454 HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the late Professor James F. W. Johnston of the University 

 of Durham, was elected Chemist, although it was not till 

 Martinmas following that he entered on his duties. The 

 meetings of the Association took place in the Upper Hall 

 of the Society's Museum, and the Society gave an annual 

 vote of money towards its support. In return, the Society 

 was entitled to elect a certain number of members of the 

 Committee of Management, and the proceedings were pub- 

 lished in the Society's Transactions. The Association's 

 term of duration was limited to five years, and its pro- 

 ceedings were brought to a termination in 1848. As that 

 period approached, it became necessary for the Directors to 

 determine whether the Society should continue to give its 

 pecuniary support and patronage to a separate body, or 

 establish within itself a Chemical Department. After care- 

 ful deliberation, it was conceived that the advancement of 

 agriculture could be promoted with greater efficiency by 

 one than by two Associations. These views were submitted 

 to successive General Meetings in April and July 1848, and 

 it was ultimately agreed to organise a Chemical Depart- 

 ment in connection with the Society. 



Professor Johnston published no fewer than 69 articles 

 in the Society's Transactions, under the title of 'Proceedings 

 of the Agricultural Chemistry Association.' He was besides 

 the author of ' Lectures on Agricultural Chemistry and 

 Geology.' 



When the Directors proceeded to appoint a Chemist, 

 their choice fell on Dr THOMAS ANDERSON, whose services 

 will be aftervv-ards noticed. 



The affairs of the Chemical Department have always 

 been under the charge of a Standing Committee. 



The first Chairman of the Committee was the late Dr 

 William Gregory, Professor of Chemistry in the University 

 of Edinburgh, who acted from 1849 to 1859, when Dr 

 Anderson was named Chairman. He acted till 1874, when 

 Sir Thomas Buchan Hepburn of Smeaton Hepburn, Bart, 

 was appointed. 



On Sir Thomas Buchan Hepburn resigning the chair- 

 manship in 1876, the Directors were unanimous in request- 



