4/6 HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



funds of the Society) was allowed to accumulate till 1826, 

 when it amounted to ^^23 14. 



In 1825 a committee was appointed, and in 1827 it 

 w'as resolved to give £20 each to three naval cadets. In 

 1844 the allowance was increased to ^^25 annually to each 

 cadet. At a later period the allowances were still further 

 increased to ^35 each, and there were sometimes as many 

 as four recipients. In 1857 the allowances were fixed at 

 ir40 to each of four cadets. In 1866 it was resolved that a 

 fifth gentleman should be added at an annual allowance of 

 £40 to each. It may be added that, under the prudent 

 control of the committees in charge of the fund, the sum of 

 nearly i^6ooo has, up to this year (1879), been expended on 

 naval cadets. The fund now amounts to £i,gi2, invested 

 in heritable and other securities. The following are the 

 existing regulations for the Fund : 



1. That the Fund in question shall continue to be kept separate and 

 distinct from the other funds of the Society, as has hitherto been done. 



2. That it shall be devoted exclusively to the encouragement of the naval 

 profession, and be restricted to the sons of gentlemen connected with the 

 Highlands, and not in atHuent circumstances. 



3. That all claims for assistance shall be considered on their own merits, 

 and no candidate shall be admitted to participate in the Fund until he is twelve 

 years of age. 



4. That no applicant shall be eligible for admission to the Fund till he 

 has passed his examination for the training-ship, or such other preliminary test 

 to which naval cadets may be subjected. 



5. That the number of recipients on the list shall be restricted to five, and 

 that the allowance to each be £i\.o per annum, and paid in advance. 



6. That any sum granted shall be voted annually, and continued until 

 such time as the naval cadet has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant, but 

 in no case longer than ten years from the date of the recipients entering the 

 service. 



Mr Patrick Small Keir of Kinnjonth, Advocate, 

 who became a member of the Society in 1805, was ap- 

 pointed Convener of the Committee on the Argyll Naval 

 Fund in 1825, and acted in that capacity till 1841, when, 

 on his retiring to the country, he was succeeded by 



Mr Alexander Lamont of Knockdow, Writer to the 

 Signet. Mr Lamont was admitted a member 18 19, and 

 acted as Convener till his death in 1861. For some years 

 previous to this the affairs of the Fund were managed by 



