The Cruise of the Betsey

Hugh Miller (1802-1856) was a self-taught Scottish geologist and writer, folklorist and an evangelical Christian. At 17 he was apprenticed to a stonemason, and his work in quarries, together with walks along the local shoreline, led him to the study of geology. In 1829, he published a volume of poems, and soon afterwards became involved in political and religious controversies. In 1834, he became accountant in one of the local banks, and in the next year brought out his Scenes and Legends of the North of Scotland. In 1840, the popular party in the Church, with which he had been associated, started a newspaper, The Witness, and Miller was called to be editor in Edinburgh. Amongst his other works are First Impressions of England and its People (1847), My Schools and Schoolmasters; or, The Story of My Education (1854), The Cruise of the Betsey (1857), Tales and Sketches (1863) and Leading Articles on Various Subjects (1870).