66 TnANSAOTIONS. 



Donations. — A fine spocimeii of the Peregrine Falcon, pre- 

 sented by Mr W. J. Maxwell of Terregles Banks ; the Proceedings 

 of the Glasgow Natural "History Society ; the first volume of the 

 Transactions of the Highland Society (1799), presented by Mr 

 James Barbour ; and a stake alleged to be from a lake dwelling in 

 the loch at Lochmaben, presented by Mr James Lennox. 



Mr J. G. H. Starke (advocate) having briefly referred to the 

 loss which the Society had sustained in the death of Mr M'Dowall, 

 [)roposed the following resolution, which Avas agreed to unani- 

 mously : — " That this Society records its deep regret at the sudden 

 death of its most distinguished member, Mr William M'Dowall, 

 F.S.A., the historian of Dumfries, and desires that its sympathy 

 with his domestic circle in its bereavement be communicated to 

 his widow." 



President's Address. 



The President read a short inaugural address to the following 

 eff"ect: — Ladiesand Gentlemen, — The firstduty incumbent upon me 

 this evening is to thank you very heartily for the honour you have done 

 me in electingmeto your presidential chair. When your wish that I 

 should become the President of this Society was first intimated to 

 me, I confess that, for a moment, I was somewhat doubtful whether 

 I could conscientiously undertake the responsibilities pertaining to 

 that office, but the invitation was conveyed to me in terms so 

 cordial and so pressing that I felt myself bound in common 

 courtesy to accept it, and this I did the more readily because it 

 seemed to imply on your part a confidence in my ability to serve 

 you, which was by me as unlooked-for as it is, I fear, unmerited. 

 It will, however, be my earnest endeavour, so long as I occupy this 

 chair, to do my little best to promote the welfare of our 

 Society. 



I will now make a few remarks respecting the progress which 

 has been already made by the Society towards the attainment of 

 the ends for which it was originally instituted, as well as some of 

 the means by which it may best achieve that which still remains 

 to be accomplished in the future. These remarks must, howevei-, 

 be very brief, because I rejoice to see that we are to be favoured 

 with two communications which will, I am sure, be more attractive 

 to you than anything I have to say this evening. 



1 have not yet had an opportunity ot reading any of the 

 Transactions of this Society exce})! the last, which has recently 



