IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I '« JIIIM 1 2.5 ■^ m IIIII22 40 12.0 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 < 6" — ► v: i9 /2 'c^l e: R' (Ic l;i Socit'tc AiULricainc lie France. FAUCIIER DE ST. MAURICE, M.I'., Moml>rc or,EoN, (jiielnT. [(jiirlji-c Lk Mav Pami'iiim:, Libnuiim of (Jiiobcc Logihbatun', Lk Moi.N-K .J. JL, President of yueboc Literary mid ILk- torieal Society, Quel)et. JlAiiuirAND Hon. F. (}., St. Joliii.s, Quebec. iMAii.MKTri; .In.SKi'ii, (Jtudiec. * UoL-Tiiimi Hon. .fcDci:, Docteur e.'^ Lettres, Quebec. SlT.Tl; P.KN./A.MiX, Ott.iwa. TaN(,i-av AiiiiK, Oltiiwii. Tas.'^k .b).sEiMi. M.P., OttiiWii, / Vkuhicau Aniiii, Docteur e.s Letlres, Uflicicr d'Ai adi'iiii. (li^ Fniiui', Principal of JacqueH-Cartier Normal School, Montreal. II. ENGLISH LITERATURE, HISTORY, ARCH/F:oLOGY, &c. UomiiNoT Joii.s- UKuiuii:, li.A., F.S.S., Tlie Clerk of the ConmioiiK, Ottinvii. liucKK U. JlAUiiicK, JI.O., Lcjndon. Uiit. JJawso.n Ukv. vK.nka.s McUo.\ki,i,, Otlawa. IJuxi.soN Lt.-Col. a. T , li.C.L., Toronto • UiiANT Vkhy Kkv. a. JL, D.D., Princiiml ,;f Queen's College, Kingston. Kiiiiiv Wii.i.iAM, Niagara. • L'Ksi'i':uA.\cK .Jou.v, Montreal. Li.MisKY CuAiiLiis, Toronto. • LvAi.r, l{.:v. W., LL.lJ., Prof. <,f Logic and Mctapliysics, iJalbousie College, llalifa.x, N.S. • Jk-WiAY tiiioHoi:, B.A, Senior Classical Master, lligli Bcliuol, iluntreal. MnuiAV Kkv. ,J. Cr.AUic, L.L.D., Prof, of Logic, etc., JlctJill College, Montreal. McUoi.i, KvAN, Kingston. JlEAiin .louK, Montrc'il. Sanhstku CiiAiii.Ks, Ottawa. • S.^!rr^ Goldwin, D.C.L., Toronto. St.'-.wakt Gkoruk, Jk, Quebec. Toi.u ALrnia-s, C.M.G., LL,i»., Librarian of Parliament, Ottawa. •WAT.SOX J., JI.A., LL.D., Prof, of Mental and Moral 1 hilosophy, Queen's University, Kingston. WiLso.v Da.mel, LL.D., F.U.S.K., President of Universitv College, Toronto. ■ Young U. pA.xro.v, M.A , Prof, of Logic and Metaiibv- sics, University College, Toronto. III. MATHE.MATICAL, PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL SCIENCES. ]JAn,i,Aiii:i': ('., C.K., (Juelicc . ItAYNK llKKihcHT A., Koval .Militarv College, Kin-ston CAiil'MAKi, C. ][., M.A., Su,,t. Jleteorological Servi.c 'i'oronto. ' CnAi'.\i.\N- K. J., Ph.D., LL.D., Prof. University College, 'J'oront(>. Chi;i!iii.man Prof. ,T. IJ., M.A., Supt. of Insurance, Ottawa. JJkvii.i.k E., C.E., Dominion Sur\-c\s, Ottawii JJunus N. F., M.A., F.U.S., Prof. Queen's College. Kin-- Fi.iv.Mi.vo Sanokouo, C.M.O., C.L., Ottawa. ' Iston • FouTiN P., M,.D., M.P., Montreal. ^ ' (linuwoou G. P., M.D., Prof. Mc(iill College, Montreal. OisuoiiNK F. W., F.Tel. List., Electrician, Ottawa. llAANicL E., Ph. D., Prof. Victoria College, Cobourg. 1IA.MKI, V. llKv. T. E., M.A., Quebec. llAiiHixoroN B. .J., B.A., Ph.D., Prof. McGill tNdlege Jlontrcal. JIoi.-F.MANN O. C, F. Inst. Chem., Geological Survey, Ottawa. IlL-NT T. Stehhv, LL.D., F.li.S., Montreal. .loUN.soN A, LL.D., Prof. McGill College, Montreal, ' Lori.oN J. T., M.A., Prof University College, Toronto. 3U1' AiiLANK T., U i:., Actonvale, Q. McGui.:5AiNmiiis W.. London, Ont. Ski.wvn a. K. C, LL.D., F.U.S , F.G.S., Directo. of Geol ■St. Cyii, D. N., Quebec. [Survey, Ottawa. \\ urTEAVFs, J. F., F.G.S., Geological Survey, Otlawa, W lur.nT K, Kamsay, M.A,, 13, Sc, Prof, University Col- lege, Toronto. MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS. Council were presem, with ilie e.\cei)lii)n ui' Mr. Mcctiuir of May\ 1S82. In accordance witli circulars setting forth the time and place of meeting of the Royal Society lor the promotion of Literature and Science in the Dominion of Canada, the members asseniiiled m the Railway Committee Room, Parliament Jiuilding, Ottawa, at 10 o'clock a.m. on 'I'hursdav tlie 25th May, 1882. 'i'he whole of the members of the Provisional Coldwin Smith, then absent in England. The Honorary Secretary read the following KKPDKT l)K TIIK I'KOVIsK IX.M, CuUNCH.. 15y invitation of His Excellency the (lovernor-Ceneral a meeting of a few gentlemen designated by hmi as provisional officers of the |)ioposed uigani/alion, was held in .Montreal on December 29111 and 30th, 1S81, when a memorandum from His K.xcelleiicy relating to the formation of an Institute Academy, or Society for the promotion of J.iteiature and Science in the Dominion of Canada, was read and considered. It was then unanimously decided to suggest to His K.Ncellency a provisional basis tor the constitution of such Society ; which, with certain modifications introduced in subseuuent discussion, stands as follows : 1. That the title be " 'J'he Royal Society of Canada for the iiromotion of Literature and .Science within the Dominion"; and that a memorial be addressed to Her .\Lajesty the Oueen asking her sanction to the said title. 2. That the members be persons resident in the Dominion of Canada or in Newfoundland, who have published original works or memoirs of merit or have rendered eminent services to Literature or to Science. 3. That the Society consist of two departiiieiUs, representing tively, subdivided into sections, of wiiich the four following shall be at to subdivide with the consent of the Council. 1. French Literature with History, Arclueology, i.\;c. 2. English Literature with History, .\rch;eolog'y, iVc. 3. Mathematical, Chemical and Physical Sciences. 4. Cleological and Biological .Sciences. That the number of members in each section be limited to 20. ,|. That the original members be nominated by His Excellency The C.overnor-Ceneral, and that sub.seiinently proposals for election of new members may be made to the Council by any three members, of whom at least two shall belong to the section to which the candidate desires to be assigned, the reasons of the proposal being stated in writing. Such proposal shall be referred to the said section for any representation it may think fit to make. On the approval of the section the Council may submit the proposed name to be ballotted for at any regular meeting of the Sot:iety- In each section the Presidents, or President and Vice-President, with such other members as may be appointed by the section, shall constitute a committee to report on such applications, and at least three months shall elapse between the proposal of a name to the Council and the bcdlot thereon. 5. That the officers of the Society shall be a President and Vice-l'resident, with an Honorary Secretary and a Treasurer, to be elected by the whole society ; besides a President and Vice-Presi- dent of each section, to be elected by the section. The.se elections to be annual. 'J'liat the officers so elected shall constitute the Council of the Society, and that the officers no- minated by His E.xcellency for the first meeting shall hold office during that meeting. That a paid Assistant-Secretary may, if necessary, be employed by the Council. 6. That the tirst meeting of the Society shall be held at such time and place as His E-xcellency the Covernor-Ceneral may appoint ; that Uie headiiuarters of the Society shall be in Ottawa ; and tliat it shall hold at least one general meeting annually, at such times and places as by bye-law or otherwise it may determine. Literature and Science resijec- present constituted, with pcnver Ijuuiiraiion, cUUlt My may be submittorl 111 geiicial . 