24 PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS. 



named and seconded. The public would thus have an opportunity of knowing 

 whether the person proposed was fit to be a Director or not. He had no 

 doubt that if a tenant-farmer who had gained high and great honours in the 

 sister country, having beaten the whole of England — Mr M'Combie of Tilly- 

 four — were elected, he would do credit in the Directorate. If he were pro- 

 posed now, he would not have a chance of being elected ; but if his name were 

 individually proposed and seconded, he would like to see the name that would 

 stand higher. He (Mr Hunter) was altogether opposed to the system of a 

 closed list ; and if some other system was not adopted they would have more 

 of the noise they had in the Society some time ago. The matter was one 

 worthy of the attention of the Society and of the Directors. 

 The matter then dropped. 



New Members. 



Fifty-five gentlemen were then balloted for, and admitted as members. 



Accounts for the Past Year. 



The Eight Hon. Sir William Gibson-Craig, the Treasurer, laid on the 

 table the accounts for 1866-67, with printed abstracts, which were approved of. 



Argyll Naval Fund. 



Admiral Sir W. Hope Johnstone reported the condition of this fund. He 

 stated that it had been instituted in 1806 by John Duke of Argyll, first Pre- 

 sident of this Society, who presented to the Society the sum of L. 1000 to be 

 applied to the education for the naval profession of the sons of gentlemen 

 connected with the Highlands, and not in affluent circumstances. At that 

 time it was expected that other contributions would be made, but the expec- 

 tation was not realised. The fund was left untoxiched till 1826, when it had 

 accumulated to L.2300, and the committee then resolved to apply the interest 

 to the object of the founder. The interest at that time would only admit of 

 three young gentlemen being placed on the fund, at the small annual allowance 

 of L.20 each. In 1844, by further accumulations, the committee were enabled 

 to add a fourth to the list, and to increase the allowance to L.40. Last year they 

 Avere able to add a fifth, and at present there were five young gentlemen on 

 the fund, appointed in the following years, 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, and 

 1867 ; each being entitled to hold the grant till they received the commission 

 of lieutenant in the Eoyal Navy. The fund now amounted to L.5200, in- 

 vested in heritable security, and the regulations had been altered from time to 

 time as required by changes of circumstances in the navy. Sir William also 

 said on the table the accounts of the fund. 



Execution of Deeds bt the Society. 



On the motion of Mr Murray of Dollerie, the bye-law in regard to execution 

 of deeds was confirmed. It is as follows :— " That in the absence of the Trea- 

 surer and Honorary Secretary, the Acting Secretary for the time being shall be 

 empowered to subscribe, in the manner set forth in the charter, all disposi- 

 tions or other deeds granted by the Society." 



Glasgow Show — 1867. 



Mr Kinloch, yr. of Gilmerton, reported that this Show had been a great 

 success, far exceeding the most sanguine expectations. The entries in some 

 of the classes were not so numerous as they might have hoped for under more 

 favourable circumstances ; but in the opinion of the most competent judges, 

 the quality of the stock, taken as a whole, had never been excelled at any 

 previous Show. Referring to the abstract of the accounts, they would notice 

 that, after paying all expenses, the handsome surplus of L.1307, 2s. 6d. remained 

 at the credit of the Society. He was particularly glad to report the great sue- 



