaintance in the winter session of
1864-5 at Glasgow University. He came to college with the
reputation of being a good linguist. This reputation was soon
confirmed by distinction in his classes, especially in Latin and
Greek. Though his advantages had been superior to most of us, and
his mental calibre was of a high order, he was always humble,
utterly devoid of pride or vanity. No doubt he was firm as a rock
on any question of conviction, but he was tender in the extreme,
and full of sympathy with the struggling. He was such a strong man
all round that he could afford to give every one justice, and such
a gentleman that he could not but be considerate. One day a country
student through sheer nervousness missed a class question in the
Junior Humanity, though the answer was on his tongue: the answering
of such a question would have brought any man to the front, and
with a sad heart he told his experience to Gilmour, whose look of
sympathy is remembered to this day. He always seemed anxious to be
useful, and he succeeded. During our second session, a brother of
mine married a cousin of his, and this union led to a closer
intimacy between us, and in future sessions we lodged together.

'Throughout his college career Gilmour was a very hard-working
student; his patience, perseverance, and powers of application were
marvellous; and yet, as a rule, he was bright and cheerful, able in
a twinkling to throw off the car