1 meet in s ;il .ill liuie.i l)e within tin; ie-.,sioii, (lions. aiul, till the 'l"he piililir ead miv i-ie .a tlie disposal ol tne s(:(j])e (it' the Sijcielv's ;. That the title ol any Pajjer, Memoir or other production, by a member, intended tu be read at a nieeting of the Society, shall be submitted, together with an abstract of its contents, to the Council, throii;,Wi the Secretary, previous to the meeting at which it is to be read. On its approval, each such communication shall be assigned to the section to which it belongs, and having beeii therein read and discussed, shall be submitted to the committee of the section, and on report of said committee, may, by vote of the section, be recommended to the Council for publication, eitl entire or in abstract, rommunications by persons not members of the Sim by members on tiie same conditions with their own production-,, 8. That the Society shall, for its ordinary business, meet ' ing and discussion of pai)ers and other sectional business, shal be admitted to all exceijt business meetings. <). Tliat the advii-e and assistance of the Socieiv sha" (government of the I)(;minioii in all luatl'.-rs which may tunctions. lo. That His K.\cellency the lloveriior-Geiieral be lebpectlulU requested to accept the position of Patron and Honorary President of the Society. The above suggestions having been ajjproced by His Excellency the (Governor-General, and the members of the Society having now been convened in accordance therewith, the Council would make the following Recommendatwns : (ist) That the above provisions be adopted by the Society for the constitution and conduct of the present meeting. (2nd) That the Council be empowered to consider and report at the general session on Saturday next (27th May) on the best mode of associating with this Society the various local Literary and Scientific Societies existing in the Dominion;— on prizes or other induccmen-s that miy be offered to scientific or literary men, not members of the Society;— on the time and place of the next meeting; —on the desirableness of inviting the British Association for the .Vdvancement of Science, and societies of other countries to send delegates to the next or any future meeting;— on the ojjening of communication with the officers of the Hudson's Bay Company, and others, with reference to the col- lection of specimens, with the view to the formation of a Canadian Museum of Archives, Ethnology, Archeology and Natural His'ory;- and also to prepare memorials to the Dominion Government i'n favour of the establishment of such Canadian Museum, and of a grant to t'-.is Society in aid of publi- cation and other objects of the Society. (3rd) That the Council to be elected at this meeting be empowered to prejiare a permanent Constitution and Bye-Laws for the Society,— to arrange for its incorporation,— to suggest as to the means of inlying its exjjensos, whether by fees exigible from members or otherwise,— to ai)ply for Legislative aid, — and to report at next meeting. (4th) That His Excellency the Governor-General be respectfully requested to transmit to Her Gracious .NLajesty the Queen the proceedings of this our first meeting, with our humble petition that she will be pleased to sanction our assuming the title of I'he Royal Society of Canada. (5th) That the Lieutenant Governors of the i'rovinces of the Dominion and of Newfoundland, the menibers of the Honorable the Privy Council, and the Speakers of the two Houses of Parliament, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada and the Chiet Justices of the Provinces, shall be ex officio Honorary Associates of the Society, and shall receive copies of its transactions. (6th) That the proceedings of the present meeting be arranged as follows :— After this Session the Sections will meet to organize and appoint Secretaries and Committees, and for other business. At four o'clock p.m., tiie meeting will be formally opened by His Excellency the Governor- General, and addresses will delivered by the President and Vice-President of the Society. At eight o'clock p.m. the Society will meet in sections for the addresses of Presidents of Sections and for the reading and discussion of papers. On Friday at 10 a.m.. the Society will meet in sections for the reading and discussion of papers. On Saturday .at 10 a.m., the Society will meet in sections for reading of papers, for reports and for elections. At 12 noon it will meet in general session for reports of sections, report of council, elections and oth«r business. The Coimtil woulil further report tliat, in view uf tiic relations of tlie Province ot' Xewfouiui land to the Duininion, and of the eminent scientific services of Alexander Miirr.iy, lOsq., C.,M.(i., K.Cj.S., Director of tiie Lieoloyital Sur\e)' of that Province, that [;ciit!einan has been nominated a special additional member of this Society, in Section 4, and the Council would recommend that in future, with reference to elections of members of the Soc iety, Newfoundland be regarded as in the same"position with the provinces of the nominioii of Canada. On motion of Dr. Daniel Wilson, seconded by Dr. T. Sterrs Hunt, the report was received, and the recommendations therein cfjiUained were considered sirialim by the Socict\. 'I'he first, second, third and fourth recommendations having been again read, were uiianimousjv adopted. Thetiftli recommendation h.iviiig liecii again re, id it was proposed and agrecil that the Council should be requested to take into consideration the advisability of adding to the list of those entitled to receive the TranFaclions of the Society, and of otherwise amending the said recommendation. The^fiftirand sixth r,'coimiiendations were then duly adopted. The Secretary then read the roll of members of the Societ)'. The Society then adjourned to meet in sections for the purpose of organizatit)n and the reading ■md discussion of papers. FORMAT, OPF.XTNG OF THK MRETINO. At 4 r.M. the Society assembled in the Senate chamber, a large number of ladies and gentlemen of the city of Ottawa l>eing present. His Fxcellency the Oovernor-Cicneral, having entered the chamber, followed by the Council of the Society, the members of the Society were presented to him, after which he addressed the Society as follows : Gentlemen — These few words I do not address to you, ]iresuming to call myself one of your brc:herhood, either in science or literature, but I speak to you as one whose accidental oflicial position may enable him to serve you, |)ersuaded as I am that the furtherance of your interests is for the benefit and honour of Canada. I,et me briefly state the object aimed at in the institution of this Society. Whether it be possible that our hojies will be fulfilled according to our expectation, the near future will show. From the success which has attended similar associations in other lands, jjossessed of less spirit, energy and opportunity than our own, there is no reason to augur ill of the attempt to have here a body of men whose achievements may entitle them to recogni;',e and encourage the a|)pcarance of merit in literature, and to lead in science and the useful application of its dis- coveries. It is proposed then that this Society shall consist of a certain number of members who have made their mark by their writings, whether these be of im.igination or the study of nature. In one division, our lellow countrymen, descended from the stock of old Fiance, will discuss with that grace of diction and appreciation of talent which are so conspicuous amongst them, all that may affect their literature and the maintenance of the purity of that grand language from which the English is largely derived. They will know how to pay compliments to rising authors, and how with tact and courtesy to crown the aspirants to the honours they will bestow. Among English men of letters the grant of such formal marks of recognition by their brethren has not as yet become popular or usual, and it may be that it never will be customary. On the other hand it surely will be a pleasure to a young author, if after a perusal of his thoughts, they who are his co-workers and successful precursors in the wide domain of poetry, of fiction, or of history, should see fit to award him an expression of thanks for his contribution to the intellectual delight or to the knowledge of his time. They only, whose labours