Presidential Address. 31 



3rd December, 1009. 



Chairman — Mr G. F. Scott-Elliot, Hon. V.P. 



Presidential Address. By Mr Hugh S. Gladstone of 

 Capenoch, M.A., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. 



This is the first opportunity that I liave had to thank you 

 personally for the great honour you have done me in electing me 

 your President for the ensuing session. I assure you that I do 

 indeed appreciate this honour, but at the same time I realise its 

 responsibilities. When I recall the names of those who have before 

 me occupied this honourable position — Sir William Jardine, Dr 

 Gilchrist, Dr Grierson, Mr Richard Rimmer, Sir J. Crichton- 

 Browne, Lord Loreburn, Sir Emilius Laurie, Mr W. J. Maxwell, 

 Sir Herbert E. Maxwell, and Professor Scott-Elliot — I feel 

 that I have truly great examples to live up to. I know 

 that I am but a very humble follower in their footsteps ; but since 

 it is your wish that I should accept the office, I do so very gladly, 

 but with all due humility. I am sure that in this hall there are 

 gentlemen who are eminently more fitted than I am to be your 

 president, on account of the fame they have won by their study 

 and research, even in my own particular branch of natural history; 

 but it remains for me to say that since you have made your 

 choice, I for my part, will do my best to act up to the traditions of 

 our former illustrious presidents. I will only add that, living as 

 I do some sixteen miles from Dumfries, it may not be possible for 

 me to attend as many of your meetings as might be wished, and I 

 may have to claim your indulgence in this respect. 



In this, my first presidential address, I would like to 

 review very briefly the aims and objects of our Society. 

 The Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Anti- 

 quarian Society was, as you know, instituted on the 20th 

 November, 1862, and can claim to be the second oldest 

 Natural History Society in Scotland. This fact, I think, ladies 

 and gentlemen, is one of which we may be sufficiently proud. 

 When our rules were first drawn up on 4th December, 1862, it 

 was agreed that " The objects of the Society shall be to secure a 

 more frequent interchange of thought and opinion among those 

 who cultivate Natural History and Antiquities, to elicit and diffuse 



