Vlll PRELIMINARY NOTICE. 



associated with Mi'. Maxwell in the conduct of the Society's affairs 

 can fully appreciate the great earnestness with which he uniformly 

 applied his admirable business talents to the discharge of the multi- 

 farious duties of his office. 



" The directors farther resolve that, as a suitable and permanent 

 memorial of the general approval by the Society of Mr. Hall 

 Maxwell's services, he should be requested to consent to have his 

 portrait executed, at the Society's expense, by an eminent artist, and 

 that the picture, when completed, should be hung in the Society's 

 hall." 



This minute having been reported to the General Meeting of 

 the Society on the 17th of January, 1866, was, on the motion of 

 his Grace the Duke of Buccleuch, cordially and unanimously 

 adopted as the resolution of the Society. It is highly honour- 

 able to Mr. Hall Maxwell to observe that a similar expression 

 has been given in different districts of Scotland to the feeling* 

 entertained towards him by all classes of agriculturists. 



The last meeting which he attended in his official capacity 

 was held at Aberdeen on the 24th November, in reference to 

 the Show to be held there in 1868. At that meeting it was moved 

 from the chair by the Earl of Kiutore, seconded by William 

 M'Combie, Esq., Tillyfour, and unanimously resolved — 



" That this meeting, representing the various Agricultural 

 Societies of the Counties of Aberdeen, Banff, and Kincardine, as well 

 as the members of the Highland and Agricultural Society of this 

 district, welcome among them the presence of Mr. Hall Maxwell — 

 gratefully record their deep sense of the valuable services which, in 

 the constant and faithful performance of his multifarious and often 

 arduous and anxious duties, as Secretary of the Highland and Agri- 

 cultural Society of Scotland, he has in that capacity for a period 

 of over twenty years rendered to the progress and interest of agri- 

 culture — avail themselves of this fitting opportunity of expressing 

 their special acknowledgments of Mr. Maxwell's great kindness and 

 urbanity, and of his ever willing, prompt, and generous aid in 

 furthering the objects and prosperity of the Associations — and their 

 sincere trust that in now retiring from his hitherto active and re- 

 sponsible duties in the cause of agricultural advancement, Mr. Max- 

 well may for many years enjoy every comfort and happiness." 



It may also be mentioned that in grateful appreciation of the 

 zeal, energy, ability, and success with which he has discharged 

 the duties of Secretary, Mr. Hall Maxwell has been presented by 

 no fewer than 830 Members of the Society, with several valuable 

 articles of plate and a purse of a Thousand Sovereigns. 



At a Meeting of the Directors of the Society, held on the 

 1st of November, 1865, Alexander Macduff, Esq. of Bonhard, was 

 elected to the office of Secretary, and this election was in terms 

 of the Charter approved by the General Meeting on the 17th of 

 January. 