have met with the best reward — the praise of their contemporaries — can take the initiative in such a welcome to younger men ; and whatever number may hereafter be elected to this Society, it is to be desired that no man be upon its lists who has not by some original and complete work justified his selection. The meeting together of our eminent men will contribute to unite on a common ground those best able to express the thoughts and illustrate the history of the time. It will serve to strengthen emulation ainong us, for the discussion of progress made in other lands must breed the desire to push the intellectual development of our own. We may hope that this union will promote the completion of the national collections which, already fairly representative in geology, may hereafter include archives, paintings, and objects illustrating ethnology and all branches of Natural History. In science we have men whose names are widely known ; and the vast field for study and exploration afforded by this magnificent country may be expected to reward by valuable discoveries the labours of the geologist and mineralogist. It would be out of place in these few sentences 1(1 detail the lines of rcscarcli whidi li:ivo already enj^aged your attention. They will be spoken (if in the record of your proceeding's. Anionj; those the utility of whirli must bo ajiparent to all, one may be pirticularly mentioned. I refer to the meteoroloj^iral ol)servations, from which have been derived the storm \varnin,L,'s whicli durinj^ the last few years have saved many lives. .\ <;omp,u:ui\ely new science has thus been productive of results known to all our population, and especially to seamen. Here I have only touched upon one or two subjects in the wide range of study which will occujiy the time and thoughts of one half of your membership, devoted as two of your four sections will be to geological and biological sciences. It will be your province to aid and encourage the workers in the ac(|uisition of knowledge of that Nature, each of whose secrets may become the prize of him wlio shall make one of her mysteries the sjiccial subject of thought. America already bills fair to rival I'Vance and (lermany in the number of her experts. Canada may certainly have her share in producing those men whv)se achievements in science have more than ciiualled in fame the triumi)hs of statesmen. These last labour only for one country, while the benefits of the discf)veries of science are shared by the world, lint widely different as are the (lualities which develop jiatriotisni and promote science, yet I would call to the aid of our young association the love of country, and ask Canadians to su]ii)ort and gradually to make as perfect as possible this their national society. Imperfections there nuist necessarily be at first in its constitution — omissions in niembershi]) and organization there may be. Such faults may hereafter be avoided. Our country- men will recognize that in a body of gentlemen drawn from all our jirovinces and conspicuous for their ability, there will be a centre around which to rally, 'i'hey will see that the welfare and strength of growth of this association shall be impeded by no small jealousies, no carping spirit of detraction, but shall be nourished by a noble motive common to the citizens of the rci)ul)lic of letters and to the students of the free world of nature, namely, the desire to prove that their land is not insen- sible to the glory which springs from niunbering among its sons those whose success will become the heritage of mankind. I shall not now further occupy your time, which will be more worthily used in listening to the addresses of the presidents, and of those gentlemen who for this year have consented to take the chair at the meetings of the several sections. The President then addressed the meeting as follows : My Lord and (ientlemen ; Ladies and Centlemen, — We meet to-day to inaugurate a new era in the progress of Canadian literature and science, by the foundation of a body akin to those great national societies which in (Ireat Britain and elsewhere have borne so important a part in the advancement of science and letters. The idea of such a society for this country may not be alto- gether new ; but if broached at all, it has been abandoned from the inability of its advocates to gather together from our widely distributed provinces the elements necessary to its success. Now it ]iresents itself under different and haj)pier conditions. In the mother country, the reign of Queen Victoria, our gracious .Sovereign, has been specially marked by the patronage of every effort for the growth of education, literature, science and art, not only on her part but on that of the lamented I'rince Albert and of the members of the Royal family. It is fitting that here too the representative of Royalty should e.vert the same influence, and our present Covernor-Ceneral has undoubtedly a ])ersonal as well as a hereditary right to be the patron of progress and culture in literatiu-e and science. IJesides this, political consolidation and improved means of intercourse have been welding together our formerly scattered provinces and causing much more intimate relations than formerly to subsist between men of letters and of science. We are sometimes told that the enter|)rise in which we are engaged is premature, that like some tender jilant too early exposed to the frosts of our Canadian spring, it will be nipped and perish. Hut wc must remember that in a country situated as this is, nearly everything is in some sense pre- mature. It is with us a time of breaking-u]) ground and sowing and planting, not a time of reaping or gathering fruit, and unless this generation of Canadians is content, like those that have preceded it, to sow what others must reap in its fiill maturity, there will be little hope for our country. In Canada at present, whether in science, in literature, in art or in education, we look around in vain for anything that is fully ripe. We see only the rudiments and beginnings of things, but if the.sc are healthy and growing, we should regard them with hope, should cherish and nurture them as the germs of greater things in the fiiture. Yet there is a charm in this very immaturity, and it brings with it great opportunities. ^Ve have the freedom and freshness of a youthful nationality. Wc can tr.ace out new paths which must be followed by our successors, we have the right to plant wherever wc please the trees under whose shade the)' will sit. The independence which we thus enjoy, and the originality which we can claim, are in themselves privileges, but privileges that carry with them great responsibilities. 8; Allow mc to present to you a few thoii^'lits hearinj,' on tliisaspcct of our i)osition, ,'uul iu cl(iinj,'So to confine niyself cliielly to tlu side of science, since my friend Dr. (liiauveau, wlio is u> follow, is so much better able to lay it before you from the literary |)oint of view. Young though our country is, we are already the heirs of the labours of many eminent workers in science, who have passed away or have been removed from this country. In geology, the names of liigsby, iiayfield, liaddeley, Logan, Lyell, Hillings, Hector and Isbisler, will occur to all who have studied the geological structure of Canada, and there are younger men like McOuat and Hartley, too early snatched away, who have left behintl tliem valuable records of their labours, in botany and zoology we can point to Michaux, I'ursh, Hooker, Shepherd, liourgeaii, Douglis, Men/ies, Rich.ird- son. Lord and lirunet. 