416 Anniversary Address. 



impossible. Even since the time when by your favour I 

 was readmitted a member (1871), my engagements in con- 

 nection with an Edinburgh church have made me an absentee 

 oftener than I could have wished. Without attempting, 

 therefore, anything so ambitious as a regular sketch of your 

 history, I may simply refer to the early years of the Club, 

 and contribute some reminiscences which may not be 

 altogether devoid of interest. I shall have to speak mainly 

 of Dr. Johnston, for he was more than the founder of the 

 Club — he was the life and soul of all that was done, and if at 

 the same time in doing this I become somewhat egotistical, 

 I shall trust to your indulgence. 



While yet a student at the University of Edinburgh, I had 

 done something to the study of Botany, and it was my good 

 fortune to become acquainted with Dr. Johnston soon after 

 the publication of his " Flora of Berwick-on-Tweed." He 

 was, I found, anxious to have the Flora of Western Berwick- 

 shire examined as he had done that on the East, and at his 

 request 1 undertook to investigate the plants of my father's 

 parish of Langton and the surrounding district. In this 

 way we were led into close correspondence, and from time 

 to time I used to find my way to Berwick, assured always 

 of a friendly welcome and a full consideration of any point 

 I wished to submit to his notice. It was in this way I got 

 to know something of the origin of the Club. The first time 

 I heard the subject mentioned was during a visit to Berwick 

 in the autumn of 1830, I think, or the spring of 1831. The 

 Rev. Andrew Baird, of Cockburnspath, was staying with 

 Dr. Johnston, and one evening as we were sitting together 

 in the drawing room, the question was suggested, in the course 

 of conversation, whether we might not, in conjunction with 

 other friends, try to work out the Natural History of the 

 district. It was in this connection that Dr. Johnston began 

 to speak of the possibility of forming a club. Various sug- 

 gestions were made, our diflerent views were exchanged, but 

 my impression is that the matter had already taken shape 

 in Dr. Johnston's mind. His great desire was that the whole 

 should be done in the most unpretentious way, with as few 



