APPENDIX A. 



Report on the Conversazione held on '27th, 2Sth, and 

 2dth October, 1886, Extended. 



At a meeting of the Committee, held on the SOtli' October* 

 1885, it was unanimously resolved to have a Conversazione during 

 the ensuing Session, but owing to tlie death of the late President 

 (Dr Gilchrist) in December, it was deemed advisable to postpone 

 it until the following autumn. At the subsequent general meet- 

 ing, it was decided to hold the Conversazione on 27^1 and 28th 

 October, and, if circumstances permitted, to extend it to the 

 following day. 



In order that the different subjects in which the Society is 

 interested be duly represented, a number of sub-committees were 

 appointed to take charge of the different sections for collecting 

 the exhibits, and superintending them during the time they were 

 on view. It is very gratifying to record that the circular which 

 had been issued to members, friends, acquaintances, and public 

 bodies requesting specimens of local natural history, or objects 

 relating to the archaeology of the district, met with such a hearty 

 response as to fill Greyfriars' Hall ; and that every article lent 

 for the occasion was safely returned to the owners. It was 

 arranged tliat W. H. Maxwell, Esq. of Munches, should open the 

 Exhibition on the 27th (Wednesday) at two p.m., but, in the 

 unavoidable absence of that gentleman through indisposition, 

 the ceremony was performed by the president, Dr Grierson. A 

 nominal charge was made for admission, to cover the expenses 

 incurred, and the attendance during the three days being con- 

 sidei-able, tliere was a balance of £5 12s 3|d in favour of the 

 Society. The income from sale of tickets was £20 l3s 6d, and 

 the total expenditure amounted to £15 Is 2id. During the 

 time the Exhibition was open, a number of the lady members 

 and friends presided at the organ and pianoforte, and other 

 members ably assisted the Committee in arranging the exhibits, 

 and in various ways contributed to make the Exhibition a success. 



To describe every article in this unique collection — even if the 

 details of all were at our disposal — would be undesirable, and, 

 instead of doing so, we purpose giving an outline of the Exhibi- 

 tion, and noticing such specimens as are of scientific or archieo- 

 loii'ical interest. 



