316 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
Monday, 1st December 1879. 
The Eight Hon. Lord Monckeiff of Tulliebole, President of 
the Society, occupied the Chair, and delivered the follow- 
ing Opening Address : — 
Gentlemen, — 
I cannot, of course, commence the discharge of the duties of 
President of this learned and celebrated Society, without expressing 
my profound gratitude to the members for their unexpected kindness 
in elevating me to this chair, and my intense appreciation of the 
distinction they have thereby conferred upon me. It is a position 
of which any man, however high his reputation or however great his 
attainments, could not fail to be proud. To me your favour has 
laid me under the greater obligation, that I am painfully conscious 
that I am entirely without pretensions to the special qualities which 
have generally determined your choice. I am but a loiterer outside 
the temple of science, waiting for what it may please her priests to 
dispense to the crowd. My incursions into the fields of literature 
have been so rare, so desultory, and so clandestine, that I own 
myself more of a trespasser than one entitled to be there. Never- 
theless, as fortunately for me your stamp has been impressed, it is 
not for me to gainsay so honourable and gratifying a dignity. The 
coin must pass current, whatever may be the intrinsic value of the 
metal. It may be, perhaps, that in the course of a life, not now to 
be reckoned short, spent in public and professional labours with 
various surroundings, I may, while little space has been left for 
cultivating the proper attributes of this chair, have acquired some 
knowledge of detail, some acquaintance with habits and springs of 
thought and action, which may be brought usefully to bear on the 
discharge of my duties. Be that as it may, I can only assure you 
that as far as my ability may reach, or industry and attention can 
serve me, I shall do my best not to discredit the appointment you 
have made. 
For the rest, as regards the discharge of my duty to-night, I must 
ask you to make allowance for the suddenness with which it has 
overtaken me, and for the numberless distractions which have 
abridged even the short time I have had for preparation. I regret 
