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 jQi 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 tliat 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 sufi'ered 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 
