of Edinburgh, Session 1873 - 74 . 391 
II. I must, however, detain you for a few moments in adverting 
to our proceedings during the past winter. 
1. I think from my recollection of the papers which have come 
before our meetings, that we have attended to most of the objects 
for which our Society was established. 
We have had papers on the various physical sciences — Che- 
mistry, Natural Philosophy, Geology, Botany, Mathematics, Ana- 
tomy, and Zoology. But besides science, our Society was intended 
for the encouragement of Literature ; and I regret to say, that I do 
not remember any paper read this winter of a literary character. 
At our last meeting, one of the papers was by Mr Sang on Loga- 
rithms, and he produced on our table no less than 20 MS. volumes 
of logarithms to 15 places of decimals! the publication of which, 
he pointed out, would be of great advantage to astronomers and 
others who require the aid of logarithms in their calculations, and 
accompnaied by minute accuracy. That opinion was publicly con- 
firmed by other members of the Society very competent to judge ; 
and I may now announce, that our Council have, in accordance with 
that opinion, come to the resolution of ascertaining whether Govern- 
ment will undertake the publication of Mr Sang’s valuable tables, 
— for the cost would go far beyond our own resources as a Society. 
2. I cannot conclude what I have to say of our Society, without 
adverting to the losses we have sustained by the death of several 
distinguished Honorary Associates, viz., Louis Agassiz, Lambert 
Adolphe Jacques Quetelet, Auguste de la Bive, and John Stuart 
Mill. Obituary notices of some of these distinguished men have 
already appeared in our Proceedings. The others will be noticed 
by our President in his Address, when the next session commences. 
The Council have filled up these vacancies by selecting other 
eminent men as Honorary Associates ; and these nominations have 
been confirmed by the Society. • 
Whilst referring to the list of our Honorary Fellows, I cannot 
avoid mentioning a name, which I see standing on the same page, 
and standing by itself, viz., Sir Richard Griffiths. 
Sir Richard is, I believe, the oldest member of our Society. He 
will, in September next, have completed his ninetieth year. He 
was in my house two months ago, in good health, on hi? way to 
Ireland, where he is at present residing. It so happens that this 