'These are but a few of the more eminent labourers in the n.ituial history of this country, without mentioning the many living workers who still remain to it ; aiul were it the object of this Society merely to collect and reproduce and bring up to date what these older men have done, it would have no small task before it. Ihit to this we have to add the voluminous reports of the (leological Survey, and the numerous papers and other publications of the men who are still with us. In natiual science we thus have a large mass of accumulated capital on which to base our future operations, along with an unlimited scoi)e for further .esearches. 'I'he older men among us know how much has been tloue within the lil'etinie of the present generation. When, as a joung man, I began to look around for means of scientific education, there was no regular course of natural science in any of our colleges, though chemistry and physics were already tau; 'li m some of them. There were no collections in geology or natural history evcept the private cabinets of a few zealous workers. The (leological .Survey of Canatla had not then been thought of. There were no special st'hools of practical science, no scientific libraries, no scientil'ic publications, and scarcely any printed information accessible. In these circiunstauces, when I pro- l)osed to devote myself to geological pursuits, I had to go abroad for means of training not then ecpial to that which can now be obtained in many of our Canadian colleges. Nor at that time were there l)ublic employments in this country to which a young geologist or naturalist could aspire. It is true this was more than forty years ago, bin in looking back it wouki seem but as yesterday, were not thesi' years marked by the work that has been done, the mass of material acciunulated, anil tlie scientific institutions established within that time. Those who began their scientitic work in these circmnstances may be excused for taking somewhat hoj'cful views as to the future. Perhaps at present the danger is that we may be content io remain in the ]>osition we have reached, without attempting anything farther ; and however inconsistent this may be, it is easy to combine the fear that any movement in advance may be rash and premature, with the self-satisfied belief that we have already advanced so far that little remains to be attained. We must bear in mind, however, that we have still much to do to place us on a level with most other countries. W'ith the exception of the somewhat meagre grants to the (leological Sur\ey and to the Meteorological Service, the (lovernment of Canada gives nothing in aid of scientific research. What is done for scientific education by local societies must, under our system, be done by the separate Provinces, and is necessarily unequal and imperfect. Few large endowments have been given for scientific purjioses. A\'e have had no national society or assoc'ialion comparable with those in other countries. "\'et we are looking forward to a great future. Wealth and population are moving rapidly onward, and the question is whether culture of the higher grade shall keep pace with the headlong rush of material ])rogrcss. A'arious elements may enter into the answer of tliis ijuestion, l)ut undoubtedly the fiirma- tion of such a society as this is one of these of the utmost importaiu:e ; and even thou-h at the present lime the project^may fail of success, or be only jjartially effective (of which, however, I ha\e no aii[)rehcnsion), it must be renewed till finally enabled to establish itself Another consideration bearing on this (]uestion is the vastness of the territory whii;h we possess. and for the scientific devclo])ment of which wc have assumed the responsibility. (Canada com- jjriscs one-half of the great North American continent, reaching for three thousand miles from east to west, and extending from south to north from the latitude of 4;:'' to the Pobr Sea. In this area wc have representatives of all the geological formations from the Laurentian and Huronian, to which Canada has the honor of giving names, to the Post-pliocene and modern. Of some of these formations we have more magnificent developments than any other country. In zof)logy our land area extends from the home of the musk-ox on the north to that of the rattlesnake on the south, and wc have perhaps the greatest area jjossessed by any country for the study of fresh-water animals. Our marine zoology includes that of the North Atlantic, the North Pacific atid the Arctic Ocean. In botany we have the lloras of the Atlantic and Pacific slo])es, of the western plains and of the Arctic zone. In physical, astronomical and meteorological investigations we have llie advantage of vast area, of varied climate and conditions ; while these circumbtancesj iu ihcmselves im^jly respsnsi- Jets' 9 liililies in coiimi lion wiih liic inojircss of sciciico not here only hut lliroiigliout llic world. Mucl\ is no (l(iul)l lifing done to i uliivalc ilicsc vast fields of iesear< h, and I would not for a moment under- rate the efforts heinn made and the arduous laliours, perils and privations to wliii h the pioneers in these lields are even now sidgecteil, hut wiial is heing done is rela(i\i.l\' insi^;nili( ant. .Many letter.s from abroad reuii me e\er) year askinj; lor inform, ition or reference to Canailiaii u(jrkers in spei iaities which no one lu're is siu(l)ing; and I know that most of our active naturalists are continually driven li)' su( h demands to take up new lines of investiKatiim inadditioii to those already more than sulficient to oi:cu|iy their lime and energy. Were it not for the aiil indirectly given to us by the magnificent and costly surxeys and commissions of the Unitetl .States, which freely invaile Canadian territory wheni'ver they llnd any prolitalile ground that we are not occupying, we should be still more hel|iless in these respects. Is there not in thcNc ( ire uuistances reason for combination of effort, and for the be.st possible arrangemeiUs for the distribution of our small force over the \-.ist area whic h it has to maintain. I have iloalt sullUicntly long on topics which indi«'ale that the time has fidly come for the insti- tution of the Koyal Society of Canada. Let us turn for a moment to the consideration of the ends which it may seek to attain and the means of their attainuK'iU. I Would place here fu'sl the establishment of a bonil of union between the scattered workers now widely separated in different parts of the nominion. Oiu' men of science are so few and our country so extensive that it is diffic ult to t"uul in any one place or within reasonable distanc:e of each other, half a do/en active workers in science. There is thus great lack of sympathy and stimulus, and of the discussion and interchange of ideas which tend so much to correct as well as to encourage. 'I"he lonelyworker Ihids his energies Hag, and is drawn away by the pressure of more popular [lursuits, while his notions become one-sided and inaccurate through want of I'rienilly (onllicl with men of like powers and ])ursuits. I'",\en if this Society can meet but once a \ ear, something may be done to remedy the evils of isolation. .