y PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 21 



before we proceed to the proper business of the evening, it becomes my 

 painful duty to notice the loss, by death, of one of our corresponding mem- 

 bers, well known for his scientific attainments, who was a highly valued 

 friend Avith many of us, and whose name was familiar to all of us. 



" Dr. Landsborough was born in Dahy in Galloway, in the year 1781, 

 and was oi*dained minister of Stevenston in 1811. During the period of his 

 ministry there, he employed his leisure hours in studying the natural his- 

 tory of his parish, and published a Paper entitled, ' The Natural History of 

 Stevenston and the Shores of Ardrossan.' He continued minister of Steven- 

 ston until the disi-uption of the Church of Scotland in 1843; and since that 

 period, he has filled the pulpit as Free Church minister of Saltcoats. 



" During the long period of his active and very useful life. Dr. Lands- 

 borough contributed largely to the progress of the different subjects which 

 he studied, by various jjapers and popular works ; and though the laborious 

 duties of a faithful minister of the Gospel allowed him little leisure for the 

 active pursuits of science, I cannot allow this occasion to pass without pay- 

 ing a tribute to his virtues, and to the ardent — I may say enthusiastic — in- 

 terest he took in the advancement of natural history. He exhibited, also, 

 the influence of that kindly and social feeling which, in a minister of the 

 Gospel, may sometimes become, in its indirect influence, scarcely of less 

 importance than the instruction he may directly communicate. 



(To he cont'mued.J 



ROYAL PHYSICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 



The first Meeting of this Society for this, its Eighty-Fourtli Session, was 

 held in the Institution Rooms, York Place, on the evening of Wednesday, 

 the 22ud November, 1854 — Hugh Miller, Esq., in the Chair. 



The following Donations to the Library were presented, and thanks voted 

 to their respective Donors : 



1. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, parts 1 and 2 of vol. vii. 

 From the Society. 2. Anatomical and Physiological Observations : By John 

 Struthers, M.D. : from the Author, 3. On the Occurrence of Cinchonaceous 

 Glands in Galiaceoe: Bj^ George Lawson, F.B.S.E.: from the Author. 



Mr. Mir.LEE, as the retiring President, then delivered an opening Address, 

 after which. 



Professor Fleming moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Miller, which was 

 unanimously agreed to, for the very able and beautiful exposition of the 

 present state of our knowledge of the geology of Scotland they had just 

 heard, which he trusted they would be favoured with in a more permanent 



