To the regret, not only of the Reading Party but of the whole Society, 

 Dr Marshall, the esteemed President, has, on account of his health, been 

 compelled for some time to be absent from the meetings of the Society. 

 The Society, however, are glad to know that he is now convalescent, and 

 that in a short time he may expect to be completely recovered. 



WTiile regretting the absence of the President, the Committee cannot 

 omit to refer to the loss they and the Society have sustained in the death 

 of Dr Wm. Scott Aitken. Dr Aitken had before him the prospect of a 

 very distinguished career in his own profession, and in its especial walks he 

 will be much missed, but not more so than he will be in the Society itself. 

 Amid the difficulties of organizing the Society's annual programme, no one 

 could display a greater variety of resources, or a deeper interest than Dr 

 Aitken ; and if the society attained no other end than that of affording 

 opportunities of intercourse with such a friend as Dr Aitken, it would still 

 accomplish a very high purpose indeed. 



At the commencement of the session Mr Love, who had acted as Secre- 

 tary of the Society almost since its formation, felt it incumbent on him, 

 on account of the state of his health, to resign his office. Much as the 

 Society regretted to lose the valuable services of Mr Love, they could not, 

 in the circumstances, refuse to accept of Mr Love's resignation. The 

 Society, at the time, took occasion to record in their minutes, and to con- 

 vey to Mr Love, their deep sense of the great obhgations they were under 

 to him for his able management of the affaira of the Society during the 

 long period he had been Secretai-y. The office rendered vacant by the 

 retirement of Mr Love wa.s filled up by the appointment of Mr Glen. 



OFFICE-BftARERS FOR SESSION 1870-71. 



Pnsideut — W. J. Marsuall, Esa., M.D. 



Vice Fresid^nU—TnoiiKS Pkestice, Esq., and Willi.vm M'Cluke, Esq. 



Treaturer'-Mv. Geo. R. MacDouo.vll. 



Secretary — Mr James Glen. 



Committee, 



» 



Messrs Alex. Mackellar. 

 Alex. S. Mories. 

 John B. O'Neill. 

 Frederick Johxsto:^. 

 William Hair. 

 JcjHN Erskixe. 

 Bexjamix Noble. 

 Samuel Nicol. 



Messrs Robert Yoi-xn. 

 M. F. Dvxlop. 

 Rev. Johx Nelsox, D.D. 

 T. L. Patersox. 

 R. H. HofSTOx. 

 J. G. Alex.axder. 

 Doxald Macdoxald. 



