296 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



the scientific societies of this and other countries, are assist- 

 ing to preserve for Edinburgh that high position which she 

 has attained in science ; but the billet of this evening shows 

 that, in the ensuing session, we have much to look forward 

 to, both from our young soldiers, whose spurs are yet a-win- 

 ning, and from well-tried veterans, whose names for many 

 a year have been " familiar as household words" to the lips 

 and pens of all those whom Natural History has taken for 

 her own. Moreover, a highly respectable balance in the 

 bank, and the continued influx of entrance-fees from new 

 members, render us quite easy as to that commodity with- 

 out which the highest literary and scientific attainments 

 present but a pitiable appearance — so very easy, that a large 

 number of our members, nearly all of us, have neglected for 

 some years to pay our annual contributions. The Council 

 have, however, considered it unadvisable that the property 

 of the Society should any longer be carried about in the 

 pockets of its members, and have directed that the arrears 

 shall be collected, so that our available funds this year will 

 be considerably increased. Since our last meeting, the 

 Society has been deprived of the services of several useful 

 and valuable members. One of them — Professor Shank 

 More — has been removed by the hand of death. I need not 

 in this place recount the history and attainments of one so 

 well known as Professor More. The increasing infirmities 

 of age had for some time prevented his taking any part in 

 the business of the Society, but he never ceased to show an 

 interest in its welfare. We have suffered a severe loss in 

 the removal from Edinburgh of two of our most skilful 

 workers — Mr Andrew Murray and Dr Cleland. To the love 

 of scientific research, the forcible style, the skilful pencil, 

 and the unceasing activity of Mr Murray, the first volume 

 of our Proceedings owes the chief part of its attractions ; 

 while his kindness of heart, and the ready interest he always 

 took in the labours of his brethren, will long be remembered 

 by us with regret. I have no hesitation in stating that the 

 papers which Dr Cleland has communicated to this Society, 

 and elsewhere, have placed him in the highest ranks of 

 science as an accomplished comparative anatomist, and we 



