468 
Monday , 2d December 1861. 
The Very Reverend Dean Ramsay, one of the Vice-Pre- 
sidents, delivered the following Opening Address : — 
It is with no affectation of humility, it is with no mock modesty 
that I earnestly bespeak your kind indulgence for the discharge of 
the duty to which I have been called this evening. My diffidence 
in this matter arises from no want of interest in the work assigned 
to me, but from knowing how much I lack that extent of know- 
ledge and that degree of experience which seem to be required for 
the position in which I am placed, and for such an audience as I 
have the honour to address. I find different scientific associations 
adopt different rules. In some cases the secretary makes, in name 
of the council, a general report of the whole proceedings during the 
past year ; in fact, very much in the business style of the secre- 
tary of a railway company. In some cases, the address is delivered 
on the anniversary of the society by the president, who makes 
a distribution of its medals and prizes previous to his vacating his 
office. 
The Royal Society of Edinburgh has only of late years adopted 
the practice of an address from the chair on the first meeting of 
the Session, with notices of the deceased members during the 
year; the medals and prizes being distributed usually towards the end 
of the Session. The address on the first meeting of last Session was 
delivered by our recently elected President, the Duke of Argyll; and 
it was well observed on that occasion, I think by Lord Neaves, 
that the address itself was the best proof of the Society having 
chosen their President well and wisely. 
As to the statistics of the Society, I may mention that eight 
members have died during the past year : — 
Rt. Hon. The Earl of Aberdeen. 
Robert Bell, Esq. 
Rt. Hon. Lord Campbell. 
John Gordon, Esq., of Cairnbulg. 
Professor More. 
Sir James M. Riddell, Bart. 
The Rev. Dr James Robertson. 
E. D. Sandford, Esq. 
Sixteen new members were elected during the past year : — 
