PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS. 89 



it — one who, not only from his theoretical bat practical knowledge of all those sub- 

 jects with which this Society is most connected, will bring great weight to bear in 

 the Society ; and he will be not only an ornament, but a great benefit to the 

 Society, if you will be pleased to elect him. There is no one better known in this 

 district, and generally in Scotland, both as a landlord and as a real practical 

 agriculturist, than Lord Tweeddale. It is a great satisfaction to myself that I 

 have now the honour of proposing him to you. I have long been anxious to see 

 him holding the highest office in the Society ; and that wish will now be 

 gratified if you elect him, and in doing that honour to him, you will be con- 

 ferring a great honour on the Society. I now propose to the meeting that the 

 Marquis of Tweeddale be elected President of the Society for the ensuing year. 

 I have also to propose that those gentlemen whose names have been read to 

 you be elected Vice-Presidents, Ordinary Directors, and Extraordinary Direc- 

 tors, in lieu of those who have gone out. I may state in regard to one of those 

 gentlemen, who does not go out by rotation — Mr Forbes Irvine of Drum — that he 

 has voluntarily resigned the office he holds as an Extraordinary Director, to relieve 

 the Directors of any feeling of difficulty in arranging the list that is now submitted 

 to you. 1 may also intimate that Professor Lyon Playfair, M.P., has resigned the 

 office of Chairman of the Standing Committee on Premiums for Essays and Reports, 

 and that the Directors propose that Mr Dudgeon of Cargen should be appointed 

 chairman in room of Professor Lyon Playfair. Is it the pleasure of the meeting to 

 agree to these nominations ? (Applause). I have now the honour to move that 

 the Marquis of Tweeddale take the chair. 



The Duke of Buccleuch then retired from the chair, which was taken amidst 

 applause by the Marquis of Tweeddale. 



The Marquis of Tweeddale — I cannot express to you how sensible' I am of 

 the honour that has been conferred upon me in being elected President of the 

 Highland Society of Scotland. I feel very much indebted to the noble Duke for 

 the kind manner in which he has introduced my name to this meeting. Although 

 my noble friend has resigned the high position which he held in this Society, I 

 trust that he will yet give us his advice on the further development of the land 

 in Scotland — which he is so well able to do from his long and practical experience 

 in the successful management of very large estates. I beg to assure the members 

 of the Highland Society that I shall have the greatest pleasure in placing all the 

 experience and knowledge which I have obtained in agricultural matters in 

 the course of a long life at their service. I feel sure that you will not expect me 

 to make a long speech before you have had some proof that I am doing what I 

 promise to you. Accept my thanks for the honour you have done me. 



Vote of Thanks to the Duke of Bxjccleuch. — Sir W. Gibson-Craig — I 

 have been requested to move what T cannot doubt will be most acceptable to the 

 Society — a vote of thanks to his Grace the Duke of Buccleuch for the services he 

 has rendered to the Society while he has been President. The Duke is so well 

 known that I am quite sure I need not dilate to this Society either upon the 

 qualifications or the merits of the noble Duke. I believe that there is no man in 

 the kingdom, with the exception of our present Chairman, who has done so much 

 for the agriculture of Scotland as the Duke of Buccleuch has done ; and in one 

 respect I may say that the Duke holds a place superior to the noble Marquis, and, 

 I believe, to any one in the country ; because I believe that no estate has been so 

 thoroughly improved as that of the Duke of Buccleuch, and certainly there is no 

 estate in which such enormous sums have been spent for the improvement of 

 agriculture. With regard to the noble Duke's conduct since he has been Chair- 

 man of this Society, I have only to remind you of the extreme judgment, good 

 sense, discretion, and kindness with which he has conducted himself upon every 

 occasion, and to every member of the Society, whether in public or in private. 

 And while we deeply regret the loss of the Duke as our President, we are also 

 indebted to him for the honourable and [considerate manner in which he has 

 resigned the situation which he has held, in order that another noble Lord might 

 for the first time occupy the position of President of the Society. We recognise 

 in the Marquis of Tweeddale also one of the great benefactors of Scotch agricul- 

 ture. I therefore, without further preface, beg to move the following resolution : — 



" That the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, K.G., having now retiredfrom 

 the office of President, the best thanks of the Society are eminently due to His 

 Grace for the zeal exhibited by him in promoting its welfare and efficiency. 



