12 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



The minute is signed by Robert Jameson, President. 



In March 1856, a meeting of the members of the Society 

 was summoned to consider its state and prospects. 



The circular calling the meeting was subscribed by Messrs 

 Adie, Fleming, Traill, Jardine, and Balfour, V.P. ; Greville, 

 Trevelyan, Goodsir, Deuchar, Councillors; Ellis, Treasurer; 

 Torrie, Secretary ; Wilson and Hamilton, Librarians. 



Various meetings took place on the subject. Proposals 

 were made to revive the Society, and many members pro- 

 mised active support. But after full consideration it was 

 finally resolved, in November 1857, to wind up the Society's 

 affairs, and transfer the funds and property in certain pro- 

 portions to the Royal Physical and the Botanical Societies. 



Here, then, we have another instance of the failure of a So- 

 ciety which had during a long period a career of no small 

 celebrity and usefulness. To what are we to attribute this \ 

 Chiefly, I think, to the fact of its absolute dependence on one 

 man, Professor Jameson. Nothing was done without his 

 sanction. He was perpetual president, and no meetings were 

 called except by him. Along with the worthy secretary, Dr 

 Neill, he managed all the business ; and when, during the lat- 

 ter years of life, the Professor was incapacitated from taking 

 an active part in the proceedings, no meetings took place, and 

 the Society languished ; and on his death all attempts to re- 

 suscitate it were found to be hopeless. 



The connection of the Society with the Museum led, in a 

 certain degree, to its dependence on the Professor of Natural 

 History. Its dissolution is traced, then, to the want of an in- 

 dependent council, who could manage its affairs and keep up 

 its membership. It possessed ample funds, a good museum, 

 many books, as well as other property ; but it wanted zealous 

 and active members to carry it on, and its exertions were crip- 

 pled by the ill health of its president, who was allowed to be the 

 sole motive power. 



We have thus seen a student-society (Plinian) failing from 

 want of successors to keep up the business with spirit, from 

 depending on the fluctuation of natural-history zeal among 

 students, and from the absence of senior men to co-operate 

 with them and carry on the work; and we have seen another 



