PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 



367 



twenty years at the outset; Mr. J. M. Campbell; Mr. D. A. 

 Boyd; Mr. W. Goodwin; Dr. R. Brown; Mr. John Trotter; 

 Mr. James Steel; Mr. Jolm Cairns, Jun.; Mr. E. S. Wishart; 

 Mr. R. D. Wilkie; Mr. S. M. Wellwood; and our two present 

 secretaries, Mr. John James Robertson and Dr. Robert Brown. 

 I will ask this question before I conclnde — Has our existence 

 as a Society been justified? In answer to this, will you allow 

 me to read short extracts of letters from three members, who, 

 it may be mentioned, are members also of the Royal Society 

 of London? There is no man for whom Scottish botanists have 

 a greater admiration than Professor Trail, M.D. He is unable 

 to be with us to-night, but says — 



"The Natural History Society of Glasgow has a record behind it of 

 work of which any local Society may well be proud, and in that record 

 lies the promise and pledge, I believe, of much more good work to follow. 

 That its labours may do much to advance the study of natural science is 

 my very sincere and earnest wish, and I would have greatly liked to be 

 present." 



The next is from Professor Brady, M.D., Newcastle — 



"The interest" he says "which my old and dear friend the late 

 Dr. Robertson took in the Society, and, indeed, in everything connected 

 with natural history, would of itself be sufficient to assure to the Society 

 my hearty good wishes, and I am glad to know that the Society is doing 

 such a conspicuously good work in the encouragement of natural history 

 study and research." 



The third testimony is in a letter from Sir Joseph Hooker, 



who writes as follows : — 



" The Camp, 



" Sunningdale, Berks., 

 " December 3rd, 1901. 

 " Dear Mr. Somerville, 



" May I ask you kindly to express, at the forth- 

 coming jubilee of the Natural History Society of Glasgow, my sincere 

 regret at being prevented by advancing age from taking the necessary 

 journey to your city, and making one of the company of hearty 

 sympathisers in person. 



" Glasgow was the home of my youth, and Lanarkshire and 

 Dumbartonshire were the scenes of my earliest scientific aspirations and 

 efiforts, and this renders the prosperity of your Society dear to me. 



" With cordial greetings, and good wishes to my fellow members. 

 " Believe me, 



" Very sincerely yours, 



"JOS. D, HOOKER." 



