29 
of Edinburgh, Session 1862-63. 
though in public matters his manner was occasionally dogmatic, he 
was of a kind and hospitable nature, and was much regarded by a 
large circle of personal friends. The frequency of his attendance 
here contributed to excite a spirit of interest in the meetings. For 
about twenty years past he had lived in calm retirement in the 
midst of his family, and on the property which he had an heredi- 
tary pride in cultivating and adorning. He died at Meadowbank 
on the 30th November 1861, in the eighty-fifth year of his age. 
Elected in the same year with Mr M. Welwood, but his senior 
by one year, was Mr Eobert Bald, who for many years occupied a 
very high position as a mining engineer. He was born at Culross, in 
Perthshire, in 1776, and soon after removed to Alloa, where he early 
gave his attention fo mining, and attracted the notice of the Earl 
of Marr. He was ultimately engaged in the extensive Marr Col- 
lieries, — a connection which he held for a very long period. He 
commenced general practice as a mining engineer in Edinburgh 
about the year 1820, and was very extensively employed in Scot- 
land, England, and Wales. He was requested by the Swedish Grovern- 
ment to report on the coalfields of that kingdom, and received from 
the King of Sweden marked acknowledgments of the value attached 
to his report by the Grovernment of that country. Mr Bald was 
elected a member of the Eoyal Society of Edinburgh in 1817, and 
Avas a contributor to its Proceedings. He was author of a “ Yiew 
of the Coal Trade,”* of the article ‘‘ Mine” in the Edinburgh Ency- 
clopaedia, and of numerous other papers bearing on his profession. 
Mr Bald was universally esteemed ; and during his long stay in 
Edinburgh he formed many lasting friendships, which death alone 
terminated. He was for long in ill health, and bore his protracted 
and severe illness with truly Christian resignation. The latter years 
of his once active life were spent in retirement at Alloa, where he 
died in December 1861, in his eighty-sixth year. 
As connected by the nature of his occupations with Mr Bald, I 
next notice a third octogenarian among our Fellows, Mr James 
* In this work he made a benevolent and much required appeal on behalf 
of the miserable lot of women then employed in coal mines, under the name 
of “ Bearers.” 
