Objections to the Nebulo- Geological Hypothesis. 145 



Wednesday, 24.th February 18G4. — Thomas Strethill Wright, 

 M.D., President, in the Chair. 



The following gentlemen were balloted for and elected Non-Resident 

 Members: — George Bellairs, Esq., Crown Chamberlain and Receiver 

 for Scotland, Mount Lodge, Portobello ; James Burrell, Esq., late of 

 Bengal, Birnam Lodge, Trinity. 



The following communications were read : — 



I. Some Objections to the Nebulo-Geological Hypothesis, as stated in 

 Br James M' Bain's Opening Address to the Royal Physical Society. 

 By Patrick M'Farlane, Esq., Comrie. Communicated by Alex- 

 ander Bryson, Esq. 



The author commenced by stating that, before entering 

 on the main object of his present paper, it might be as well 

 for him to mention certain peculiar circumstances in which 

 the paper was brought forward before the Koyal Physical 

 Society. " 1st, The author had not the honour of being a 

 member of the Society ; 2d, His sentiments on certain sub- 

 jects of high interest differ, and have long differed, and that 

 widely, from those on the same subjects entertained, and 

 that have been long entertained, so far as can be judged 

 from published evidence, by the members of this Society 

 generally, by its leading members especially, and more espe- 

 cially still by its late excellent and erudite President, Dr 

 M'Bain : ?>d, And what will seem the most peculiar of all 

 these peculiar circumstances is, it is to that late President 

 himself, whose views on the subject referred to are herein 

 most directly controverted, that the author is indebted for 

 the privilege of having this paper regularly read at this 

 meeting." The author then proceeds to state "that the 

 subjects referred to as in the meantime presenting so widety 

 different aspects to the members of this Society (and 

 seemingly to many other societies and individuals besides) 

 from what they did to the author, are the age, history, 

 and present condition of the stellar universe generally, and 

 those of this our own world in particular. Judging of the 

 former aspect from the description given in the able and 

 comprehensive 'Valedictory Address' of your late President 



