xliv PROCEEDI]S'US OF THE 



in tlie conscientious, zealous, and successful performance of all the 

 duties of his sacred office. G-rave, sober-minded, temperate, devout, 

 and wise, his life in all respects adorned the doctrines he preached. 



But in the midst of these important labours, INir. Stobbs, in his 

 remote parish, still found leisure and inclination to devote consi- 

 derable attention to natural history. "With a view to its promo- 

 tion, he, in cooperation with his friend, the Rev. Mr. Clouston, 

 succeeded in instituting the " Orkney Natural History Society," 

 whose labours are well known, and have been highly appreciated 

 by many naturalists. To this useful institution he actively per- 

 formed the duties of Secretary up to the time of his death. He 

 was, in fact, during his life its mainspring ; and it is chiefly to his 

 unwearied exertions that the Society owes not only tlie building 

 for a Museum, but also the arrangement of the specimens con- 

 tained in it. It is much to be hoped that so excellent a work 

 should be continued with equal zeal after the decease of its first 

 promoter. 



Mr. Stobbs's death, which took place in March 1863, was rather 

 sudden; and his funeral was remarkable from the circumstance 

 that the company collected to do his memory honour on the 

 occasion was the largest ever assembled together for such a pur- 

 pose in Orkney, the concourse being estimated at 2000, the pro- 

 cession extending nearly half a mile in length. 



The Secretary also announced that twenty-nine Fellows and 

 two Foreign Members had been elected since the last Anniversary. 



At the Election which subsequently took place, George Ben- 

 tham, Esq., was re-elected President ; William "Wilson Saunders, 

 Esq., Treasurer ; and George Busk, Esq., and Frederick Currey, 

 Esq., Secretaries. The following five Fellows were elected into 

 the Council, in the room of others going out : viz. — "William Baird, 

 M.D., Daniel Hanbury, Esq., John Lubbock, Esq., George Mac 

 Leay, Esq., and F. P. Pascoe, Esq. 



Dr. Alexander Prior, on the part of the Auditors of the Trea- 

 surer's Accounts, read the Balance-sheet, by which it appeared 

 that the total Eeceipts during the past year, including a Balance 

 of £383 9s. 9d. carried from the preceding year, amounted to 

 £1837 16s. 9d. ; and that the total Expenditure during the same 

 period (including the purchase of £100 Consols.) amounted to 

 £1298 19s. M. ; leaving a Balance in the hands of the Bankers 

 of £538 17s. 5d. 



