CHAPTER LXIII. 



SECRETARIES. 



The title was at first Depute Secretary', but was changed 

 by the charter of 1834 to Secretary. 



I. Mr John Lesly (1784-1795). — In consequence of 

 powers given to him, Mr Macdonald of St Martins, after 

 conferring with several members of the Committee, recom- 

 mended Mr John Lesly, Writer in Edinburgh, as a proper 

 person to act as Depute Secretary. The Committee unani- 

 mously approved of and confirmed the appointment. This 

 was in the beginning of 1784, in which year Mr Lesly 

 passed as Writer to the Signet. In 1795, Mr Macdonald 

 of St Martins reported that Mr Lesly, who had acted 

 as his Assistant and Depute Secretary since the institu- 

 tion of the Society, had resigned that office, as he could 

 no longer spare time for paying the proper attention 

 to the management of the business, which had increased 

 very much of late years, and required more time and labour 

 than he could spare from his other professional employment 

 and avocations, though he still retained the strongest 

 attachment to the interests of the Society, which he had 

 joined as an individual member in 1787. Mr Macdonald 

 further stated that, as Mr Lesly had discharged the duties 

 of his office with integrity, ability, and unremitting atten- 

 tion for a space of eleven years, much to the satisfaction of 

 all concerned, it would no doubt be highly gratifying to his 

 feelings, and not unworthy the dignity of the Society, to 

 present Mrs Lesly with a piece of plate with a suitable 

 inscription, as a mark of the favour and approbation of Mr 

 Lesly's long and approved services. Thereafter it was 

 resolved unanimously that the thanks of the Directors 

 should be given to Mr Lesl)-, and that a piece of plate, of 

 the value of twenty guineas, should be presented to Mrs 



