Some nineteenth century Scotsmen : being personal recollections / by William Knight.

  • William Angus Knight
Date:
1903 [1902]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Some nineteenth century Scotsmen : being personal recollections / by William Knight. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    12/472 page 6
    and obscure. Things long forgotten rise clear on the inner horizon, and subsequently stand out on the threshold of consciousness. Several of those who are mentioned in these pages have had their biographies already written, some of them at considerable length; but many details have of necessity been omitted, and I have tried to recover — from sources written and oral — both anecdotes and traits of character, which a near posterity may care to know. I say “ near,” because almost all biographic records are sooner or later doomed to oblivion ; and it is a blessing that whatsoever is ir¬ relevant in literary work—or useless to posterity —is soon thrown aside with unerring justice, and impartial exactitude. Whenever it has been possible I have given extracts from unpublished letters by the deceased. No living men are included. Some of those chronicled were, and are, well- known Scotsmen : others were not recognised beyond a small circle of friends and acquaintances. This was inevitable, and without wholly endorsing the verdict that strongest minds are those Of whom this noisy world hears least, it may be admitted that many of the noblest souls are least known to fame, even amongst those with whom they live. It should be explained that facts and opinions are recorded of many from whom I differed widely, as well as of those with whom I was in sympathy.
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3