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JOHN CARGILL BROUGH. JOHN CARGILL BROUGH. |Fro £ H the Journal of the London Institution, of VUICH Mr Brough was editor reprinted (says the Journal,) with some trifling alter- ations, from the Pharmaceutical Journal and Transactions^ At Eaher, on Sept. 7, 1872, this man of the large heart and intense human sympathy passed away, aged thirty-eight. If it be true that He prayeth well that loveth well," John Cargill fulfilled to the letter the divine command, Pray without ceasing." The end was not unexpected for years he was a reed shaken by the wind, a lamp flicker- ing in its socket. One Saturday morning, at the break of day, the reed WAS broken and the light expired. Then lie entered into-life. It is very difficult to say anything about him, or about any brave and gentle spirit when lie is gone. Good things appear so meagre in cold print whimsical fancies, the iufinite pleasantry of a passing honr, alike with the unstudied pathos of the moment, bearing no i epenting. Mr Brough (if his frieiitia will pardon the use of any term hut Jack) was not known as a writer to the readers of this journal. Before bis strength began to fail he was the Editor of the Chemist and Druggigt. He was essentially London literary man circumstances led him into the domain of Pharmaoy, but from his boyhood his fingeig were smeared with printer's ink, and the Press claimed him for its servant. Why be was not legally qualified as a Pharma- cist iamtplained in one of his most mournful AND most exquisite notes. Bis was a hand to hand fight with Time, the rusult of constant physioal weakness the res angustce domi pressed heavily upon him. and we are *acting on the dearest wish of his heart in quoting, "There are two friends, whom to know is in itself an honour, who have spent themselves in turning my sick oouch into a bed of roses." toy Mr Brough was born at Pontypool in Mon- mouthshire his father was a brewer, and suf- fered severely in the Charriat riots, the events of which will be found narrated in a work called" Hidden Fire." We need hardly state that be was a younger brother of the Brothers Brough, well known to literature and to the stage. He was first, we believe, employed on the Illustrated London News, and subsequently was connected with the doming Star. He passed on through strange apprenticeship,Type being usually the master, aud thus he was thrown in contact with all sorts of people and Intimately knew so many who have made their mark AND become distinguished. This period most be passed over, though it supplied him with an inexhaustible fund of anecdote he never lost his interest in the geography of Fleet-street and the Strand, or as he himself expressed it, "1 hope I may never be so respect- able as not to be able to siiow a fellow-creature the way to Covent Garden." V, The first undertaking that brought him into P notice was the Editorship of the journal al- ready mentioned, the prosperity of which he strove his utmost to seenre. He was also the Editor of the Ironmonger, writing the technical details of machinery Sub-editor of Nature, which he soon had to relinquish Editor of a scientific periodical called the Laboratory, one of the ablest that haa ever been issued, and patronized by our most celebrated contributors, English and Foreign, yet commercially it was a failure and lasted only six months. He was elected as the first Editor of the Year Book of Pharmacy." Great hopes were entertained that his remarkable knowledge of his subject and skill in abstract and arrangement would have produced an authoritative compendium these hopes were never destined to be realised, as sickness always gave its inexorable veto, and forbade the attempt. There is a little Look of his which may strongly be recommended to the young—it is called Fairy Tales of Science the style is throughout delightful, while the chapter devoted to an Atom is particularly good. fie prepared for the press the last edition but one of "Cooley's Encyclopedia of Practical Receipts." He un- dertook various literary work, reported lectures, wrote articles, and spoke the truth when he aigned himself a journalist." There had been a long and bad quarrel in Pharmacy some time since, the particulars of irhich need not be recalled, the Society supposed TO favour science and education on the one hand, and outsiders supposed to exalt trade Interests on the other there were two journals, the official and the opposition. One thing is certain, that both parties knew very little of each other. Mr Brongh, with a tact beyond praiae, endeavoured to effect a reconciliation or rather a mutual understanding, which amounted to the same tbiug. 441 am convinced," he writes, U that the proposed extension of the Pharmacy Act meets all the requirements of the trade, and I have been working day and night to bring about a settlement of the ques- tion." [Feb. 16, 1867]. Again-" You may be quite sure that I shall not sneer at the Pharma- ceutical Society, for I am convinced that the reform of British Pharmacy can only be worked out by that body." Never surely was there a better peacemaker. His amiability assumed the shape of genins and be is fairly entitled to be chronicled amongst us, if only for bis devoted and successful endeavours when his aid was urgently required. Let him not pass, however, without a word respecting his marvellous social influence. No other adjective will do. It was a gain for one's entire after-life to have enjoyed his companion- ship, he was so utterly unselfish-" so purpose- less in his friendships"—he loved his neighbour better than himself. How many of us can re- collect the broader atmosphere we breathed in his society how we learnt with him to make allowance how instinctively we began to covet the excellent gift of charity nor is it too much to say that his childlike and guilelegfc character, bright with habitual cheerfulness. rippling over with quaint humour, softened and spiritualised by the peace of God, has left behiad it an effect for which hundreds of us reioice. Less we cannot, more we dare not say. We MAY turn for an instant to tbe lighter shades of character—hoping that some who may read this need not be told that Mr Brough not only was wonderfully well versed in the lore of books, but that he had a special gift in letter- writing. His pen talked—that is the explana- tion of the secret: there was simply a mecha- nical difference between his notes and his conversation. Both were the revival of Charles Lamb, with too often a pathetic tinge of Hood. He was beet in. amusement when he had no definite subject, and positively nothing to say. The ability displayed in his serious communi- cations was rare, and iu the power of hinting compliment he has scarcely been surpassed. One of his cleverest public efforts was the introduction at the meeting of the British As- aociation in 1869 to a jeu d1 esprit called "Exeter Change," the appearance of which stimulated not a little the curiosity as well a9 the admira- tion of the scientific men, to some of whom it proved bis first introduction. That brochure contained, besides, the" Ode after Tennyson," which was unique. Nothing was in sprightlier taste than his verse and pencil sketches, which tempted the Follows of the Chemical from their severer studies nor must it be forgotten that the one title of honour of which Mr Brough was Justly proud was that of F.C.S. In 1870, he beoame Librarian of the London Institution, a post for which by nature, training and all his antecedents he was specially quali- fied. Some may not be aware of the continu- ance of that noble library, nor pleasurably acquainted with the courtesy of its officers, nor ret know by experience the large resources it SAS to offer in the way of reference. Here Jack (he was never recognised by any other name) was in full glory, surrounded by books which found themselves in an unusual position close to the Bank, and beaming placidly on his visitors. The old personal fascination followed him to his City home. He wore it like a charm. Those who were fortunate enough to be present at the course of lectures on "Magic" which he delivered to a juvenile auditory last Christmas, will know how great was the delight with which be waa liatened to by the little folks, and how pleased he WAS to DO anything wiiijh could amuse and irratruct them, as Ins affection for children, whether his own or those of others, waa strongly marked. A mysterious Providence aumuroned him from the very midst of bis labours. The decree makes us wonder, but we are silent. His work was done faithfully and to the uttemoot with scarcely a vestige OF what is termad health he literally took np his bed and walked. and as we stood round his grave at Norwood, thinking of bis orphan children, there was this strong consolation, that we knew assuredly that his name was written io the Lamb's own book, and we rejoiced that bright example had IEU others to share that FPERFECT peace which was his bl< ssednpss in the if* that cow is, wailing only for its full ac- #09PH«BIPEQT in that which i,8 to come.

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