Me. W. Keddie on the Early History and Proceedings of the Society. 127 



A scheme was broached for improving the Highlands by the intro- 

 duction into the glens of the cultivation of mint and carroway, the 

 latter for the sake of the seeds, from which the oil might be expressed 

 for sale ; also the preparation in the quarries of stones for building. 



A paper was read by Mr. John Hart ou Dioptrics and Acoustics, 

 which was afterwards published in Breivster's Journal and The Mechanics^ 

 Magazine. 



Iodine became an object of interest to the Society at this period. 



In 1824, Mr. Batchelor described a waterspout he had seen in the 

 previous year, about three miles south of Linlithgow. After the con- 

 nection ceased between the earth and the cloud, the portion that had 

 communicated with the earth, " crap up," he said, and assumed the 

 form of a golf club. 



A banker's check was produced by Mr. H. Wilson, crossed with five 

 lines printed on both sides, on the one with an alkali, and the other with 

 an acid, so that any attempt of a fraudulent kind to discharge the figures 

 would infallibly be detected, whatever reagent might be employed. 



In November, Mr. Robert Hastie, the Chairman, claimed the priority 

 of invention of a Nautical Indicator, assumed by another person, for 

 the late Mr. Hunter, and as an act of justice to his memory. At the 

 following meeting, a letter was received from Mr. Hunter, stating that 

 he was still alive, and thanking Mr. Hastie and the Society for their 

 interest in his invention. Mr. William Northhouse, editor of the 

 Glasgow Free Press, became a member this year (1824'). Much interest 

 was excited in the Society by the principle of Dobereiner's Lamp, 

 and numerous experiments were made on the action of hydrogen upon 

 platina. 



The improvement of the navigation of the Clyde, to admit of large 

 vessels being brought to the Broomielaw, was a frequent topic of deli- 

 beration. The anticipations of the members, and probably the public 

 also, were not at this time very sanguine. Early in 1825, Dr. M'Clure 

 produced the tin model of a buoy or camel for floating vessels, by the 

 aid of which he thought it not unreasonable to expect that ships of 250 

 or 300 tons might be brought to the Broomielaw. The minute men- 

 tions specially, that the invention and model are the property of Bailie 

 Robertson, one of the magistrates of the burgli of Calton. 



Mr. Wallace produced the sketch of a city improvement, which was 

 afterwards carried out in the opening of London Street. This gentle- 

 man liaving now entered upon the editorship of the MecJiMidcs' Magazine, 

 solicited ])apers from the Society for the pages of that useful miscellany, 



Tlie Water Company having at this time shut off the water supply 

 during the night, Mr. R. Hart contrived a self-acting water-cock, to 



