Gentlemen,—The opening of our Session requires that I should lay before you the state and prospects of our Society, which I hope may to some extent be considered the criteria of the state and prospects of the sciences which it cultivates.

The Society has lost since the commencement of last Session by death, six Fellows, viz.,—Robert Allan, Esq., Beriah Botfield, Esq., Dr James Keith, Dr David Boswell Reid, Professor Connell of St Andrews, Professor Mitscherlich of Berlin; and by resignation, two, the Rev. G. V. Faithfull and D. E. Hay, Esq.