\gain. means are lacking for the adeiiuate jjublic ation of results. True we have the reports of the (ieological Survey, and Transactions are published b\ some of the local societies, but the re- sources at the disi)osal of these bodies are altogether inadecpiate, and for anything extensive or costly we have to seek means of publication abroad ; but this can be secured only under special circum- stances ; and while the pul)lished results of Canadian science become so widely scattered as to be accessible with dilficult)-, much that would be of scientific value fails c.f ade(|uate [uiblication, more esiiccially in the matter of illustrations. Thus the C.UKuli.ni naturalist is often obliged to be con'.ent with the publication of his work in aii interior style and poorl)' illustrated, so that it has an aspect of inferiority to work really no better, which in the Uniteil States or the mother country has the benefit of sumptuous publication ami illustration. On this account he has often the addeil mortification of finding his work overlooked or neglected, and not infre(|uently while he is locjking in vain for means of publication, that which he has attained b)' long and diligent labour is taken awa)' from him by its previous is--ue abroad. In this wa)' also it very often happens that collectors who have amassed important material of great sc ientitic value are induced to |)lace it in the hands of specialists in other countries, who ha\e at their command means of publiealion not possessed by ei|ually compe- tent men here. i'he injur\ which CJanadian science and the reinitalion of Canada sustain in this way is well known to many who are jiresent and who have been personal sufferers. Should this Societ\- have sufficient means |)laced at its disposal to i)ublish Transactions — I shall not say ecpial to those of the Rojal Siiiiuty of London or the Smithsonian Institution at Washington -but to those tif such botlics as the I'hiladelphi.i Academy or the Boston Society of Natural History, an incalculable stimulus woukl be given to science in Canada, by jiromoting n jearch, by securing to this country the credit of the work done in it, by collecting the information now widely scattered, and by enabling scientific men abroad to learn what is being done here. It is not intended that sut;h means of publication should be limited to the works of members of the Society. In this respect it will constitute a judic ial body to decide as to what may deserve nublication. Its Transactions should be ojien to good [lapers frciin any source, and should in this way enable the younger and less known men of science to adJ to their own reputation and that of the country, and to prepare the way tor admission to membershi|i of this Society. l'"ew exi)enditures of public money are more jirofitable to the State than that which jiromotes scientific publication. The actual researches made imply much individu.il labour and expense, no part of which falls on the [)ublic I'unds ; and by the comparatively small cost of publication, the country obtains the beiietit of the results obtained, its mental and industrial progress is stimulated, and it accjuires reputation abroad. This is now so well understood that in most countries public aid 10 is given to rescarcli as well as to jjiihlicalion. Hero, we may be content in the first instance with the latter alone ; but if tlie Society shall at tirst be sustained by the (lovernnient, it may be hoped diat, as in older countries, i)ri\ate benefactions and be(|uesls w'U How in to it, so that evenuially it may be able not merely to afford means of i)ul)lication but to extend substantial aid to young and struggling men of science who are following out, under difficulties, important investigations. In return for aid given to this Society, the Ciovernment may also have the benefu of its aihice as a body of experts in any case of need, '['lie most insignificant natural agencies sometimes attain to national importance. A locust, a midge, or a parasitic fungus, may suddenly reduce to naught the calculations of a fmance-minister. The great natural resources of the land and of the sea are alike under the control of laws known to science. We are occasionally called on to take our part in the observation of astronomical or atmos[)heric phenomena of world-wide interest. In such cases it is the practice of all civilized governments to have recourse to si:ientitic advice, and in a Society like this our Government can command a b(xly of men free from the distracting inlluence of private and local interests and able to warn against the schemes of charlatans and pretenders. Another object which we should have in view is that of concentrating the benefits of die several local societies scattered through the Dominion. Some of these are of long standing and have done much original work. The Literary and Historical Society of (Quebec is, I believe, the oklesi of these bodies, and its Transactions include not merely literature and history but nnich that is of great \alue in natural s< lence, while it has been more successful than any of our other societies in the accumula- tion of a library. The Natural History Society of Montreal, of which I have had the honour to be a member for 27 years, is now in its 53rd year. It has [)ublished seventeen volumes of I'rcceediiigs, including probal)ly a larger mass of original information respecting the natural history of Canada than is to be found in any other publication. It has accumulated a valuable museum, and has done much to popularize si ience. It has twici; induced the American Association for the Advancement of Science to hold its meetings in Canada, aiul was the lirst bod)' to i)ropose the establishment of a (leologii'al Survey. The Canadian Institute of Toronto, occup)iiig the liekl of liteniture as well as science, though a )-ounger has been a more vigorous society ; and its Transactions are opially \<)himinous and valuable. The Natural History Societ)' of St. John, New lirunswick, though it has not published so much, has carried out some very important researches in local geology, which are known and valued throughout the world. The Nova Scotian Institute of Natural Science is a flourishing body and pub- lishes valuable Transactions. The Institiit t!ai\ulien of (Quebec, and the Ottawa Natural History Society, are also lloiirishing and usetlil institutions. The new Natural Histor}- Society of Manitoba has entered on a \igorous and hopeful career. There are also in the 1 )oininion some societies of great value cultivating more restricted fields than those above referred to, and of a character rather special than local. As examples of these I may mention the Kntomological Society of Canada, the Historical Society and the Numismatic Society of Montreal. Did I suppose that this Society would interfere with the jirosperity of su(!h local bodies, I should be slow to favour its establishment. ' believe, however, that the contrary effect will be produced. They are sustained by the subscriptions and donations of lo( al members aiul of the provincial legislatures, while this Societ)' must deiiend on the Dominion Parliament, from which they draw no aid. They will find abundant scope for their more frer doing original work, and the younger men of science and literature must be content to earn their admission into the higher rank, but have in the fact that such higher rank is accessible to them, an encouragement to persevere, and in the meantime may have all their worthy productions treated in precisely the same manner with those of their seniors. l'"inally, we who have been honoured with the invitation to be the origin.d members of this Society have a great responsibility and a high iluty laid u|n)n us. We owe it to the large and liberal plan conceived by His ICxcellency the (lovernor-deneral to carry out this plan in the most perfect manner possible, and with a regard not to personal, party or class views, but to the great interests of Canada and its re|nitation before the world. W'c should a[)prove ourselves first unselfish and zealous literary and scientific men, and next Canadians in that widest sense of the word in which we shall desire, at any personal sacrifice, to promote the best interests of our country, and this in con- nection with a pure and elevated literature ami a true, profound and i)r.actical science. We aspire to a great name. The title of ''Royal Society," which, with the consent of Her Cr.acious Majesty the (^ueen, we hope to assume, is one dignified m the mother country l)y a long line of distinguished men who have been fellows of its Royal Society. The name may provoke