History of the Society. 17 



W. G. Gibson called together a meeting of local gentlemen 

 interested in the cultivation of Natural History and Anti- 

 quarian Research at Dumfries, when " it was proposed that 

 a circular, explaining the objects to be pursued, and asking 

 counsel and aid to establish a Society for the investigation of 

 Natural History and Antiquities, should be issued to those 

 known to be interested in such matters." At this meeting 

 a Preliminary Committee was appointed, consisting of the 

 above-named gentlemen, with Dr T. B. Grierson, of Thorn- 

 hill. The Committee met on September 6th, and drew up 

 a circular inviting membership, to which the replies were 

 universally favourable. They again met on November 4th, 

 with Dr Grierson in the chair, and agreed to endeavour to 

 constitute a Society. With this object a meeting was called 

 for Thursday, November 20th, 1862, to be held in the 

 Mechanics' Hall, Dumfries, at 8 p.m. This meeting duly 

 took place, when the gentlemen present — Thomas Aird, W. 

 R. M'Diarmid, J. Thorburn, William M'llwraith, W. G. 

 Gibson, Provost Caldow, William M'Dowall, with Drs J. 

 Dickson, James Gilchrist, and Rev. M. N. Goold — formed 

 themselves into a Society to be called the Dumfriesshire and 

 Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society. The 

 date of this meeting may be regarded as that of the insti- 

 tution of our Society, whose Jubilee we have met to celebrate. 

 Had not the Mechanics' Hall been greatly altered in its 

 internal structure it would certainly have added to the senti- 

 ment of our present meeting could we have met there ; but 

 I have little doubt that had this commodious Town Hall been 

 in existence fifty years ago it would have been as eagerly 

 utilised then as it is to-night. 



It will be interesting to give a list of the first office- 

 bearers of our Society : — President — Sir William Jardine of 

 Applegirth. Vice-Presidents — Dr Thomas Boyle Grierson, 

 Thornhill ; Dr James Gilchrist, Crichton Institution ; and W. 

 R. M'Diarmid, Dumfries. Secretaries — Dr J. Dickson 

 (who held the office of secretary for five years, resigning it 

 in October, 1867) and William M'llwraith. Treasurer — W. 

 G. Gibson. Committee — Rev. W. Gray, Mouswald ; Rev. 

 M, N. Goold, Dumfries ; T. Corrie, Procurator-Fiscal ; Dr 



