PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS. 15 



■when an opinion vras given by the Secretary to the effect that this was a matter within 

 their province. The "Highland Society of London bad given a sum for aiding the 

 endowment of this chair, and it was a pity if the Highband Society of Scotland was not 

 to do something in the matter. He had seen a paper lately showing that not less than 

 L.8000 had been subscribed for this chair. He iniderstood that L.1U,000 was required, 

 and after what Mr Melvin had stated regarding their lands, they could surely give 

 L.50 to aid in what many of the members of the Society had subscribed for out of their 

 own pockets. They had, as a Society, assisted in the publication of a Gaelic diction- 

 ary, and of various other Gaelic books, and he thought they coiUd afford to give L.oO 

 for this object. 



Mr A. Campbell Swixtox of Kinimerghame said that the Directors best knevr 

 whether they could afford this, and if they could give a donation of L.50, it Avould l)e 

 a graceful thing for the Society to do. It was undoubtedly comprised witliin their 

 original objects, and their charter was obtained for the purpose of enlarging rather than 

 diminishing their operations. The Secretary had stated that several of the earlier 



objects were abandoned because of the supervision of certain departments 



The Secretary — Like the fisheries and manufactures. 



Mr Campbell Swintox — I do not think there is any special board of management 

 which has for its object the promotion and maintenance of Celtic literature. This is 

 not a Celtic chair in the sense of its being a Gaelic chair, but a chair for a very import- 

 ant suliject connected with the prosecution'of comparative philology. He did not think 

 that L.bO would be a great drain on their resources, and the giving of such a contribu- 

 tion would be a very graceful tiling on the part of the Society. 



Mr Mackenzie said that if the meeting was cordially in favour of this suggestion, it 

 would be an easy matter for the Directors to enquire into the state of their funds, and 

 say whether they conld see their Avay to give a grant of L.50. Thej' were assured by 

 one gentleman that Professor Blackie Avould be glad to see the name of the Highland 

 Society on the list of contributors, although they Avere to spread the subscription over 

 three or five years. If they were to do that, they might not feel it so much as by 

 giving the contribution in the lump. 



Mr A. Campbell Swinton — I think we may safely leave the matter in the hands of 

 the Directors. Nobody has expressed any feeling of decided opposition, and the 

 Directors can again take the matter into their consideration. 



Professor Wilson said he wished simply to mention that Avhen this matter was dis- 

 cussed by the Directors, some one of the members .suggested that L.50 Avould be a 

 very poor subscription on the part of a Society such as thi.s, and that if they gave 

 anything at all it should not be less than L.IOO. It was upon that sum being 

 mentioned that the suggestion was made that the money might be spread over diffepeut 

 periods. 



Mr Mackenzie — I was merely following the lead on the sum that had been mentioned 

 l)y Mr Milne Home. 



Mr Milne Home— Then let it be \inderstood that the Directors have power to give 

 to the extent of one hundred guineas. 



The Hon. G. Waldeguavi: Leslie— It should be remitted to them to see whethei- 

 such a grant is within the original objects of the Society ; and if so, tliat should be 

 .stated in giving the grant. 



The Secretary — The original objects Avere never rescinded, although the Society is 

 under a new charter. 



Tlie Hon. George Waldegrave Leslie— A statement that it is Avithiu the objects 

 of the Society Avill shut out endless demands for money. 

 The i)etition Avas then remitted back to the Directors. 



Veterinary Charter. -Captain Tod of Howden then said — I haA-e to report that 



on the 2-lth of May a deputation from the Society Avaited on the Lord President at the 



Privy Council Ollico, for the purpose of asking that a charter should be granted to tlie 



Society, by Avhicli their poAvers of granting certificates might be extended to that of 



diplomas. The deputation consisted of the Earl of Dalkeith, >LP.; the Earl of Dal- 



housie; the E;irl of Strathmore; the Earl of .Mar and Kellie; the Earl of Southesk; Lord 



Oranmore; the Hon. George Waldegrave Leslie; Sir E. Colebrooke, M.P.; Sir William 



Ivlmon.stone, Iiart.,>LP.; Sir Thomas Gladstone; Sir Alexander Gordon, M.P.; Sir 



William Stirling-Maxwell, M.P.; Sir Graham M«nitgonierv. >Ll'.; Mr Vans Agnow, 



M.I'.; .Mr ('. Dahyniple, M.l'.; Mr Mackintosh, M.P.;\Mr M'Lagan. M.P. ; Mr 



Uamsav, M.l'.; MrVeanian, >LI'.; .Mr Dundjis of Aruiston ; Caittain Tod : Mr Artluir 



E. Paifd; Mr T. A. Dollar, V.S.; Mr Kinlay Dun ; and Mr Men/.ifs. The hiljirl of 



Dalkeith introduce<l tlio dojuitation ; and after various remarks by several nu'mb«i"s, 



the Duke of P^ichnioml said the memorial should receive his earnest consideration. 



The report Avas adopted. 



Veteuinarv DeI'ARTMKNT.- Captain Tod renortod tb.at the examinations for the 

 Society's veterinary certificate took ])la<e on the ITtli, IStli, and ll'th April, Avheii 

 twenty students presented themselves for examination, ami that the following fourtceu 