com|)arisons not fa\ourable to us ; and though we may hope to shelter ourseKes from criticism by pleading the relatively new and crude condition of science and literature in this country, we must endeavour, with (iod's blessing on earnest and united effi)rt, to produce by our cultivation of the almost boundless resources of the territory which has fallen to us as our inheritance, works which shall entitle us, without fear of criticism, to take to ourseKes the proud name of the Royal Society of Canada. The Vice-President, Hon. Dr. Chaiu'eau, then spoke as fol lows : — - Ivxcellence, mes chers confreres, Mesdames et Mess'eur.;, ^U ne s'est ])as encore ecoulc un demi-siecle depuis (jua la suite dV'\enemenis jiolitiques. ([ui fiirent alors regardcs comine desastreux, les deux provinces (|ue la constitution de 1791 a\ait creees fiirent reimies en une seiile ; ,a peine trois lustres out ])assc' sur runion federale des colonies anglaises de rAmeri(|ue du Nord, (lui succeda ;\ Tunion legislative ilu Haut-Canada et du lias-Canada ; cependant si j'entreprenais d'exposer, en detail, tons les jirogres t\u\ se sont accomplis dans les deux periodes ([ue je viens d'indi(|uer, il me resterait a peine le tem|)s de parler de notre ])assc' litte'raire et de la nouvelle institution (lue nous inaugurons aujourd'luii et qui, tout nous porte .a I'espcrer, est elle meme un grand progres, le complement tie tons les autres. Le jiays s"est cou\ert en tons sens de canaux et de chemins de fer, d'immenses et lointaines regions ont ele rap|)rochees de nous ct livrees ;i la c(>lonisation, les communications ])ostales et tt'le- graphicjues ont etc' multipliu'es, des mines de toute espece ont etc ck'couvertes et exploitees, notre 12 marine, nos inclustriL's, notrc rommcrcL' ont i^iis d'(5nomics proiOTriinns, de nnuveniix rap])orts out etc t'tablis avcc les pays etrangers, lours capitaux ont ul(i attires vers nous, de nouvelles institutions finanrieres ont ete cre'e'es, enfin notre i)onii]ation. inalgre un exode continuel vers les Mtats-Tnis, s'est accrue d'une nianiere ])res(|ue prodii;ieuse : voila jiour le mouvement materiel I I.e vc'ritahle svsti'me (le uouvernenient I'onstitutionnel, dont nous n'avions jus(|ue-l?i (ju'un vain simulacre, s'est e'tabli ; il fonctioiiiie en ce moment et dans I'ordre federal et dans lordre provincial ; le re'gime municipal s'est pertectii)niie, et s'il est la soiu'ce de bien des abus, il est aussi la cause de bien des progres ; les institutions destine'es a soulager les miseres de I'lumianitee' se sont multipliees, grace .\ I'initiative des communautt's religieuses, des societe's charilables et de nos gouvernements ; la ])lus ancienne province s'est fait un code de lois civiles (|ue Ton commence a lui envier ; des ques- tions ([ue les interets religieux et sociaux des diverses sections de la population rendaient tres difliciles ont e'te' rt'solues ; ('ntln la sphere d'action de nos homnies publics s'est agraiidie, et les deux carrieres fe'de'rale et locale, (]ui leur scmt ou\ertcs et dont il est diltlcile d'apprecier I'iniportance relative, tant cliacune est utile, ne manquent ni I'une ni I'aulre de sujets liabiles et devoues ; Noil.a jiour le mou\'e- ment politi(iue et social ! T/instruclion du pcuple a fait partout de ve'ritables et solides jjrogres ; les institutions de haute L'ducation se sont develo|)pees et ont augmente leur utilite ; les institutions spe'ciales et scienti- fH|ues ont c'te' cre'e'es ; les associations litte'raires, le journalisme ont i)ris un vaste essor, les revues et les recueils litte'raires ou scientifuiues, malgre' les grantles (liflicultes qui s'opposent a leur suc- ces, se sont e'tablis, de nouvelles publications rem],'la(ant br:\\ement celles (pii e'taient mortes a la l)eine ; les bibliothei|ues, les musees, les confe'rences populaires se sont muhipliees ; les travaux his- toricpies ont pris une tres grande importance ; enlin une lilterature nationale dans chaeune des deux langues, (|ui sont aux tenii>s mtxlernes ce (jue le gre<; et le latin e'taient aux temps anciens, a vu le jour et commence a atlirer les reg^^rds des luirope'ens : voila pour le mouvement intcllectucl ! Je sais (pi'il y a des ombres a ce tableau, et si je le pre'sente sous son meilleur asjiect, ce n'est pas ([ue je veuille excuser ceux (|ui avaient donne' un caractere d'injustice marquee a la grandi; evo- lution jiolitiiiue qui tut le point de de'part de tons ces progres, ni encore bien nioins blamer les hommes de la nationalile' a laquelle j'appartiens, qui ont fait dans le princijie une si noble et si ener- gicjue re'sistance a la legislation imperiale de 1840. C'est grace ;i cette re'sistance (|u'ils ont obtenu pour eux-niemes et pour nous tons, messieurs, les liberte's dont nous jouissons en commun et dont nous somnies si tiers. Sans la lutte i|iii en resutta, les deux grandcs races (|ui forment la jjIus grande ])arlie du ])eu])le de notre vaste conlVderation, n'atu'aient pas ete mises stir un pied d'egalite' et ne fraterniseraient point comme elles le font aujourd'hui. Du reste, aux momeiUs les jilus crilicjues de notre histoire, il s'est toujours troiui' des hommes d'Mtat anglais (]ui ont compris le role que les deux races a\aient a jouer sur cette jiartie du continent americain. Je n'cn veiix iiour exemple que ces nobles paroles de lord Cireiuille dans la discussion du projet de constitution de 1791 : " On a appcle ])rL'juge', dit cet homme e'minent, rattachenient des Canadiens ,i lenrs coulumes. a leurs lois, a leurs usages, ipi'ils ])rereivnl a ceux de I'Angleterre. Je crois (|u'un pareil attachemeiU nierite lui autre nom ipie celui de prejuge, selon nioi cet aitachement est fonde sur la raison et sur quehiue chose de mieux i|ue la raison, il est fonde siu' les sentiments les plus nobles du cceur himiain." Xe trouvez-vous )jas, messieurs, iiiie frapiiaiUe resseuibl.nue eiitre celte loyale declaration et les paroles tpii, apres bien des vicissitudes, bien des malentendus, bien des lutles, soin tombi'es h diverses reprises de la bouchc de jilusieurs representants de Sa Majeste ; et en particulier tie la bouche de sir Charles ISagot, de celles de lord Islgiii, et de lord Dufferin, et dans une occasion plus re'cente de celle du haut personnage (pii preside cette reunion? (ieorge HI regnait lorsque nos ileux premieres constitutions -1 774 et 1791 -nous fureiit don- ne'cs, et notre historien, M. (larneau, dont le te'inoignage ne saurait etre suspect, rend hommage aux efforts que fit ce nionari|ue pour \aincre les prejiiges. les ressentiments et les craintes (jui s"o])posaient a toute mesure de liberalite ou meine ile justice a I'e'gartl des nouseaux sujets, comme on apjielait alors les ("anadiens d'origine tianiaise. 11 aitribue a la reconnaissance de nos peres I'accueil enthousiaste fait au prince William Henry, qui visita ce pays en 1787, et an jjrince Mdouard, pere de notre gracieusc sou\erain.' ipii se trnu\a present au debut de la constitution de 179'- La pe'riode de temps ipii s'est ecoule'e sous nos deux autres ci)nstitutif)ns (1840 et 1867) n'a pas vu dans ce pays, nioins de cinq des descendants de (ieorge III, parini lesciuels I'lie'ritier iire'soniptif de la Couronne, qui iiiaugura le gigantesi|ue i)ont tubulain' N'ictoria, une des merveilles de I'Ame'riquc 13 ct (111 mnndc ciitier, ct (|ni pfisa la premiere pierre de re'difire oil so ticnnent nos SL'ances. N'est-il piiint perniis de croire que la biemeillance dont cette i^rande colonie a ete' ainsi I'olijet est line tr,uliii(in de rmiille. tradition (|iii n'est pns tout-?i-fait elraiiL^ere a la sollieiliide i|ue Son i'Acellence le ( luuviTiirnr I li'niM'al inciitrc en le nKinienl |)'inr lunt cc i|iii a trail a nuirr pronres intellectiiel ? I )i j.'i Us rnaii\-.