"I may add that when I wrote in 1879, I was not aware of the existence of a son of Mr. C. My sole object in writing was that Dundee might claim and receive the honour of being the place of birth of the 'Adhesive Stamp.'
"I am, &c.,
"(Signed) DAVID PRAIN.
"P. Chalmers, Esq.,
"Wimbledon."
A Portrait of Mr. Prain, by the talented Scottish artist, Mr. Irvine, subscribed for by Mr. Prain's fellow-townsmen and former pupils, has just been presented in his honour to the Mechanic's Institute of Brechin. The proceedings upon this occasion, including the able speeches of Provost Lamb and of Mr. Prain, will be found in the Brechin Advertiser of 16th June, 1885. On a former occasion Mr. Prain was presented with a Service of Plate and Testimonial to the value of several hundred pounds, subscribed for by former pupils at home and abroad. It is at the testimony of such men as this, including the late Mr. William Thorns, of Dundee, that my opponents sneer as being "the mere wandering fancies of a few old men!" The general testimony is that of an entire locality.
[3] An interesting obituary of Mr. Roberts, lately deceased, will be found in the "Times" of 30th September, 1885. Mr. Roberts is there recognised as the pioneer of postal reform and originator of the proposal of a low and uniform postage.