IE.— statement of Proceetrmgs. 



jN presenting the Twenty-first Annual Report, the Committee 

 regret that the Members show a slight decrease as compared 

 with last year, the number of Members being 198, against 214 

 last year, and the Ladies' and Youths' Tickets 216, against 265. 

 The attendance at the Lectures, however, showed no falling off, 

 and the interest of the Members in the Lectures exhibited no sign of 

 abatement. The Members of the Society can be congratulated on the 

 finances, there being a balance of ;^43 9s 3d to carry forward to next 

 year's account. 



The following is a Ifsl of the Lectures delivered during the past 

 Session : — 



Subjects in Science. — '''Electricity as a Lighting and Power-trans mitting 

 Agent" \yj And. Jamieson, C.E., Principal, College of Science and Arts, Glasgow. 

 Illustrated with numerous experiments and diagrams. ''The Storage of Energy" 

 (with experimental illustrations), by Professor James Blyth, M.A., F.R.S.E. " The 

 Constitution of the Sun, its Spots and Prominences" (illustrated by diagrams), by Wm. 

 Miller, Esq., S.S.C., Edinburgh. In honour of the Birthday of James Watt (19th 

 Januaiy), " On the Speed aud Carrying of Screiu Steamers" (illustrated by diagrams), 

 by Wm. Denny, Esq., Shipbuilder, Dumbarton. 



In Belles- Lettres. — " The Science of Language" (Four Lectures), by Alexander 

 Roberts, D.D., Professor of Humanity in the United College of St. Salvator and St. 

 Leonards, St. Andrews. First Lecture — " The Scientific Study of Language " Second 

 Lecture — "The Origin of Language;" Third Lecture — "Families of Language;" 

 Fourth Lecture — "Indo-European Languages." "The Life of Shakespeare, as Read 

 in his Plays" (with illustrative readings), by George Walter Baynham, Free Church 

 College, Glasgow. "Burke," by John MacCunn, Esq., Greenock. " Thomas 

 Carlyle: a Portrait, -with an Estimate of his Life-work," by Rev. Wm. Howie Wylie, 

 Helensburgh. Two Musical Lectures were also delivered, namely, " The History of 

 Drawing-room Music," by Herr Pauer, Principal Professor of the Pianoforte National 

 Training School, South Kensington ; and " The Musical Condition of Great Britain," 

 by J. Spencer Curwen, Esq., London. A Lecture was also delivered during the 

 Second Half of the Course, Subject — " The Great Stirvey of Western Palestine," by 

 the Rev. James King, M.A., St. Mary Vicarage, Berwick-on-Tweed. 



The hearty thanks of the Society are due to Mr. William Denny, of 

 Dumbarton, who delivered a most interesting and scientific lecture in 

 honour of the birthday of James Watt, the subject being, " On the 

 Speed and Carrying of Screw Steamers." The Committee are so 

 impressed with the value of this lecture, and the honour conferred on 

 the Society by the delivery of it before the Members, that they have 

 decided to print it, and it will be issued to the Members in a few days. 



The thanks of the Society are also due in an especial manner to 

 Professor MacCunn, Liverpool, not only for his most eloquent lecture on 

 " Burke," but for his very liberal offer of a Prize of ^5 5s for the best 

 Essay on the subject of "A comparison between Free Trade, Reciprocity, 

 and Protection, as methods of promoting national well-being." Three 

 Essays were sent in, and Professor MacCunn has now awarded the 

 Prize to that having the motto, " Pro Rege et Patria" attached. On 



