106 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



Another respected member — Mr George Meldrum, C.A. — 

 has also, more recently, been removed from us by death. He 

 was a good man, and well known in Edinburgh. As a lover 

 of science, however, he was one who took the part of an 

 interested listener more than a sharer in the public business 

 of our ordinary meetings. I long had the pleasure of his 

 acquaintance, and I know that both in his private and public 

 position in the church and in the community he leaves a sad 

 blank. 



The mention of these recent losses makes me naturally 

 turn my thoughts back to the many eminent men who have 

 filled this presidential chair, and who have now passed away 

 from us. Happily, some distinguished men still remain — of 

 whom we are justly proud — to cheer and encourage us as a 

 society, by their occasional presence with us; taking part in 

 our meetings, and giving us the advantage of their age and 

 experience, and drawing for us on their large stores of know- 

 ledge in the varied and extensive fields of Natural Science. 

 I cannot, however, help recalling some of the many great 

 men who stood as towers of strength around this Society 

 when I first entered it, some six-and-twenty years ago. The 

 Secretary at that time was the generous and amiable William 

 Oli pliant, the publisher; who was then succeeded by C. Wyville 

 Thomson, now our distinguished Professor of Natural History 

 in the University ; we rejoice in his recent success, and trust 

 he may be long spared to add to our knowledge of Nature and 

 her laws, and to enjoy the honours he has so happily and justly 

 won. Sir C. Wyville Thomson, having held the ofi&ce of Secre- 

 tary for a couple of years, was then succeeded by myself, and 

 the office remained in my hands for twenty-one years ; but 

 I shall not go into any detailed account of the varying cir- 

 cumstances of the Society during that long period. I am glad, 

 however, to have been able to edit and put on permanent 

 record some at least of the work done in part of that time, in 

 the three goodly octavo volumes of the printed Proceedings of 

 the Society, which include many papers of both interest and 

 value, and many illustrations of great beauty, especially, let 

 me say, the series of papers with their illustrative drawings, 

 by the late Dr T. Strethill Wright. The Proceedings were a 



