ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT, 

 Sir W. JAEDINE, Bart., LL.D, RRS., F.L.S., 



ETC. ETC. ETC. 



1st December 1863. 



Gentlemen, — The ordinary business of the Meeting being 

 concluded, it now devolves upon me, as your President, to 

 address a few words to you at the termination of this the first 

 year of our existence as a Society, and the commencement of 

 our Second Session. 



But, first, let me thank you for the honour you have con- 

 ferred in again placing me over you. I have already expressed 

 my opinion that the higher ofiice-bearers of the Society should 

 change ; but taking into consideration its position, and that we 

 have just passed our year of trial, it was perhaps judged 

 rightly that for the next session no change should be made. 

 Next year you will act differently, it will conduce to our well- 

 working; it is only fair that others, well-qualified, should 

 share the honour of presiding, and it will be greatly to our 

 advantage that we should hear, in the yearly addresses of the 

 members who may be selected to fill this office, different views 

 on the important subjects that may be brought under our notice. 



Before making any remarks on the subjects that should 

 be pursued, and that ought in future to interest us, I shall 

 shortly bring before you what has taken place and been 

 accomplished during the past year. Your Secretary, at last 

 Meeting, gave a general outline of what had been done in the 

 Winter Session, and this will appear in more detail when our 



