232 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
Monday, 5th December 1870. 
David Milne Home, Esq., Vice-President, read the 
following Address 
Gentlemen, Fellows of the Eoyal Society of Edinburgh,— 
In compliance with a special request of the Council, I come before 
you this evening to deliver the Address usually given at the open¬ 
ing of our Winter Session. 
This practice of annually taking stock to ascertain what business 
we are doing, and how we are doing it, seems to me very right and 
expedient. The whole Society is thus made aware whether it is 
retrograding or advancing,—whether it is or is not, carrying out 
the objects of its institution. 
I see that in some former Addresses, not only was the exist¬ 
ing state of the Society reported on, hut occasion was taken to 
open up general views on science and literature, and sometimes 
to point out important discoveries recently made in particular fields 
of knowledge. An Address, of that instructive character probably 
would have been given to-night, had the place I now unworthily 
hold, been occupied by the distinguished savant who stood above 
me on the roll of Vice-Presidents, as he also stands immeasurablv 
above me in knowledge. That gentleman’s numerous engagements 
elsewhere, and the expectation that he would be in Italy, pre¬ 
vented his guaranteeing to the Council when they applied to him, 
that he would be here to-night. My own usual avocations are not 
such as fit me for executing the duty which Dr Lyon Playfair 
would have so ably performed,—my time being chiefly occupied 
with the duties incumbent on a landed proprietor resident in the 
country, who has to attend justice of peace courts, road meetings, 
cattle plague committees, and parochial boards. My address, 
therefore, will not be literary or scientific, but of a practical 
character as more congenial to my habits of life;—containing 
nevertheless some information and suggestions which I hope mny 
not be entirely useless. 
What I shall venture to submit, will be under the followirg 
heads :— 
