90 PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS. 



That the special thanks of the Society are also due to His Grace for having 

 accepted office for a second period when a change in the secretaryship was to 

 take place, and when his knowledge of the constitution and regulations of the 

 Society, and his ability and capacity for business, enabled him to render it 

 great service." 



Sir William Stirling-Maxwell seconded the motion. He said — The Duke 

 of Buccleuch is so accustomed to give his services to the Highland Society as a 

 matter of right at any time when they are asked, that we are apt not to be so 

 deeply sensible of the obligation under which Ave lie to him as we ought to be ; 

 but I am sure that if there be any shade of regret at seeing our newly elected 

 President in that chair, it is that we lose the services of the Duke of Buccleuch. 

 If, on the other hand, there is anything to console us for the loss of the services 

 of the Duke of Buccleuch, it is that we have now the power of conferring upon 

 the noble lord who now sits on that chair the greatest honour we can bestow, and 

 to place in our chair one of the most eminent agriculturists of Scotland. 



The Duke of Buccleuch — My Lord Tweeddale and gentlemen, I must rise at 

 ouce to return thanks for the vote which you have accorded to me for my past con- 

 duct as President of this Society. If I have been successful in niy endeavours to 

 do my duty in that position, your appreciation of that success is the best reward 

 that I can receive. I may say, with regard to what fell from my right honourable 

 friends in regard to myself, and also my noble friend the President, that, if I have 

 been successful in what I have endeavoured to do with regard to the management 

 of my estates, I cannot take very great credit to myself ; for, after all, I have only 

 done the duty which devolved upon me. It is a duty, however, in which I have 

 always taken the very greatest interest, and instead of being irksome in any way, 

 it has been always a labour of love to me. "Where a person is interested in an 

 object, he feels no fatigue in discharging any duty connected with the promotion 

 of that object. I was perfectly astonished, and I felt a great amount of gratifica- 

 tion when it was proposed to me a second time to hold the office of President of 

 this Society — an honour which I believe was never conferred upon any one before. 

 But when I was told that my acceptance of the office would be a benefit to the 

 Society I felt that I was bound to undertake the duties of the office. Whatever 

 assistance I can give to my noble friend the President, or to any of the officers of 

 this Society, or to the Society itself, I shall be as ready to give now when out of 

 office as I was formerly when in office — and in any way that you can command my 

 services I shall always be ready to give them as far as it is in my power. I may 

 state that I am not a little satisfied with some results that have occurred to the 

 Society during the time that I have had the honour to hold the office of President. 

 During these three years, 313 new members have been added to the Society, and 

 there has been an addition of L.4862 made to the vested capital of the Society. 

 The arrears of annual subscriptions, too, which used formerly to be a source of 

 annoyance, have decreased from L.321 to L.84 at the close of last year. The 

 Transactions of the Society have been issued to members on application, and 

 three numbers have been issued. During these three years there have been 

 two General Shows. In 1866, it was intended that a show should have been 

 held in Glasgow ; but on account of the grievous plague amongst cattle, it was 

 delayed till 1867, when I was unfortunately prevented by my Parliamentary 

 duties from being present. Last year, there was as good a show as was ever 

 held — at all events in the northern counties — in Aberdeen. That show was most 

 successful ; and, judging from the applications made to the Society from other 

 places, I have not the slightest doubt that the same success will attend the 

 future shows of the Society as have attended those that are past. His Grace con- 

 cluded by again returning thanks for the honour that had been paid to him. 



New Members. — Seventy -five noblemen and gentlemen were balloted for in the 

 manner prescribed by the charter and bye-law, and admitted as members. 



The Society's Accounts. — Sir William Gibson-Craig, laid on the table the 

 accounts of the Society for 1867-68, which have already been published. 



Mr Lyall, Old Montrose, said'he observed in the accounts a sum of L. 500 stand- 

 ing on deposit receipt waiting for investment. He wished to know whether it was 

 the (intention of the Directors to invest the L.500 between this and the next 

 general meeting. 



Sir William Gibson-Craig. — What is your object in putting that question ? 



Mr Lyall. — My object, Sir William, was to see whether the Society was com- 



