2 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



toiy state of tlie Society — seeing that we had a goodly array 

 of scientific contributors, the constant accession of new 

 members, and a respectable balance at the command of the 

 Treasurer. The papers then read at our meetings were pub- 

 lished under the title of " Proceedings of the Royal Physical 

 Society," and three volumes, extending over a period of twelve 

 years, from 1854 to 1866, contain new and important facts in 

 the various branches of science to which the Society has 

 devoted itself, that will stand comparison with the contribu- 

 tions of other societies instituted for a similar purpose. But 

 like the crust of our globe, societies are liable to depressions 

 and elevations. Since 1866, we have had no further "Pro- 

 ceedings of the Royal Physical Society" published in an 

 independent form, although the papers read at our meetings 

 have been of equal interest and importance. Abstracts of 

 these papers, indeed, have been published in the public 

 journals ; and it is now the most agreeable part of my duty 

 on this occasion, to be able to state that arrangements have 

 been made to resume the publication of our " Proceedings," 

 or, at least, of abstracts of our " Proceedings," in a more 

 suitable and permanent form. We are indebted to the zeal 

 and able management of our excellent Treasurer for the 

 financial state of the Society being now on a more secure and 

 firm footing. We are out of debt, and have a small balance 

 in hand, and every means have been adopted to lessen 

 expense, and to secure the success, and to increase the pro- 

 sperity of the Society. 



Papers of the past Session. — Upwards of thirty contributions 

 on various branches of the sciences which it is our privilege 

 to study, were read at our meetings last Session. We had 

 first a communication " On a Deposit of Magnetic Iron Ore 

 on the Shores of Bute," by Dr James Middleton. This able 

 and active naturalist is now engaged in the practice of his 

 profession at Strathpeffer, in Ross-shire. He has succeeded 

 in starting a Field Naturalists' Club in that locality, and there 

 is every reason to anticipate useful and valuable additions to 

 the natural history of that part of the country, from the 

 united exertions of its members. 



