Presidential Address. 15 



The following addresses were then delivered : — 



Presidential Address. 



By Hugh S. Gladstoxe of Capenoch, M.A., F.R.S.E., 

 F.Z.S., F.S.A.(Scot.). 



I am sure you will all join with me in thanking those 

 who have sent us their congratulations on this the fiftieth 

 anniversary of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural 

 History and Antiquarian Society. Although we have to 

 regret the absence of so many of our members, yet the size 

 of this audience is ample proof of the interest of the Public 

 in our activities. It is natural that I should feel some diffi- 

 dence in addressing you when I see around me those who 

 are far more eloquent, eminently more famous, and con- 

 spicuously more talented than myself; but, since you have 

 again chosen me as your President for another session, an 

 honour for which I would take this opportunity of thanking 

 you, it becomes my duty to deliver a presidential address on 

 this, the memorable occasion of our Jubilee. I would have 

 been glad had this task fallen on worthier shoulders, and 

 you will, I trust, remember that, though my expressions may 

 seem cold and colourless, my interest in the welfare of our 

 Society has not been dull nor, I hope, useless. 



In the first place, let me cordially welcome the many 

 visitors and representatives of similar Societies to our own 

 whom I see before me ; let me assure them that it is not 

 always that we meet in the panoply and array displayed 

 to-night, but that our meetings are, as a rule, of much less 

 consequential appearance. The celebration, however, of the 

 Jubilee of our Society called for special arrangements to 

 evince our just pride in the consummation of so long a period 

 of existence. We are especially glad to welcome Dr George 

 Neilson and the Rev. W. A. P. Johnman, as delegates 

 respectively from the Glasgow and Hawick Archaeological 

 Societies. We appreciate the kindly feeling of fellowship 

 which has prompted these Societies to send representatives 

 here to-night, and we hope that the prosperity which we so 

 eagerly desire for our Society may attend theirs also. 



