12 Proceedings of Boy al Society of Edinhitrgh. [sess. 
man, Vice-President, or member of various Trusts and Societies 
iu Perthshire, founded for benevolent purposes. He died on 
9th September 1891. 
David Davidson was the son of the Rev. Dr Davidson, of Muir- 
house. Hearly fifty years ago, when in his 35th year, he went to 
Canada as Manager of the Bank of British Horth America. He 
filled this office till 1855, when he was appointed General Manager 
of the Bank of Montreal. While there, with the assistance of his 
uncle the late Lord Cockburn, he was instrumental in selecting in 
Scotland qualified instructors to introduce a high standard of 
education in the public school then established in Montreal. In 
1863 Mr Davidson accepted the General Managership of the Bank 
of Scotland. This position he occupied with much success till 
1879, when owing to failing health he resigned. After his retire- 
ment he accepted the Chairmanship of the North British and 
Mercantile Insurance Company. He was well known as one 
interested in many charitable works. He died on 30th October 
last. I may here again be permitted to offer a tribute of regard 
to the memory of a personal friend. 
James Russell Lowell, one of our Honorary Fellows, was born 
on 22 nd February 1819 at Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was of 
Puritan origin. It is said that he was the heir of several genera- 
tions of men of high thinking and pious ways. He studied at 
Harvard University, and took the degree of LL.B. On leaving 
College he did not seriously attempt to practise the profession of 
law, literature having entirely absorbed him. In 1844 he 
published a volume of poems of such excellence as to show that 
America possessed a new poet. In 1848 he published the “Biglow 
Papers.” This work was followed by his poems entitled “ The 
Vision of Sir Launfal,” “The Present Crisis,” and “A Fable for 
Critics.” In 1855 he was appointed to the Chair of Modern 
Languages and Belles Lettres at Harvard. Whilst holding this 
Chair he published his “Fireside Travels” and “Under the 
Willows.” He also edited the “Atlantic Monthly and North 
American Review.” His strength as a critic was revealed in his 
works “ My Study Windows,” and “ Among my Books.” From his 
Chair at Cambridge, Lowell was called to be Minister at Madrid, 
and in 1880 he was appointed representative of the United States 
