2 
Proceedings of Royal Society of Edinburgh. [eec. 6, 
Monday, 6th December 1886. 
♦ 
JOHN MURRAY, Esq., PhJD., Vice-President, in 
the Chair. 
1. Chairman’s Opening Address. 
It is my privilege to welcome you at the commencement of this 
new Session, which, from many indications, promises to be one of 
great activity among the Fellows of the Society. 
Since the close of last Session our esteemed President, Mr Thomas 
Stevenson, has placed his resignation in the hands of the Council, 
and, although asked to reconsider his decision, he urged, after con- 
sultation with his physician, that, on account of his failing health, 
he could not continue to hold a post, the duties connected with 
which he was quite unable efficiently to discharge. I feel sure the 
Fellows will join with me in hoping that Mr Stevenson may soon he 
blessed with a return of good health, and that he may long continue 
to he a contributor to the work of the Society. 
Our new President, Sir William Thomson, is not a stranger to the 
office ; when he last occupied the Presidential chair he conferred 
many lasting benefits on the Society, and his re-election augurs well 
for the future. 
The vote recently taken among the Fellows, with reference to 
the proposal to change the hour of the ordinary meetings of the 
Society, has resulted in a majority for the usual hour of meeting 
being retained. Still, as there was a large minority in favour of 
some change, the Council will most probably arrange to hold some 
meetings at four o’clock in the afternoon during the present Session. 
Whether we look at the membership of the Society, the extent 
and value of its publications, or the general activity of the members 
with reference to scientific investigations, we have every reason to 
congratulate ourselves on its prosperous condition, and to cherish 
the notion that the Society has entered on the second century of its 
existence with a vigour and prospect of usefulness unknown even at 
any previous period of its career. This very prosperity, however, 
brings with it new duties and responsibilities. Some new matters 
