18 PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS. 



of Her Royal Highness' character, and also to know that, in all that touches the 

 happiness of your Majesty, you have the loyal affection and sympathy of all your 

 people. Sealed with the corporate Seal of the Society, and signed in its name by the 

 Most Noble, Schomberg Henry, Marquis of Lothian, K.T., President of the Society — 

 Lothian, President. [Seal.] Highland and Agricultural Society's Hall, Edinburgh, 15th 

 January 1879 " In moving the adoption of the address, the noble Chairma.n said he would 

 make a few remarks on the subject. It liad been the custom of this Society to address 

 her Majesty on all occasions which had touched her happiness either for weal or for 

 woe ; and he thought that although some time had now elapsed since the sorrowful 

 event to which he had referred had taken place, it would still become this great 

 Society, representing Scotland as it did — both by numbers and influence, because its 

 members were drawn from all parts of the country, north and south, east and west — 

 it would still become them to present an address. He humbly thought that it would 

 be also gratifying to her Majesty, as it would show the feeling that animated the whole 

 people of Scotland as represented by this great Society. It was not necessary for him 

 to say anything as to the character of the Princess Alice, as her high qualities had 

 been recognised in every address that had been sent to the Queen. The country had seen 

 and acknowledged her great tenderness and affection towards her father and mothei', 

 her devotion to her brother, lier husband, and children. In every position of distress 

 and difficulty in whicli the family had been placed she had been amongst the first, if 

 not the first, to console and assist them. They knew very well the great sense of duty 

 which animated her Royal Highness not only in her public but in her private capacity. 

 She always showed a desire to relieve suffering wherever it was. She did not confine 

 her exertions to tlie places with which she was connected, bat wherever she might be 

 she found out her duties, and there she fulfilled them. In reply to the loyal addresses 

 sent to the Queen her Majesty had given an answer which must have touched the 

 hearts of all wlio had read it. It was a happy peculiarity of the relations between the 

 Throne and the subjects in this country that they felt a mutual interest in all that 

 concerned the one and the other ; and he \ entured to say that the Queen's letter had 

 shown that amid all the affliction and sorrow that she felt she was ready to feel for the 

 distress of her people. He moved that the address be adopted. 



The motion was unanimously agreed to. 



The late Marquis of Tweeddale.— The Marquis of Lothian said he was soiTy that 

 the next duty before him was also one referring to a loss sustained by the Society. He 

 ^vould read the following excerpt from the Minutes of the Directors :— " They resolved 

 to record in the Minutes their deep regret for his loss, and their sense of the obligations 

 which the Society owed to him as a Vice-President, and for the interest he took in its 

 welfare. That the Meeting ilirect that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the 

 Marchioness of Tweeddale, with their respectful condolence under so painful a 

 bereavement." The noble Chairman went on to say that it was but a very short time 

 since they as a Society had to lament the loss of the Marquis of Tweeddale. The late 

 Marquis had succeeded to his father only for a short time, but during that very short 

 time he had so acted as to show how much he felt the responsibility of his position; 

 and he had observed it mentioned in one of the London newspapers with reference to 

 him that the loss of such a man was a national loss. That was what he was as the 

 Marquis of Tweeddale. But this Society regarded him as being their Vice-President, 

 and if it had pleased the Almighty to spare him longer he would probably have taken 

 a position similar to that which his father filled so long, and with so great advantage 

 to the agriculture of Scotland. In the capacity of Vice-President of the Society he 

 showed great interest in it, but he also recognised the position that his father had taken 

 up with reference to agriculture by arranging for a gold medal to be presented to the 

 Society for the best shorthorn or Border Leicester at the Shows ; and in other ways he 

 took great interest in the welfare of the Society. He moved that the resolution which 

 he had read be approved of 



This was agreed to unanimously. 



Deceased Members. — The Marquis of Lothian said he was sorry to say that the 

 third duty he had to perform was a painful one. It was to read the names of some of 

 the more prominent members of the Society who had been removed by death. Since 

 the last Anniversary Meeting they were as follow :— The Earl of Lauderdale ; the Earl 

 of Northesk ; Lord John Frederick Gordon, Halliburton ; the Right Hon. Sir William 

 Gibson-Craig, Bart.; Sir James Milne Innes, Bart.; Sir George Grant Suttie, Bart.; Sir 

 Andrew Cathcart, Bart.; Sir John P. Orde, Bart.; Admiral Sir William J. Hope 

 Johnstone, K.C.B. ; General Sir John Campbell, C.B.; Mr Newell Burnet, Aberdeen; 

 Mr Gordon of Cluny ; Mr Grant of Kincorth ; Mr Eliott Lockhart of Borthwickbrae ; 

 Mr Stewart of Southwick ; Colonel Eraser Tytler of Aldourie. 



New Members. — Ninety-one new Members were then balloted for and elected. 



New Office-Beabers.— The following noblemen and gentlemen were elected to fill 

 the vacancies in the list of office-bearers : — Vice-Presidents — The Duke of Athole, K.T. ; 

 the Earl of Strathmore ; the Earl of Breadalbane ; the Earl of Rosslyn. Ordinary 



