| CHAPTER I. |
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| A sailor's early career—First marriage—Escape from shipwreck—Second Love—Traits of character, | 1 |
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| CHAPTER II. |
| Childhood and childish visions—A Father's death—Favourite books—Sketch of two maternal uncles, | 20 |
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| CHAPTER III. |
| Dawn of patriotism—Cromarty Grammar School—Prevalent amusements—Old Francie—Earliest geological researches, | 40 |
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| CHAPTER IV. |
| Uncle Sandy as a Naturalist—Important discovery—Cromarty Sutors and their caves—Expedition to the 'Doocot'—Difficulties and dangers—Sensation produced, | 62 |
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| CHAPTER V. |
| A would-be patroness—Boyish games—First friendship—Visit to the Highlands—Geologizing in the Gruids—Ossian-worship, | 85 |
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| CHAPTER VI. |
| Cousin George and Cousin William—Excursion with Cousin Walter—Painful accident—Family bereavements—Links between the present and the past, | 107 |
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| CHAPTER VII. |
| Subscription school—Vacation delights—Forays and fears—Quarrel with the schoolmaster—Poetical revenge—Johnstone the forester, | 129 |
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| CHAPTER VIII. |
| Choice of a calling—Disappointment to relatives—Old Red Sandstone quarry—Depression and walking-sleep—Temptations of toil—Friendship with William Ross, | 151 |
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| CHAPTER IX. |
| Life in the bothie—Mad Bell—Mournful history—Singular intimacy—Manners and customs of north-country masons, | 173 |
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| CHAPTER X. |
| Evening walks—Lines on a sun-dial—A haunted stream—Insect transformations—Jock Moghoal—Musings, | 195 |
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| CHAPTER XI. |
| An antiquary in humble life—Poor Danie—Proficiency in porridge-making—Depressed health—A good omen—Close of apprenticeship, | 219 |
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| CHAPTER XII. |
| Swimming the Conon—Click-Clack the carter—Loch Maree—Fitting up a barrack—Highland characteristics, | 245 |
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| CHAPTER XIII. |
| The Brothers Fraser—Flora of the Northern Hebrides—Diving in the Gareloch—Sabbaths in Flowerdale woods—Causes of Highland distress, | 268 |
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| CHAPTER XIV. |
| A cragsman's death—Providential escape—Property in Leith—First sight of Edinburgh—Peter M'Craw—Niddry Woods—Researches among the Coal Measures, | 296 |
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| CHAPTER XV. |
| A worthy Seceder—The hero of the squad—Apology for fanaticism—Strikes—Recollections of the theatre, | 321 |
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| CHAPTER XVI. |
| Great fires in Edinburgh—Dr. Colquhoun—Dr. M'Crie—Return to the North—Stanzas written at sea—Geological dreams, | 348 |
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| CHAPTER XVII. |
| Religious phases—True centre of Christianity—Bearing of geology upon theological belief—Delicate health—A gipsy wedding, | 373 |
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| CHAPTER XVIII. |
| Convalescence—Pursuit of algeology—Jock Gordon—Theory of idiocy—Mr. Stewart of Cromarty, | 395 |
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| CHAPTER XIX. |
| Stone-cutting at Inverness—A jilted lover—The Osars—Death of Uncle James—Farewell letter from William Ross, | 416 |
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| CHAPTER XX. |
| Publication of poems—Newspaper criticisms—Walsh the lecturer—Enlarged circle of friends—Miss Dunbar of Boath, | 435 |
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| CHAPTER XXI. |
| Arenaceous formations—Antiquity of the earth—Tremendous hurricane—Loligo Vulgare—Researches amid the Lias—Interesting discoveries, | 457 |
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| CHAPTER XXII. |
| Religious controversies—Ecclesiastical dispute—Cholera—Preventive measures—Reform Bill, | 474 |
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| CHAPTER XXIII. |
| Visitors in the churchyard—The Ladies' Walk—First interview—Friendship—Love—Second visit to Edinburgh—Linlithgow Bank—Favourable reception of "Scenes and Legends"—Marriage, | 497 |
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| CHAPTER XXIV. |
| Married life at Cromarty—Ichthyolitic deposit of Old Red Sandstone—Correspondence with Agassiz and Murchison—Happy evenings—Death of eldest child, | 522 |
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| CHAPTER XXV. |
| Voluntary principle—Position of the Establishment—Letter to Lord Brougham—Invitation to Edinburgh—Editorship of the Witness—Introduction to Dr. Chalmers—Visit from an old friend—Removal to Edinburgh, | 541 |
