Anniversary Address. 417 



rules as possible, with no entry-money, no fixed annual sub- 

 scription, and no museum. The members were simply to be 

 those who had congenial tastes in Natural History and 

 Archaeology. The meetings were to be in the form of excur- 

 sions to favourite localities, where amidst the green fields 

 and valleys, or along the hillsides, the pursuit of science 

 might be practically carried on, while without formality the 

 members could in pleasant friendly intercourse communicate 

 to each other what they were doing in their favourite 

 branches, and might afterwards place on record in some 

 simple way any discoveries which might be made. 



In this modest unpretending form the movement com- 

 menced, but it was not long till the Club became what it has 

 continued to be — the centre towards which all new scientific 

 facts connected with the district found their way. From the 

 first, the whole intercourse of the members with each other 

 was on the most genial and friendly footing. We all looked 

 up to Dr. Johnston, none questioning his pre-eminence, while 

 on the other hand, none was so eager as he to welcome and 

 give credit to others for what they had done. An enthusi- 

 astic botanist himself, every new plant added to the Flora 

 of our district was a new source of pleasure. I remember 

 well the enthusiasm with which he welcomed and submitted 

 to the Club the little Saxifrage (Saxifraga hirculus) from 

 Langton Lees, and the Anthoceros punctatus from the fields 

 of Gavinton — both at that time new to the Flora of Scot- 

 land. And so it was in every department. I never saw the 

 slightest trace of jealousy ; the whole relations of the mem- 

 bers to each other were on the most cordial and amicable 

 footing ; the genial spirit of the President making itself felt 

 in all their intercourse. 



The value which he attached to the Club, and his pleasure 

 in attending its meetings, was great. A single circumstance 

 may be mentioned to show how he felt even from the first. 

 The British Association for the Advancement of Science was 

 formed, and held its first meeting during the same month of 

 September in which our Club was instituted. We were a 

 week before them, however, so that we are about a week the 



