n.— statement ot proceeMnos. 



In submitting the Twenty-sixth Annual Report, the Committee 

 have mucli satisfixction in being able to intimate tlie continued prosperity 

 of the Society, notwithstanding the great depression which has prevailed 

 in our town during the past Session. The practical result of the Session, 

 as regards Members, has been that the Memljei'ship of the Society has 

 inci-eased by 20, and 6 additional Ladies' and Youths' Tickets have been 

 issued ; and as regards the Finances there is an increase in the Funds of 

 £2 l8s, the Balance now at the Society's credit being £32 18s 7d. 



The following is a List of the Lecturers and Artistes, and of the 

 Subjects treated by them,'^viz. : — 



I. Subjects in Science. — " Comets and Shooting Stars." By Sir Robert Ball, 

 LL. D., F.R.S. "Destructive Aids in Naval Warfare (Ancient Fire Ships and 

 Modern Torpedoes)." By John Ward, Shipbuilder, Dumbarton. " The Artificial 

 Cultivation of Cod and other White Fish." By J. C. Ewarfc, M.D., Professor of 

 Natural History, Edinburgh. " MUitarij Explosives," with Experiments. By Capt. 

 Elliot Black, C.A. , F.C.S., Glasgow. "Evolution in. Naval Architecture during 

 the Reign of Queen Victoria" (Watt Lecture). By Robert Duncan, Shipbuilder, 

 Port-Glasgow. " Bubbish." By Dr Drinkwater, Edinbui'gh. " Life and movement 

 in Plants." By Patrick Peddes, F.R.S.E., Edinburgh. 



II. Subjects in Literature and Art. — "Recital." By Mrs Scott-Siddons. 

 Lecture on the Flute, with Musical Illustrations — " Pan to Pinafore ; Pipes of all 

 Peoples: Flutes of all Ages.'" By Mr John Raddiff and Madame Pauline Rita. 

 "Recital." By Mrs Helen Irene Scott-Thorpe. 



III. General Subjects. — " Past and Present — Historiccd comparison of Scotland 

 as it teas and is." By Sheriff Nicolson. " Modern Evolution of Socialism." By 

 Prince Kropotkine. " Some Features of Parliamentarg Government in the United. 

 States." By Edmund Robertson, M.P. , LL.D. "On the Position of Woman in 

 Ancient Rome." By James Donaldson, LL.D., Principal, St. Andrews. 



Special thanks are diie by the Society to Sheriff Nicolson, Mr John 

 Ward, and Capt. Elliot Black, who delivered very able Lectures free of 

 charge; and the Committee record their veiy special thanks to Mr Robert 

 Duncan, who not only delivered our Watt Lecture free of charge, but 

 requested the privilege of printing and publishing his Lecture under the 

 auspices of our Society, and insisted also on paying the whole expense 

 of the printer's bill. 



In terms of the Constitution and Rides, a Special Meeting of the 

 Society was held on 27th December, 1886, to elect two Members of the 

 Society as Representatives on the Museum Committee, in place of Mr 

 M. F. Dunlop and Mr T. L. Patterson, who then retired. On the 

 motion of the President, Mr Rodger, seconded by Mr A. O. Leitch, 

 Messrs Dunlop and Patterson were unanimoiisly re-elected. 



