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papers, the contributions of members whose merits are viewed by 
too friendly an eye. On the other hand, publication may tend to 
sour personal intercourse. If such papers only are selected as are 
likely to prove valuable to cotemporary and future thinkers, there 
is a possibility that disappointment may ensue, and with it ill fel- 
lowship. The Council have a difficult duty in this respect, and they 
act wisely in referring the papers presented to them, in every case 
where there is the slightest doubt, to parties at a distance, out of the 
sphere of local influence. The estimation in which our Transactions 
are held is an evidence at once of the care which is bestowed in the 
selection of papers, and of the high scientific position of the Society. 
To you, the existing members, is confided the duty of maintaining 
that position, and of upholding the character of our Transactions 
before the world. 
2. Account of the Life and Labours of Dr William Gregory. 
By Dr Alison. 
Dr Gregory, at the time of his death, which took place on the 
24th of April last, was Professor of Chemistry in the University of 
Edinburgh, and one of the Secretaries of this Society. He was born 
on the 25th of December 1803. His father was the late Dr Gre- 
gory ; for a long time professor of the practice of medicine in the 
University of Edinburgh. His brothers, James Crawford, who took 
the degree of medicine in 1824, and died in 1832, and Duncan, 
who, when he died, was a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, 
were both so highly distinguished for their talents and acquirements 
as to be worthy representatives of a family of no small distinction in 
the science and literature of the country ; but, in Dr Alison’s 
opinion, Dr William Gregory was the member of the family who, 
in our day, had shown the greatest original talent and devotion to 
science for its own sake. His love of science manifested itself at an 
early period. He had been present at an introductory lecture by 
Dr Hope, which was illustrated by striking experiments. Several 
of these experiments he contrived to repeat by means of a rude 
apparatus which he constructed for the purpose. From that time 
he had always before him the object of ambition which he ulti- 
mately attained. It was not, however, until he had made his 
name known throughout Europe as a chemist, as a favourite pupil 
