He early showed a singleness of devotion to his chosen work, and has always evinced a spirit of ambitious aim. Some particulars of the latter, while winning him the approval of the thoughtful, have caused him to be misunderstood and censured by others. With fine artistic taste, ever aiming high, fully in earnest, and with no more than (as the writer believes) a just estimate of his attainments and consequent rank as a musician, Mr. Jamieson has sometimes declined to appear at the "two-penny show" concerts given generally in the churches, and often by "artists" (?) of abilities so poor as to render them fit subjects for the training of a rudimentary music school rather than as objects of public view or favor. Still I do not believe that Mr. Jamieson has been unwilling to acknowledge the generally known fact, that much good has often been done by amateurs and others at church concerts, both by the aid thus afforded to meritorious causes, and by the musical practice and public acquaintance obtained for themselves. That he has not been without a ready sympathy for the persons or causes to be benefited by such entertainments is well evinced by the fact, that (notwithstanding he holds certain views mentioned in this connection) he has appeared at times at the same, at the better kind, making no charge for his services; and yet his occasional refusal to appear at certain of these concerts has been attributed--generally by ignorant persons, but sometimes also by others, who, as they knew better, must have been influenced alone by bad motives--to his possession of undue self-esteem, &c. But these unjust criticisms, although often causing him pain, could never swerve him from his chosen path. He would never lower his standard, and he always sought to enter the lists with those who contended for the highest prizes in art. The prominent position he holds to-day as an artist is proof that his course has been the right one, and the one which should serve as an example to all those young persons, who, endowed with musical talents, are yet neglecting to cultivate the same; who are, in fact, allowing them to gradually waste away by giving themselves to unmusical, injurious associations; and who quite too often spend the precious time that should be given under competent teachers to diligent, untiring study, in appearances before audiences whose applause, of doubtful value, is readily bestowed in unstinted quantities, and which serves, alas! but to dazzle, to deceive, and too often to permanently ruin, the young performer.