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235 BAILLIE.

Matthew Baillie was born in Scotland, in 1761, at the parsonage (or manse) of Shots, in Lanarkshire. His father was the clergyman of that place, and became afterwards professor of divinity in the University of Glasgow. His mother was the sister of two men whose names will not be soon forgotten, — Dr. William Hunter, and John Hunter, the surgeon, whom it is almost super- fluous to record as the founder of the museum which has signalized his name in every land where science is cultivated ; nor, in the enumeration of his celebrated relations, will it ever be omitted that he himself was the brother of Joanna Baillie, the great poetess of The Passions.

After passing through the school of Hamilton, where his industry and talent were early disclosed, he entered the University of Glasgow. He ap- pears to have devoted himself, during three years, to the study of languages, of mathematics, and of general philosophy; a mode of education, which experience as well as theory indicate as the best preparation for any pursuit which may afterwards be destined to become the principal object of life. Bailhe loved to retrace, in later days, his early companions of the Glasgow classes, and eagerly treasured the good fortune that befel many of