Transactions. 1''3 



Weir, may be mentioned as particularly interesting Avithout de- 

 tracting from the merits of the other contributors. 



The thanks of the Society are due to the painstaking scientific 

 investigations of Messrs Andson, Hastings, ]\r Andrew, and Corrie. 

 The President is desirous of obtaining help from members in col- 

 lecting specimens of the shells of the district. It should be the 

 aim of all the members to obtain the support and assistance of 

 their scientific friends in carrying out the objects for which the 

 Society exists. 



Of the Field Meetings those to Whithorn and Gretna were 

 particularly interesting and successful. It is a pity, however, that 

 in these excursions, while archa?ology has been well represented, 

 the natural history subjects have been somewhat neglected. 



The museum has been enriched by our undertaking the 

 custody of the geological and other specimens, as well as a collec- 

 tion of coins, bequeathed by the late Mr William Baxter to the Town 

 Council. The resolution of our Council to hold an exhibition of 

 these in November will give the public an opportunity of inspects 

 ing this valuable collection. 



In connection with the British Association the Rev. Mr 

 Andson has undertaken to keep a register of the temperature, &c., 

 of the Eiver Nith, and under his direction, and with the consent 

 of the Town Council, a gauge h.is been fixed on one of the piers 

 of the New Bridge for taking the depth of the water. 



During the session we have lost our two most distinguished 

 members, the one an antiquarian, the other a scientist. They 

 were both natives of the burgh and men of whom Dumfries does 

 well to be proud, and whose memory we should delight to honour. 

 Mr William M'Dowall, in his books relating to his native town 

 and Lincludeu, could have said with the poet '■'■ Exegi monumentum 

 aere perennius." In regard to our venerable friend and ex-Presi- 

 dent, Dr Thomas Boyle Grierson, it is difficult to say whether his 

 attainments as a scientist and a philosopher or his unafi"ected sim- 

 plicity of character as a man was more to be admired. His mind 

 was stored with knowledge of the most varied kind, and yet he 

 was as free as a child from assumption of superiority over those 

 less richly gifted. He spent the best part of his life in imparting 

 to others what he had acquired, and he seemed to carry out the 

 view of Epictetus, whose works he greatly admired : " God has 

 introduced man into the world to be a spectator of Himself and of 

 His works ; and not only to be a spectator but an intrepreter." 



