President's Address. 5 



Mr Stark was a man of sincere and earnest purpose, and 

 strictly honourable in all the relations of life. His habits 

 were simple and unostentatious, and he was ardently fond of 

 botanical pursuits. He paid particular attention to crypto- 

 gamic botany, and some years ago published a work " On 

 Mosses." He also published a book " On Eock Plants," with 

 the aim of popularising those interesting branches of botanical 

 study. I may add, that there are few during the last genera- 

 tion who have done more to incite a popular taste for the cul- 

 ture of rare plants, and especially those of an Alpine character, 

 than Mr Robert M. Stark ; and hence he is justly and well 

 entitled to a biographical notice in the annals of our Society. 



Mr Thomas Edmonston was born on the 7th September 

 1825. He was the son of Mr Charles Edmonston, and was 

 educated and passed the early years of his life in South 

 Carolina, U.S.A. After a visit to the gold mines of California, 

 he came to this country in 1854, and took up his residence 

 in Zetland. 



Mr Edmonston, by marriage with his cousin, became one 

 of the landed proprietors in Zetland. He was a Commissioner 

 of Supply and Justice of the Peace, and fulfilled his public 

 duties with such remarkable zeal and ability, that a few 

 months before his death he was appointed a Lneputy Lord- 

 Lieutenant. As a landlord he was greatly esteemed and 

 respected by his tenantry, and he took a deep and warm 

 interest in promoting the moral and social improvement of 

 the people. He was famed for his hospitality and attention 

 to strangers who visited the northern islands of Zetland, and 

 especially to those who were engaged in the pursuit of science. 

 To the latter he never failed to render the most friendly aid 

 and assistance, and many warm and lasting friendships were 

 made, the memory of which will not fail to be held and 

 deeply cherished by the survivors. He was the author of 

 " A Glossary of the Shetland and Orkney Dialect," published 

 in 1866, which has proved highly acceptable and useful to 

 those engaged in etymological studies. His constitution was 

 injured by the hardships he endured in his visit to California, 

 and since 1862 his health was most precarious. He died at 



