xliv PEOCEEDINCIS OP THE 



in the couscientious, zealous, and successful performance of all tlie 

 duties of liis sacred office. Grrave, sober-minded, temperate, devout, 

 and wise, his life in all respects adorned the doctrines he preached. 



But in the midst of these important labours, Mr. Stobbs, in his 

 remote parish, still found leisure and inclination to devote consi- 

 derable attention to natural history. "With a view to its promo- 

 tion, he, in cooperation with his friend, the Eev. Mr. Clouston, 

 succeeded in instituting the " Orkney Natural History Society," 

 whose labours are well known, and have been highly appreciated 

 by many naturalists. To this useful institution he actively per- 

 formed the duties of Secretary up to the time of his death. He 

 was, in fact, during his life its mainspring ; and it is chiefly to his 

 unwearied exertions that the Society owes not only the building 

 for a Museum, but also the arrangement of the specimens con- 

 tained in it. It is much to be hoped that so excellent a work 

 should be continued with equal zeal after the decease of its first 

 promoter. 



Mr. Stobbs's death, Avhich took place in March .1863, was rather 

 sudden; and his funeral was remarkable from the circumstance 

 that the company collected to do his memory honour on the 

 occasion was the largest ever assembled together for such a pur- 

 pose in Orkney, the concourse being estimated at 2000, the pro- 

 cession extending nearly half a mile in length. 



The Secretary also announced that twenty-nine Pellows and 

 two Foreign Members had been elected since the last Anniversary. 



At the Election which subsequently took place, Greorge Beu- 

 tham, Esq., was re-elected President ; William Wilson Saunders, 

 Esq., Treasurer ; aud Greorge Busk, Esq., and Erederick Currey, 

 Esq., Secretaries. The following five Eellows were elected into 

 the Council, in the room of others going ou-t : viz. — William Baird, 

 M.D., Daniel Hanbury, Esq., John Lubbock, Esq., George Mac 

 Leay, Esq., and E. P. Pascoe, Esq. 



Dr. Alexander Prior, on the part of the Auditors of the Trea- 

 surer's Accounts, read the Balance-sheet, by which it appeared 

 that the total Receipts during the past year, including a Balance 

 of £383 9s. 9d. carried from the precediug year, amounted to 

 £1837 165. 9d. ; and that the total Expenditure during the same 

 period (including the purchase of £400 Consols.) amounted to 

 £1298 19s. 4id. ; leaving a Balance in the hands of the Bankers 

 of £538 17^. 6d. 



