34 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
ing this Society, in 1823, he was well known in Edinburgh, 
where he spent several winters, though he may he perhaps recol- 
lected by few persons now present. He married in 1833 a lady of 
Bath, and he died in that city in the course of last summer. 
Mr Burn Murdoch and Mr John Oockburn (brother of the late 
Lord Cockburn) both frequently attended our meetings, hut other- 
wise require no detailed notice here. The former was an active 
agriculturist and country gentleman, and died in August last in his 
seventieth year. 
Dr James Bussell, whose death, at the age of sixty-one, occurred 
only on the 21st November last, was the eldest son of Mr James 
Bussell, Professor of Clinical Surgery, and grandson of the Profes- 
sor of Natural Philosophy (also in this university), who wasthe pre- 
decessor of Dr Bohison. Dr Bussell lived a retired life, and although 
a physician, had not for many years practised his profession. 
I have now, gentlemen, with some prolixity I fear, attempted to 
go over the ground which I had in view when we started. My great 
object has been to induce you to give a fair consideration to the 
claims which the objects of this really national institution — the 
Boyal Society — has upon you, its members. I have asked you to 
look hack to your origin, — to the constellation of eminent men wha 
assisted at your incorporation, — to the important labours which the 
Transactions include, — to the social meetings which, with varying 
brilliancy and significance, have for eighty years connected genera- 
tion with generation of the literary and scientific men of this me- 
tropolis and university-seat with one another ; and I ask you to 
assist now, by your personal efforts, by your literary contributions 
if possible, at least by your attendance at our evening meetings, 
in adding to the interest and value of these meetings ; I ask you 
to encourage those who labour for the promotion of original re- 
search, to maintain the credit of a society established for purposes 
the most disinterested and humanizing, and by so doing to justify 
the position which the Boyal Society of Edinburgh assumes, of 
representing in some degree before the academies of Europe the 
intellect and original talent of our native country. 
