16 PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS. 



the most part, up to the present time ; to take a part in the general improvements of 

 the time, and to impel them by its assistance and by its example. Until the pi-esent 

 year it had no great innovation, and no matter of controversy had arisen in their body. 

 During the whole of this time the Marquis of Lothian had continued to show his 

 interest in the Society by his careful and punctual attendance at all their meetings, 

 their shows, and their festivals ; and he had endeared himself to those with whom he 

 has been brought in contact by his unfailing kindness and courtesy. He had j)er- 

 forined these duties on more than one occasion at the sacrifice, it might be said, almost 

 of his health. At least, as he had been suffering, unfortunately, from the delicate 

 state of his health, he had been obliged to make considerable exertions in performing 

 'his duties, for which they ought to be truly grateful. The Marquis of Lothian now 

 retired. They trusted, however, that his relations with the Society were not 

 severed, but only changed ; and they could assure his Lordship that he carried with 

 him, wherever he might go, the warm feeling and gratitude of their meeting, and 

 heartj' sympathy for his wellfare, and all the interests of himself and family in every 

 relation of life. He begged to propose the following resolution :— " That the Most 

 Noble the Marquis of Lothian, K.T., having presided over the Highland and Agricul- 

 tural Society of Scotland for the period of four years prescribed by the charter, the 

 thanks of the Society are eminently due to his Lordship for the zeal exhibited by him 

 in 2)ronioting its efficiency and prosperity, for his unwearied attendance at its various 

 public meetings and shows, and for the urbanity, readiness, and ability with which he 

 has uniformly discharged the duties of his office." 



New Office-Bearers. — The Secretary stated that the following noblemen and 

 gentlemen were proposed for election, to fill the vacancies in the list of olfice-bearers 

 for the current year: — President. — The Duke of Richmond and Gordon, K.G. Vice- 

 Presidents — The Duke of Montrose, the Earl of j\lar and Kellie, the Earl of Dunmore, 

 Charles Stirling Home Drunimond Moray of Abercairny. Ordinary Directors — Sir 

 Wmdham C. J. Carmichael-Anstruther of Anstruther, Bart. ; Sir James H. Gibson- 

 Craig of Riccarton, Bart. ; David Ainslie of Costerton ; John Balfour of Balbirnie ; 

 Thomas Elliot, Blackhaugh ; Rev. John Gillespie, Mouswald Manse ; Lieutenant- 

 Colonel Hare of Calder Hall, Philpston House ; Gideon Pott of Knowesouth ; Walter 

 Scott, Glendronach. Extraordinary Directors — Lord Balfour of Burleigh ; Vice- 

 Admiral Sir William Edmonstone of Duntreath, Bart. ; Sir Henry James Seton Steuart 

 of Touch-Seton and Allanton, Bai-t. ; Sir James R. Gibson Maitland of Cliftonhall, 

 Bart. ; Robert Anderson. Provost of Stirling ; Henry David Erskine of Cardross ; 

 William Forbes of Callendar ; Colonel John Murray of Polmaise ; Alexander Smollett 

 of Bonhill ; William Smythe of Methven. 



The noble Chairman said that before proceeding to the election of a new President he 

 might perhaps be permitted to make a few observations. In electing a President they 

 might, he thought, ask themselv.es what were the characteristics and qualifications that 

 they might reasonably expect in one who was fitted to preside over this intelligent, 

 important, and influential Society. He thought that they might fairly say that they 

 had a right to expect on the part of their President that he should fill a conspicuous 

 ocial position, that he should be a man of unblemished life and character ; that he 

 should be deeply identified with the welfare and the interests of the land, by property, 

 by residence, by taste, and pursuits ; that he should if possible be in some degree a 

 practical farmer ; and that he should be well known by his wide participation in public 

 business to the various classes of his countrymen. Now if these things be true, 

 although perhaps not a complete picture of what a president of the Society should be, 

 lie ventured to assert that that picture was exactly and perfectly represented in the 

 life and character of the nobleman whose name he had to submit to the Society — 

 namely, the Duke of Richmond and Gordon. The Duke possessed the highest rank, 

 and, what was not indifferent to their countrymen, he was the principal representative 

 of a family which had an ancient, and he might say almost a romantic, claim on the 

 memory and affections of Scotchmen. And the Duke of Richmond and Gordon was 

 not only practically versed in county and country business, but he had himself been a 

 practical farmer, and was well known, particularly for his success in rearing sheep of 

 the Southdown class, and also shorthorn cattle. In addition to that, his reputation 

 generally for his knowledge of and interest in the land was such that on a recent 

 occasion, when the late Government proposed the appointment of a royal commission 

 to examine into the state of agriculture, the Duke of Richmond and Gordon Avas 

 appointed with, as it were, the implied assent not only of his own partj^, but of the 

 whole country, to occupy the position of President of that commission. To that he 

 might add that in the high position which he had filled in the general affairs of the 

 •country, the Duke of Richmond and Gordon had constantly given proofs of the 

 possession of a remarkable share of application, industry, energy, and good sense. 

 They could not doubt that in accepting the position of President of this Society the 

 Duke would be not merely a formal president, but an active and' a suggestive director 

 of their deliberations and of their fortunes. In fact they could not for a moment doubt 



