Some subscribers to the list may not be aware of the proposed closure by the National Trust of Scotland (NTS) of
Hugh Millars Cottage in Cromarty, Ross-Shire amongst others to address their financial troubles.
For those who are unaware of his significance and importance there is plenty to read and discover at
http://www.hughmiller.org/
There is now a petition organised by a local councillor at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/keep-hugh-millars-
cottage-in-cromarty-open-for-the-public
The threat was elloquently stated by a fellow subscriber, to of all things a scottish trout fishing forum (wild
fishing forum), whom I will simply quote:
"The NTS want to close Hugh Miller's Cottage in Cromarty. For anyone who's never heard of Hugh Miller, he was a
stonemason who discovered and documented the Devonian fish fossils of the NE coast of Scotland. In the course of
his work, he realised that what he saw was a natural progression of species evolving. He couldn't reconcile this
with his deep religious beliefs, and as a result, committed suicide at a young age.
It's tragic that the NTS want to close the cottage where he was born - containing an internationally important
collection of letters and specimens - because they're strapped for cash. Surely there are dozens of nice "country
pile's" full of Chippendale's and tapestries - the budget's of which could easily be shaved by a few unnoticeable
thousand here and there? Hugh Miller's Cottage deserves to be supported - because he was a wee, honest, hard-
working Scottish stonemason, with no money and living in a Cromarty But'n'Ben, who usurped all the London bigwigs
with his findings, and really DID change the face of science. And it's not a high-upkeep site, compared to the
others on their books: it just happens to be an "easy kill".
I'm not going to post any links to sites... if you're here, you care, and you can use Google.
But I will post what I think is the most wonderful line he wrote, from "The testimony of the Rocks"...
For in this vast hieroglyphic record that this globe composes,
Page lies beneath page, and inscription covers over inscription.
..... it's up to you, boys. And if you think it dosen't matter..... let's not forget that every single fish, in
every single river, loch, puddle, or stockie-pond: from the 2-inch bandy caught in an acid corrie-lochan at 2300
ft, to the 11lb, 13-year-old wild brown caught on Heilan, to the 3lb Don fish, to the ordinary - nay! the
EXTRAordinary wild browns we all love.... every single one of those trout owes their existence - and our mean,
manly pleasure - to Geology!"
Regards
Graham
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