PEOCEEDINGIS 
OF THE 
ROYAL PHYSICAL SOCIETY. 
EiaHTY-EIGHTH SESSION, 1858-59. 
Wednesday , November 24, 1858. Professor Balfour in the Chair. 
The following Gentlemen were elected Members of the Society : — 
William Carruthers, Esq. ; William Turner, M.B., Demonstrator of 
Anatomy, University of Edinburgh. Foreign Member — Count Victor 
Motschoulsky, St Petersburgh. 
The Donations to the Library included the following, and thanks were 
voted to the donors : — 
1. Proceedings of the E,oyal Society of Edinburgh, Session 1857-58. 
From the Society. — 2, Canadian Journal, Toronto, Nos. XV., XVI., and 
XVII. From the Canadian Institute, Toronto. — 3. Papers read to the 
Botanical Society of Edinburgh. By George Lawson, Ph.D. From the 
Author, — 4. The Practical Naturalist's .Guide. By James Boyd Davies. 
From the Author. 
Professor Balfour then delivered the Opening Address as follows : — 
It has been the usual practice in the Society that the retir- 
ing President shall give a short address on the occasion of his 
demitting office, and, in conformity with that custom, I have 
been called upon by your Secretary to make a few remarks 
this evening when I conclude my period of probation as Pre- 
sident. The task is by no means an easy one, from the diffi- 
culty of finding some nevf topic of interest on which to ex- 
patiate. The history of the Society has been already given 
by my predecessors, and the obituaries of the eminent mem- 
bers who have lately been taken from us (a topic which in 
most Societies occupies much of the opening addresses), have 
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