Presidential Address. 11 



encourage this branch of science. Numerous ideals occur to 

 nie which might he aimed at by our pliotographic members: a 

 good collection of photographs of the various ruins in the Sohvay 

 area being perhaps the most desirable. 



Another study, newly enquired into as regards our Society, 

 was dealt with at one of our recent meetings. I refer to Philately, 

 or the collecting of postage stamps. Many of our members have 

 fine collections, and it is to be hoped that we may have more 

 papers on this subject in the near future. There can be no doubt 

 that what was comparati\'ely recently regarded as a child's amuse- 

 ment is now recognised as more than a hobby. 1 can well 

 remember, when the British Museum was bequeathed the magnifi- 

 cent collection of Mr T. K. Tapling, that there was for a time a 

 doubt whether the authorities would be justified, from the Public's 

 point of view, in paying the estate-duties on so valuable a bequest. 

 Fortunately, the collection did pass into the National Museum, 

 where it may now be seen, arranged and shown as could only be 

 done by such an expert as Mr Bacon. Philately needs no apolo- 

 gist, .and I welcome this new subject in our list of papers. 



As regards the local history of olden times ; only recently a 

 perfect mine of information has been opened up by one of our 

 members who has access to the old Burgh records. I hardly 

 know what his discoveries will lead to, or how far it may fall to 

 the lot of our Society to make these discoveries public. 



In this connection you may ha\'e heard of the desire of Mr 

 R. C. Reid to start a "Record Society," or "Record Publishing 

 Society," in this district. I am sure that many of us will welcome 

 any such publications, and we shall await the result of his initial 

 venture with interest. Should it be, as I sincerely trust it may 

 not, that his scheme should not meet with the success it deserves, 

 it may fall to the lot of our Society to see how they can help. In 

 the meantime I think we are wise in not widening the sphere of 

 our operations by taking on the duties of a " Record Society. ' ' Mr 

 Reid is, I believe, about to issue a tentative circular throughout 

 the district announcing that it is his desire, if adequate financial 

 assistance be forthcoming, to publish two manuscript histories of 

 Dumfries which hitherto have not appeared in print. This 

 announcement will detail the probable cost and style of the work 

 and will ask the recipients whether they Avould contribute, and if 

 so to what extent, towards the production of the volume. A list 



