II.—STATEMEN'T OF PROCEEDINGS. 



As reported in the Treasurer's Statement, the number of Members for 

 the past Session has been 163 ; and the number of Tickets issued for the 

 admission of Ladies and Young Persons to the Lectures has been 109 — 

 these tickets, with a few exceptions, having been purchased by Mem- 

 bers for the use of their families. 



The ordinary working of the Society seems to involve an outlay of 

 about £100 a-year; although, no doubt, a larger sum, if it were avail- 

 able, might be laid out to good purpose. 



The Lecture Programme for the Session has been aa follows : — 

 Lectures in Series : — Four on " The History of Scotland during the Eighteenth 

 Sentury," by the Rev. Walter C. Smith, M.A. ; Three on " The Manuscript Period 

 of English Literature," by Professor John Nichol, B.A., Oxon. ; and Two in 

 Natural History, with Illustrations, by William Keddie, Esq., viz. — on " The Sea- 

 weeds of the Estuary of the Clyde," and on " Echinodermata, Fossil and Recent : 

 Stone Lilies, Starfishes, and Sea Urchins-." 



Single Lectures and Papers : — On " The Sanitary Regulation of Large Com- 

 munities," by Professor W. T. Gairdner, M.D., Illustratod ;. on " Polychromatic 

 Architecture and Sculpture," by Charles Heath Wilson, Esq., lUustr.ated ; on 

 "The Progress of Discovery in Astronomy," by Dr Archibald Montgomerie, Illus- 

 trated ; and on " The Scotch in Europe," by the Rev. Charles F. Reid. 



Dramatic Readings : — One from " Dombey and Son," by G. W. Baynham, Esq. 



The lecture by Professor Gairdner " On the Sanitary Piegulation of 

 Large Communities" was reported at considerable length by some of the 

 chief newspapers. It attracted at the time the respectful notice of lead- 

 ing men in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and elsewhere, as a valuable contribu- 

 tion to the science of Public Health. 



At the special meeting of the Members and their friends, held as usual 

 in January, in celebration of Watt's birth-day, a lecture was delivered by 

 John Scott Eussell, Esq., F.E.S., London, "On the Application of the 

 Inventions of Watt to Modern Steam Navigation." It was an admirably 

 clear estimation of the characteristic merit of Watt in relation to steam 

 and the steam engine ; and, with the author's kind permission, it has- 

 been printed for the advantage of the Members of the Society. 



The cordial thanks of us all are due to our friends, Dr Montgomerie 

 and Mr Eeid, for the excelLent papers contributed by them during, the 

 winter. The subjects respectively selected by those gentlemen illustrate 

 very well the varied character of the studies which attract individual 

 Membei's among us — our appreciation of such, variety being indeed the 

 l)e8t augury for our endurance as a Society. 



It was the desire and intention of the Committee to have followed up 

 the course of instruction in Qualitative Analysis given last session by a 



