4'71 
of Edinburgh, Session 1883-84. 
In its former shape it would he impossible to revive the Literary 
class. Still I think 'it would lighten and enliven our meetings here 
if the graver matters of the physical class w'ere sometimes inter- 
spersed with contributions of a literary nature. This I see plainly 
cannot be done without some labour, and some concert among the 
Fellows. If I can aid in any such scheme, I need not say that any 
assistance I can give would be willingly rendered. 
Before quitting this subject of the Literary class, I would remark 
tliat the most valuable papers of this class are the Obituary Notices, 
which in general are good examples of vigorous and elegant writing, 
and are interesting as authentic records of celebrated men. The three 
notices by Dugald Stewart of Adam Smith, Principal Eobertson, 
and Thomas Eeid are printed in Stewart’s Life by Sir W. Hamilton, 
and are masterpieces of biography. Two others in particular arrested 
my attention. The first, a very remarkable paper by the Eev. Mr 
Alison on Lord Woodhouselee, and the other, a charming bio- 
graphy of Lord Abercroniby by Henry Mackenzie. 
One class of our Founders I feel I have treated with scant justice- — 
I mean those of the legal profession. The truth is they furnished a 
large and available contingent, more perhaps in the way of influence 
than in that of contribution. But I have not done so from under- 
valuing the aid they gave, but because to estimate properly their 
assistance would have led me into inquiries which would have 
swelled this paper — already, I fear, too prolix — beyond reasonable 
dimensions. It'would have involved a dissertation on the Mirror 
and the Lounger, and the state of periodical literature in Scotland 
at the close of last century. The men whom Henry Mackenzie 
gathered round him were almost all lawyers, and lawyers of note — 
Lord Abercromby, Lord Craig, Lord Dreghorn, and Lord Banna- 
tyne were men well deserving of commemoration. It is true, our 
Transactions contain few contributions from their pen ; but the true 
value of such institutions as the Koyal Society is found mainly not 
in the contributions to the evening’s interest, but in the enthusiasm 
they foster and the inquiries they excite. One man who indicates 
earnestness in the prosecution of a science or an experiment, may do 
more to encourage the spirit and love of investigation than the more 
constant contributor. It is the social tribunal in which, after all, 
such institutious as ours must depend; and to excite general atten- 
tion, and stimulate rivalry, and inspire the generous emulation to 
