226 Proceedings of the Boy at Fhysical Society. 



whicli has raised him to the highest post of honour in the 

 British Geological world, it is also impossible for us to sup- 

 press some feeling of selfish regret at the loss we sustain in 

 Professor Geikie's removal to London. Of this, however, I 

 am convinced, that he will not forget the Eoyal Physical 

 Society, nor cease to sympathise with its aims and objects. 



What are these aims and objects ? A strange question 

 some of you may say — do we not know our own minds ? 

 No doubt all of us know and maintain that the Eoyal 

 Physical Society exists for the purpose of encouraging the 

 study of Physical Science, as well as of promoting the ready 

 interchange of ideas among its members as to the subjects 

 which interest them : our publication of proceedings, which 

 we exchange with those of other societies throughout Europe, 

 also shows that we wish the world, outside our boundaries, 

 to know what we are about, if it cares. We may not, how- 

 ever, all entertain quite the same idea as to the special way 

 in which science may be encouraged and benefited through 

 the means of our Society ; in fact, different opinions may be 

 held regarding the appropriate part which we may pursue, 

 and the end at which we may aim. I hope you will not 

 consider me as egotistic if, on the present occasion, I ven- 

 ture to give you one or two of my own ideas on the subject. 



First, As to the scope of our studies. I find the idea very 

 prevalent outside our circle, as w^ell as indeed within it, that 

 the Ptoyal Physical Society of Edinburgh is pre-eminently a 

 Zoological Society. But, by the original constitution and 

 charter, all Physical Science is embraced in the scope of 

 its work, and, in the old days of the Society, the mass of the 

 papers read were purely medical in their character. 



However, since our Society commenced the publication 

 of Proceedings, it is true that Natural History has formed 

 the most prominent part of its work, and that a great deal 

 of the best work which has appeared in these Proceedings 

 is Zoological in its nature. And, from the nature of things, 

 I rather think that Natural History will continue to form the 

 staple pabulum of our monthly meetings. The medical men 

 have now their own societies for the discussion of topics 

 specially connected with the profession, and which discus- 