\rls Dill (U sous le i>aln)nai{e de S. \. R. la Trincesse Louise et de Son l'".xeel- leme le ( Imui rneur-( iciK-ial lelahlisseinent d'une Acadeinie dont les premieres expositions ont fait naitre les plus belles espe'ranees ; e'est auioin'r(ifessionnel]e- que des e'coles furent ouvertes en |ilusieius endroils et cela inde'pendamment ties institutions tl's Jesuites, du Seminaire fondt' par Mgr de Laval, et de celui des Messieurs de St. Sulpice, Une education litte'raire et domestiiiue des iiliis saine.->, el plus ele\'ee (iii'oii ne serait tente de le croiiv, se donnait aux jeimes lilies aiix L'rsiilines a (Quebec el aii\ Trois-Rivieres el die/ les Sieurs de la Congregation de .Xolre-Dame a .Montreal. Les anialeur> du beau, de restlK'ti(|ue comme on dit aujourd'hui pourraieiit admirer eiK'ore avec a\antage les riches iravaux (|ue Ton conserve dans (|uelqiies-uns de nos monasteres, Le college des Je'suites a (,>uebec, I'ecole des arts fondee par .Mgr tie La\al ;i St. Joachim, for- maieiU des siijels i)recieux dont i|iieli|ues-iins oiU rendu ,~i la colonie dimporiants services. ( )n soute- nait des theses publi(|ues :i limitation de ce c|ui se iaisait dans I'ancien moncle ; les goiiverneurs et les inlendants y assistaieiit el preiiaieiit part .'i l.i dispute. ' 'es f hk tioiinaires comme I'eveque elaient ])res(iiie toujours des letlres. I'ronien.u; etail un ami lies lettres. sa (einine etait du cercle intime de Madame de Sexigne. M. de l.i ( ialissonniere eUiit un savant. 'I'aloi, el.iit un homme tie l.i plus belle ediic.uiiin, .M. l)upii\',un de ses successeurs, transporla au p,i\s s,i bibliolhe(|ue ipii etait consider.ible. M. Iioiu her. goiiv erneur des Trois Rivieres ecrivit une Ilistoire naturelle du pa}s. Les missionnaires elaient le plus S'uueiu en meme kiiips (|iie des apoires el des diplomai'-s. des exploialeurs d.ms le champ de la science. 1 .e I'eie ( 'liaiie\'oi\. le I'ere Lafileau out tail des eludes elhnologiques, des deeou\erles precieiises en botanic |ue. Les grands voyageius ne s'aventuraient piiim dans les vastes regions de I'l )uest sans avoir la ])lup.ui, les connaissances aslronoinii|tU's et geodesiques necessaires |ioiir leiirs explorilions. On a trouse dernieiement ce ipie Ton (roil etre un instrument d't)bser\alion perdu par CNiamplain dans son vovage de r( )tta\va au lac Xipis^ingue. Ce grand homme (|iie Ton pent ajipeler le ]iere de la patrie etait aussi un savant et un \ig()iireux et soliile e< ri\.iin. .\ part I'hisloire de ses voyages au Canada, il a laisse un traite >iir I'arl tie la iKwigalion el une in. igiiilique description des pays du Cioltedti .Mexi(]iie, dans huiuelle ses connaiss.mces d.ms I'art du dessin et dans toules les branches de I'histoire naturelle se font reinartiiier. Plus (pie cela. il a, le premier coniai le projet d'unir p.ir un canal les ileux Oceans i|ue sei)are I'lsthme de Panama, Jirojet ([iiapres [)lus de deux siecles et tleini un de ses compatriotes est en voie d'exetaiter. Les Xicolet, les Joliet. les Marquette, les (laiitliiei de la Neyieiiderie dureiit se fonder dans leiirs decoUNcrtes sur les doimees de la science. Joliet eUiil un ele\e du college ties Jesuites et il y avail 14 soutemi line these publique qui avait attirJ siir liii I'attention. Plus d'un botaniste a cctte t^potiuc a parcouru nos forcts, et avant (jue Ic succlois Kalm, eleve de Mnne'e, nc fut vonu au cliatuau St. I.ouis aceriode de temps oil nous fumes les desht'rites de deux nations : notrc ancienne mere-ijatrie nous avait abandonnes, notre nouvelle mere-patrie ne nous avait jias encore adoptcs. l'res(]ue toute la classc instruite, a I'exception du clerge, de queltiues seigneurs et de (]uel(iues hommes de loi, repassa en I'Vancc : les deux ordres religieux dont je viens de parler furent supijrimc's, toiites les ecoles ([u'ils avaient furent fermees. Plus de rapports avec la l''rance, plus de livres. Heureusement (jue rimjirimcrie ne tarda pas il s'etablir : nos premieres editions, nos incunables Canadiens furent des livres d'ecole, des livres de l)rieres ou des livres de loi. Ils repondaient aux bcsoins les plus prcssants. La presse i)eriodi([ue init du temps a se fonder; dans le principe elle fut d'un bien faible secours au |)oinl de vue litte'iaire ainsi Huau iioint de vue politi<|ue. Ci pendant, deux foxeis de limiiax e'taient resle's ; nos deux seininaires de Quebec et de Mont- real 1 (liace a ces deux institutions, lors [ue le gouvernement constitutionnel fut etahli, il y avait i)armi les Canadiens-Fiani^ais, autanl et ]j1u.s encore [jcut-etre tjue parmi ceux d'origim; britrinni(|ue des hommes ])re])ares aux lutte; parlemem.iires. Panet, Papineau, [)ere, Pierre liedard, de l,otl)iniere, 'I'aschereau, Jilanchet, furent nos pren.ieres gloires politiciues. Plus tard, Papineau, fils, \'allieres, Mger, FaFontaine, Morin el wnc foule il autres, marcherent sur leur traces. La politique nous a au.ssi donne nos premiers ecrivains : Dedaid el IJlanchel dans le Caiiadicii de i8io — plus tard Morin et Parent. La poesie, timide a I'origine, se iKjrnait a des sujets bucoli(|ues ou didacliciues ; telles furent les leuvres de (^uesnel, de Mermet el de Pibaud. I'lus lard la muse palrit)tique se leva plcine de iristesse ou de colere ; nous eumes les dilhxrambes d' Angers, de Parlhe, de 'rurcolle et de Carneau. Puis vinrcnt Lenoir et Cremazie, ijrecurseurs de la pleiatle i[ui brille aujourd'hui. Pibaud, Garneau, Ferland et I'aillon, bientot lirent connaitre noire hisioire. Garneau fit epoque ; son livre est le point de depart des e'tudes histori(|ues. 1-a science se cultivail dans nos colle'ges, MM. Bedard, Demers et plusieurs autres en etaient de dignes adeples. Je ne nienlionnerai (|uc ])()ur meinoire, le lycee de M. Wilkie, ou se formerenl des hommes comme Andrew .Suuul el Thomas A_\l\vin. aussi rinslilulion ro)ale et I'universile projelee avant cela, qui n'eurent point de resullals appreciables. La legislature et les fabri(iues avaient elabli des e'coles de paroisse (|ui etaient deja nombreuses en 1836, lors([ue Toclroi necessaire fut supiirime par le con.seil legislatif; enfin plusieurs nouveaux colleges avaient surgi pour aider a ceux de (Quebec el de Montreal. II y eut done encore en 1837, un lem])s d'arret dans les jjrogres de I'instruction primaire ; mais rinslrucliou secondaire ou classi(|ue, dont lord Durham, dans son rap[)ort, avait deja signale les rc'.sultats Irop abondanls selon lui, continuait a se rcpandre. Si j'en viens aux inslilulions de la nature tie celle que nous inaugurons aujourd'hui, je troiive ([ue la premiere lentalive de ce genre, fut faite en 1809. La societe Litterai'c e'tablie a Quc'bec celte annc'C-la, pril pour de\ise Florcainus in iicmoril>i/s, devise bien trouvee, i)uis(iue a cette epoque, le territoire du lac Saint-Jean, n'elant point colonise, on pouvait voir des nurs de Que'bec, la foret (jui s'c'tendait jusqu'.\ la bale d'Hudson. La societc', la veille de la fete tin roi George 111, dont j'ai parle ai' commencement de ce dis- cours, donnait les prix d'un concours de poesie, ouvert pour < elebrer les vertus du monan]ue. Une piece anglaise composee par M. l''lenuiiing, et une jiiece fraiKjaise |iar un pocte (lui avait pris le i)seu- donyme de Cainuiensis furent couronnees. Des discours furent prononces ])ar M. Romain, president de la societe et par M. Louis Plamondon, une des gloires du barreau Canadien et (|ui dirigcail un de nos premiers journaux litte'raires Le Counier de Quebec. ^ 16 1,'existenru dc rcUo premiere socieie lie fut ])ns rcniieres puMi- ralidiis, des premieres re\ues, des |jremieres associations de le genre conniie des soldals (|ui monkiit ies premieis a i'assaut ; ceux qui ics sui\enl el (jui lriom|)hent ont a passer sur ieur corps. I,a soi'iele litte'rairc el liist()ri(iue dc (^uc'hee fonde'e par lord DalluHisie en 1S24 et (jui exisie encore aujourd'hui succc'da a|)res un asse/ long iniervaile .