2 
Proceedings of the Poyal Society 
Monday, 2 d December 1878. 
Professor Kelland, the President, read the following Intro- 
ductory Address : — 
In taking my place this evening, I might reasonably he expected 
to say much about my unworthiness to fill the post, and the kind- 
ness of my friends in placing me here. All that I can trust myself 
to say is, that I feel too deeply everything that can he imagined of 
this kind to venture on giving it words. To he the successor of 
such men as the Duke of Argyll, Sir Robert Christison, and Sir 
Wm. Thomson, is an honour which the most ambitious man might 
covet, and the most self-conceited deem himself scarce worthy of. 
To myself that honour has come neither to gratify ambition nor to 
administer to self-conceit. It has descended on me all unsought 
through the kindness of the many friends who have sat with me for 
years in this room, and the only emotion it awakens is that of 
affection and gratitude. Just a month has elapsed since it became 
apparent to me that I should be called upon to address you to-night. 
That such would be the case had not till then crossed my thoughts. 
I had made no preparation for the address. The first month of the 
University session left me the very smallest amount of time and 
strength for the work. You will, therefore, pardon an address 
rather feebler in character than is fitted to the occasion. Happily, 
the kindness of friends has aided me very materially in the pre- 
paration of the obituary notices. Mr Milne Home has placed at my 
disposal documents, both in print and in MS., relative to Sir Richard 
Griffith — the latter, unfortunately, arrived late on Saturday evening, 
when I had completed my brief sketch of Sir Richard, but I hope 
it may be allowed me to avail myself of these documents in 
preparing the sketch for the press. Sir Robert Christison has 
kindly furnished remembrances of Hugh Scott of Gala and Sir 
James Coxe, of which I have availed myself ; and Mr Gordon, 
through Professor Balfour, has furnished me with sundry published 
obituary notices. I have to add that the notice of Fries is entirely 
due to Professor Balfour, that of Regnault to Professors Tait and 
Crum Brown, that of Claude Bernard to Professor Rutherford, that 
of Mr Cunningham to Professor Duns, and that of Harkness to 
Professor Geikie. The notice of Martyn Roberts is due to his family. 
