28 Address of the President. 



example was followed in the other capitals of Great Britain 

 and Ireland ; while numerous splits-off from the parents re- 

 ceive almost equal encouragement, and there are very few of 

 the more important county towns that have not now their 

 Scientific Societies. But all of those have had their waves of 

 success, and even our great Societies have been swayed by the 

 energy of some of their members, or the importance of some 

 subject brought forward by them ; but whether rising or falling, 

 their utility remained unchallenged. As time wore on places 

 of less importance must also have their Societies. The ad- 

 vantage of learning and information was more appreciated, 

 and most of the larger towns in Scotland now have their 

 Society, library and museum. These are not always con- 

 ducted upon the best principles, but the will is nevertheless 

 shewn, their utility acknowledged, and by-and-by the details 

 will become improved. 



The old manner of teaching Natural Science was by means 

 of indoor lectures, illustrated sometimes by rich collections of 

 specimens, but at others by an assemblage of trash and mon- 

 strosities, supposed in the minds of the expositors to represent 

 nature. At the beginning of the present century some innova- 

 tions were made in this system, and, if I am not mistaken, it 

 was the late Professor Jameson, of the Edinburgh University, 

 who first ventured to take his class to the field, and explain 

 the mineral characters of the rocks around Edinburgh. The 

 example was followed soon after by the private lectiirers on 

 botany, and later still by Professor Graham of the University. 

 Edward Forbes during his short career made extensive excur- 

 sions. Professor Allman takes his class out to Dredge ; and 

 Professor Balfour, not satisfied with often exploring the flora 

 of Great Britain and Ireland, two years since took liis class to 

 Switzerland. 



In ] 832 it struck the mind of the late Dr. Johnston of 

 Berwick, that a Society for the general investigation of 

 Natural History would work as well in the field as a class ; 



