24 PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS. 



strictures being made upon the Directors, and he believed that that would be borne out 

 by the way in which the meeting had been conducted. A motion had been brought 

 forward, and, although opposed by the Directors, was carried by a large majority of 

 those present. Had it not been for what fell from Colonel Gillon that the Directors 

 had refused the wish of Colonel Williamson, he would have proposed to have remitted 

 it to the Directors again on a recommendation from this meeting. But he thought that 

 what they had done showed that they could both think and act for themselves, and give 

 expression to their opinions without casting any reflection on the management, to the 

 gentlemen connected with which they were all so much indebted for the interest they 

 took in the Society's affairs. He trusted that both the Borderland, to which he be- 

 longed, and the Highlands, from which they had a large number present that day, 

 would support the motion of Lord Polwarth. 



Lord Denman suggested that as the Royal Agricultural Society held its Show in 

 July, the Highland Society might consider whether its Show should not be held at 

 Inverness in August rather than the month previous. There would be a much larger 

 gathering in the later month. His Lordship further pointed out that it had always 

 been in the power of the General Meeting to substitute one place for the Show instead 

 of another if they disapproved of the place proposed by the Directors, but the prepara- 

 tions for Kelso were so far advanced and so well supported that he thought it would 

 be a great pity if any alterations were made to affect it, at all events, on this occasion. 



The Seceetaet then read the following documents : — 



1st, Minute of Meeting of Proprietors and Tenants, Members of the Highland and 

 Agricultural Society, held at Inverness the 13th January 1879. Twenty-two 

 Members were present. Lord Lovat in the Chair. 



The Clerk read the advertisement calling the meeting, as well as apologies for non- 

 attendance from the Convener, Mr Cameron of Lochiel, M.P. for the county. Sir George 

 Macpherson Grant, and others. 



The Chairman explained the object of the meeting, and moved the following reso- 

 lution: — "That in the opinion of this meeting, the present movement on the part of 

 certain members of the Highland and Agricultural Society to make an alteration on the 

 circuit of the Society's Shows, whereby Inverness would cease to be a Show station, 

 would, if successful, be subversive of the object for which the Society was originally 

 constituted, and would be a violation of the Charters of 1787 and 1834, as well as in- 

 jurious to the north of Scotland, and ought therefore strenuously to be opposed," which 

 was seconded by Provost Simpson of Inverness, and imanimously agreed to. 



Mr MoLLisoN, Dochfour, moved the following resolution: — "That many of the pre- 

 sent members having joined the Society and become life members in the belief that 

 the Society would continue to hold a Show periodically in Inverness, and thus stiniulat* 

 the agricultural improvement of the Highlands, it would be a virtual breach of faith 

 with such members, and would be an effectual barrier to the obtaining of additional 

 members in the North, were the Society to cut off Inverness as a station," which was 

 seconded by Mr Cameron of Clunes, and unanimously agreed to. It was moved by 

 Mr Anderson of Lochdhu: — " That no part of Scotland has in recent years surpassed 

 (if it has equalled) the Highlands in agricultural progress, by means of the reclamation 

 and improvement of land, and in the rearing of stock; and it would be an injustice to 

 the Society itself were facilities refused for the examination of such progress in Inver- 

 ness, which is the acknowledged centre," which was seconded by Mr Macpherson, 

 Clunas, and unanimously agreed to. It was moved by Mr Donald Davidson, Solicitor, 

 Inverness: — "That the following be appointed a committee to attend the Society's 

 meeting in Edinburgh on the 15th current to oppose the contemplated movement, with 

 power to take such action thereanent as shall appear to them to be necessary, namely, 

 Lord Lovat ; Donald Cameron, Esq. of Lochiel ; Sir George Macpherson Grant of Bal- 

 lindalloch, Bart.; LordDunmore ; James Anderson, Esq., Clerk of Supply, Inverness;" 

 which wa.s seconded by Mr Gumming, Allanfearn, and unanimously agreed to. 



The Clerk was instructed to forward an excerpt of this minute to the Secretary of 

 the Highland and Agricultural Society, to be read at the meeting on the 15th curt. 



(Signed) Lovat. 



2d, Memorial from the Inverness Farmers' Society: — 



Unto the Directors of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, the 

 Memorial of the Inverness Farmers" Society, 

 Eumhly Sheweth, — That your memorialists have learned, with much concern and 

 deep regret, that it is in contemplation to make certain alterations in the circuit of the 

 Highland Society's Annual Shows, and that at the monthly meeting of the Directors, 

 held on the 6tli of November last, the question was raised of not having a periodical 

 Show of the Society in Inverness. 



Your Members further observe that at the meeting of the Society, to be held on the 

 15th current, a motion is to be brought forward by Mr Martin, younger of Auchen- 



