Presidents Address. 



305 



On the motion of Mr Alexander Bryson, seconded by Dr 

 M'Bain, a cordial vote of thanks was unanimously given to 

 Dr T. S. Wright for his valuable services as President of the 

 Society, and for his learned and beautiful opening address. 



Mr Bryson then called the attention of the Society to the 

 value of recording facts, however trivial they might seem, 

 and reminded the fellows that the discovery made by their 

 distinguished member, Mr Peach, and communicated to this 

 Society, of goniatites and other shells, near Durness, had 

 induced Sir Eoderick Murchison to remodel his strategra- 

 phical arrangement of the rocks of Scotland. 



Dr* M £ Bain said that he was present when the first fossils 

 from Durness were shown to the Koyal Physical Society, 

 and that the late Hugh Miller then considered them to be- 

 long to the Old Red Sandstone. At the same time, Mr 

 Miller observed that other fossils, in a more perfect state of 

 preservation, would probably be found in the same locality, 

 that would enable geologists to decide what formation they 

 belonged to. Dr M'Bain also remarked that simple facts 

 might lead to important results in applied science as well as 

 in the higher generalisations ; and stated an instance within 

 his own knowledge, to which the President had incidentally 

 referred, of the application of Mellonfs thermo-electric 

 thermometer, by their distinguished member, Mr A. Bryson, 

 to the detection of icebergs at sea, which might ultimately 

 be the means of saving an incalculable amount of life and 

 property. 



Dr Wright then proceeded with a Keport on the anatomy 

 of the Hydroidce. 



by cannon — booming for a great and peaceful victory. A true and noble man 

 hath laid aside his titles, and honours, and power ; and hath passed from the 

 uncertain and turbulent shadows of this world, to the serene light of the 

 eternal day. Gentle, and wise, and good, — earnest in the work of the pre- 

 sent, — he was of those who, standing on the mountain tops, gaze wistfully 

 on the brightening dawn of the future. " Nobody" saith he, who, being- 

 dead yet solemnly speaketh — " Nobody who has paid any attention to the peculiar 

 features of our present era, will doubt for a moment, that we are living at a period of 

 most wonderful transition, which tends rapidly to accomplish that great end to which, 

 indeed, all history points — the eealisation of the unity of mankind." 

 (Speech of the Prince-Consort at the Lord Mayor's Banquet, 1850.) 