\ la Societc I.ittciairc de 1.S09. Kile a public de noml)reux Memoires et Ies noms de (iuel(iues-uns des honimes Ies plus mar(|uanls des deux origines figurenl parmi ceux de ses menihres aciifs. Kile a eu [JOur ri\ale depuis 1X48 \ liistitiit Caiiadicn uel)e( , rinstilut t"anadien-Fran(^ais d'Ottawa et plusieurs autres socic'te's du meme genre etalilies dans Ies auires Pro- vinces de la Conlederation auxquelles le President vient dc rendre un hcjmmage hien merite ont travaille et travaillent encore a la projiagation des sciences et des letlres. l,a tache qui apparlient a de lelles institutions est dillicile dans im jtays 1 oniparalivemenl lumveau. EUe se compose de tleux choses Ires dilTerenles, le progres des sciences et des lellres, en elles-niemes, et Ieur vulgarisation. 11 y a necessairenieiU la un pen tie I'acatleniie et heaucoup de la salle de conference cl de la bibliotlu'iiue publiijue. A inesure ijue I'inslruclion fait des progres, ([ue la litte'rature se forme et s'c'levc i\ de plus hautes regions, a mesurc (juc Ies halites carrieres scientiliques se cre'ent et sc de'velopiicnt, Ies deux fonctions (jue je viens d'indi(iiier peuvent se separer et des institutions ayant un caractere plus cxclusif et i)lus eleve peuvent avec I'aide ties gouvernemenls s'e'lablir et prosjie'rer. Sommes-nous arrive's a cc jKiiiit? II n'est plus temps de poser la (|ueslion ; elle a ele tlecidee par uiie aulorile superieure et imparliale (pii a p(jrte' sur noire movement intelleituel el litteraire un jugeiiient plus favorable (|Ue ( eliii i|iie nous oserions porter nous-memes. J'ai fait une bieii rapide et bieii insuftisanle es([uisse de ce niouveiiieiil tlans le passe pour la plus ancienne des Provinces tie la Confede'ration. Dans ees dernieies annees combien ne s'esl-il pas accc'le're? I.es graiules universite's Laval, .Mc(iill. Toronto, Lennoxville, Dalliousie. de nombreiix colleges, des c'coles normales, une organisation plus coiiiplete dc I'instniction ]iul)liquc ont partout re|)andu le gout des sciences et ties lellres. I.es publications litle'raires et scieniili([ues sonl tlevenues nonibreuses, Ies (cuvres de nos ecri\'ains sonl coniuies niaiiitenant en dehors de notre |)a)s. Pour nous, descentlants des premiers c(.)lons. ies tcmjis st)nl bien changes depuis celte e|)oi|ue nefaste ou nous e'lions ( omnie je I'ai dit Ies desherile's de deux nations ! .Xujourd'hui, noire nou\ellc mere-i)atrie nous accorde une i)roteell. On a New Classification of Crinoids. By Prof. E. J. Chapman. On the Lower Cretaceous Rocks of British Columbia. By Mr. J. V. Whiteaves. On Fossil Plants from the Cretaceous and Tertiary Rocks of British Columbia and the North West Territory. By Principal Dawson. On the Importance of Economizing and Preserving our I'orcsts. By Mr. W. Saunders. The Life-history and Development of Botrydiiim i^rannlation. By Prof. (1. Lawson. On the Introduction and Dissemination of certain Noxious Insects. By Mr. W. Saunders. On the -'Quebec Group." By Dr. \. R. C. Sklwvn. (B, — Papers presented and taken as read.) On the Present Condition of the Mining Industry in Canada. By Dr. R. Bell. On the Recent Discovery of large Deposits of Zinc Blende on the North Side of Lake Superior. By Dr. R. Bell. On some supposed Annelid Tracks from the Gaspe Sandstones. By Mr. J. F. Whiteaves. On the Glaciation of Newfoundland. By Mr. A. Murra\. 19 Presented by Prof. A. Raiinay W'rij^lit : Note on Segmentation of tlic ovum in Tlialassema. Note on Cranium of IMpe-T'lsli. (Syngnatlius.) liy Prof ri.AViAiR McMiURirn. (Ont. Agricul. Coll.) Preliminary notice of Microscopic Organisms foimd in the tap-water of Toronto. AcHKsoN. ('I'oronto Collegiate Institute.) By Mr. G. CONCLUDING GKNKRAL SKS.SION. Saturday, 27th May, 18S2. In accordance witii the arrangements made on 'Hiursday morning last, the Society assembled in general session at 12 o'clock, in the Railway Coinmittee-room — the President in the chair. All the members of the Provisional Council were present, witii the exception of .Mr. Goldwin Smith. The minutes of the session of Thursday last were read by the Honorary Secretary and con- firmed. The Hon. Secretary was then called \\\m\\ by the President to read the following Report of the Council, prepared since the last general meeting. The Council beg leave to submit to the Royal Society in general session the following recom- mendations ;— 1. That a letter be prepared conveying the friendly greeting of the Society to the several Scien- tific and Literary Societies in the Dominion, and inviting each of them to elect annually one of its members as a delegate to any meeting of this Society, such delegate to have, during his term of office, the i)rivilege of taking part in section meetings for reading and discussion of pai)ers; and asking also that such delegate be em])owered to communicate annually a short statement of original work done and papers published, and to report on any matters in which the Society may usefully aid in publi- cation or otherwise. That copies of the transactions of this Society be sent to all local societies so associated. That such circulars be sent to the following : — Literary and Historical Society of Quebec. Natural History Society of Montreal. Canadian Institute, Toronto. Natural History Society of New Brunswick. Nova Scotia Institute of Natural Science. Literary and Scientific Society, Ottawa. Historical and Scientific Society of Manitoba. Entomological Society of Ontario. Institut Canadien, Quebec. Historical Society of Montreal. Numismatic Society of Montreal. Historical Society of Halifax. Geographical Society of Quebec. Institut Canadien-Fran(j;aise, Ottawa. And such other societies as the Council, on intjuiry, may deem deserving of such distinction. 2. That .so soon as the Society shall be in possession of funds available for such purposes, the Council may offer prizes or other inducements for valuable papers, or may aid researches already begun and carried so far as to render their ultimate value probable. 3. That the Council be emjiowered to fix the next place of meeting for either Toronto, Quebec or Halifax, provided that an invitation from either city and contributions towards expenses of the Society can be secured. That the time of meeting be in September, 1883. 4. That His Kxcellency the Governor-General be respectfully recjuested to continue the corres- pondence with the Council of the British Association, and to invite a delegation to meet with this Society at its meeting in 1883, and that invitations be extended through His Kxcellency to the Insti- tute of France, and to the Association l'"ranij:aise, the Association of Naturalists of Germany, and to the American Association. 5. That communication be opened with the Hudson's Bay Company and with the Pacific Rail- way Company, with reference to obtaining specimens for the contemplated Canadian Museum, and 20 tliat a circular ho prepared setting forth the wants of the Society in this respect, and with suggestions as to collecting and transmitting specimens, and that it lie addressed to all persons ahle to aid in die matter in the North-Western and Norih-lCastern Territfiries and iiritish (.'olumhia. 6. 'I'liat the t'ouncil ascertain as soon as possible liie number and extent of the papers presented to this meeting which deserve publication, and the probable expense of properly illustrating the same ; that communication of the facts be made to H.lv the (lovernor-(ieiieral, with referent <, to obtaining a parliamentary grant, and that jirinting be commenced so soon as assurance can be obtained of sut h grant. 7. That the following shall be entitled to receive, ex officio, copie.-; of the transactions of the Society : — The Lieutcnant-(iovernors of the Province of the Dominion and XewlVumdland. The Members of the I'rivy (!oun