Presidential Address. 17 



in the possession of our Society, (d) A catalogue of the specimens 

 in the possession of our Society. Such a compilation as this 

 would show the work done l)y the Society in the past. I would 

 further suggest that on the anniversary day a meeting should be 

 held in Dumfries, at which our past presidents, having amongst 

 them such eminent men as Lord Loreburn, Sir Herbert Maxwell, 

 Sir James Crichton-Browne, and Professor Scott-Elliot, be asked 

 to deliver addresses, reviewing as far as possible, the progress 

 made during the past fifty years in the various subjects, on which 

 they are acknowledged authorities. Such, ladies and gentle- 

 men, is a very brief sketch of what I should like to see done 

 two years hence. I have already said that this is not my ideal, 

 which would be the c<)mpilation of a " Fauna, Flora, and Geology 

 of the Solway Area."' Tt depends on your individual efforts 

 whether this latter might not yet be completed in time. I fear 

 not, but I should indeed be glad if it could be so. At a later 

 stage of this meeting I shall move that a small committee be 

 appointed tf) en(|uire into this sul.iject, of how best to commemo- 

 rate our Society's jubilee, a subject which, I think vou will agree 

 with me, is one well worthy of two years' thought and prepara- 

 tion. 



It is on occasions such as to-night that I am reminded of the 

 significant motto of Trinity College, Cambridge. How suggestive 

 are those words, " Lainpada tradam " — I will hand on the torch. 

 The torch of study and research which calls for the constant 

 attention of the bearer, illuminating as it goes on its w'ay the dark 

 places of ignorance, and which at length is only relinquished to be 

 handed on and as zealously tended by those who come after. 

 May the members of our Society realise the inheritance we have 

 received from those who have gone before us and who inaugu- 

 rated, some forty-eight years ago, the Dumfriesshire and Galloway 

 Natural History and Antiquarian Society. 



