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FROM THE TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA ''^'"^ 
 SECOND S£RIES~i89S-96 
 
 THE ARCHIVES OF CANADA 
 
 THE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS 
 
 For 189s 
 
 By J. Mcpherson lemoine, 
 
 PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA FOR \^<i\'^. 
 
 Colllgite fragmenta ne pereant. 
 
 FOR SALE BY 
 
 JOHN DURIE A SON, OTTAWA ; THE COPP-CLARK CO., TORONTO 
 BERNARD QUARITCH. LONDON, ENGLAND 
 
 1895 
 
 
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THE ARCHIVES OF CANADA. 
 
 THE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS 
 
 KOK 
 
 1895 
 
 BT 
 
 J. Mcpherson lemoine, 
 
 I'KESIDKNT OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA FOR 1894-95. 
 
 The Manuscript Sources op Canadian History as Revealed uy 
 
 Our Archives. 
 
 " Colligite Fragmenta ne pereant." 
 
 If family papers are cherished, ehiim respect in the home circle as 
 memoirs of an iinforgotten past, how much more ought to bo prized, 
 carefully garnered and preserved, the records of a whole people, that is, 
 its public archives. 
 
 Their contents inspire an interest confined not to one family alone ; 
 they embrace society at large — the aggregate of thousaufls of families. 
 
 A nation's histoiy lies in its archives ; there can it be sought ; there 
 rests the enduring evidence of its existence — the authentic certificate of 
 its origin — its title deeds — the .^tory of its achievements, good or bad. 
 
 These recorcis, mayhap dusty, unprepossessing, of access arduous, 
 call forth feelings of interest whenever we meet with them ; the year 
 part and parcel, fragments of one's country, dispersed far from home 
 sometimes, les lambeaux de la patrie dispersie, as a French writer styles 
 them. 
 
 One experiences a legitimate pride, when on wading through these old 
 parchments or ponderous folios, one lights on brave, patriotic or warlike 
 
 :n 
 
ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
 
 deeds, act'ountH of wise, great or good men, though 8een in the obscure 
 distance, shtnving that ono's people is of honourable, ancient lineage, not 
 an irresponHJble niuHhrooni community without a pant, lieedleHH of a future. 
 
 Often these crabbed, uninviting documents are scanned, appealed to, 
 in preference to the highly wrought, tinted veixion of the modem 
 hit'toriiin wedded to new-fangled theories, peculiar schools of thought, 
 bent on perverting, omitting or colouring facts, so as to make them 
 dovetail into systems of belief, ancient or modern. 
 
 Canada, like other countries, has her archives, private and public, 
 though the patriotic duty of collecting them, at home and abroad, has of 
 late years only seriously comnuMuled itself to public attention. 
 
 Where were our archives in the past ? Whei"e are they at present? 
 I hear some one ask. 
 
 Until measures were taken, in 1872. to collect them, portions more 
 or less considerable existed in London. Paris. Rouen, Madrid, Venice, 
 Amsterdam. iSt. Petersburgh. Washington, Boston, Quebec, Three Rivers, 
 Montreal. Ottawa, Kingston, Toronto. 
 
 Quebec, the citadel of French vower in the new world nearly three 
 centuries ago, as such was supjtli:d by the French king with a complete 
 set of public officials, from a magnificent viceroy down to a humble water 
 bailit)'. without omitting a hangnnin. 
 
 She necessarily became the depository of the innumerable official 
 documents, despatches, commissions, nuips, plans and correspondence, 
 affecting the relations of the mother-country with her pet colony. 
 
 It was necessary to provide for the civil and military administration of 
 the new dependency in every branch of the public service. 
 
 The litigious character of her Norman anil Breton peasantry very 
 soon called forth a large outfit of judicial officials, whilst her jieculiar 
 ]i08ition as the key, the bulwark of French dominion in North America, 
 required defensive works and the ajipointment of a military staff 
 adequate to its defence. 
 
 For more than two hundred years, an object of jealousy to the 
 surrounding Indian tribes, as well as a menace to the sturdy, progressive, 
 but unwarlike British colonies beyond the border, her's became a martial 
 record of respectable projjort ions. The history of her five sieges alone 
 fills many volumes. 
 
 The art of the printer being. nearly unknown at Quebec under the 
 early regime, her chronicles had to be noted down in manuscript form 
 for preservati<m or for transmission to France. 
 
 It would be too lengthy, a tedious operation in fact, to attempt 
 furnishing a full list of the old French records of the province of Quebec. 
 
 With your ]Hn"mis.sion I will confine myself to reviewing the most 
 notable ones. Conspicuously stand forth those recently published by the 
 
[lbmoinr] 
 
 ARCHIVES OF CANADA 
 
 8 
 
 Provincial Govoniinont," ut (iiu'bo(\ by tho Literary »ii<I Ilistoncal 
 Society of Quebec,' by the Socii'-td HiMtorique do Moulrdal. 
 
 For years these precious docuincntH had rested uii|iroiluctive, as it 
 were, closed to the j)ublic «*3-e, in the vaultsof the Queliec parliament house 
 and in the subterranean apartments of the court hcmse. Montreal, too, 
 had its old records stored in the moist vaults of its court house. 
 
 We have to note, and we do so with pleasure, the beneticint action 
 of a previous governor. Lord Dorchester, who ordered these documents 
 to be examined and reported on. 
 
 After tho sigiuiture of the tinal treaty ceding Canada to Kngland in 
 1763, it was dconiod ncces,sary to have an inventory made of all the old 
 French archives. Thi.'^ measure interested both of the belligerent parties ; 
 tho victors had agreed by capitulation, as well as by treaty, to respect 
 the laws of tho vanquished. 
 
 ' DocurnentH relatifs a la Noiivelle France, HViAISO, 7 volumes (|iiarto. 
 JuKements du Contteil Superieur, 16(W-16rt5, 2 volumes quarto. 
 Montcalm et Levis, Guftrro du Canada, 17Sfi 1760, 2 volumes quarto. 
 Journal du Chevalier de Ldvis, 17.5ft-17a(), 1 volume quarto. 343 p. 
 Lettres du Chevalier de Levis, 17.t(}. 1760, 1 volume quarto. 473 p. 
 Lettres de la Cour de Versailles, 1756-1760, 1 volume quarto. 
 Les Pieces Militaires, 1 volume quarto. 
 Lettres de Bourlamaque k Levis, 1756 1760, 1 volume quarto. 
 Lettres de Montcalm a Bourlamaque, 1756, 1 volume quarto. 
 Lettres de Montcalm k L^vis, 17.56, 1 volume quarto. 240 p. 
 Journal de Montcalm, 1758, 1 volume (juarto. 62«5 p. 
 By Society Historique de Montreal, 9 series. 
 
 1« Livraison, laW, EsclavaRe au Canada. 64 p. 
 
 2" Livraison, 1(«9, Famille Lauzon. 58 p. 
 
 3« Livraison, Ordonnance de Maisonneuve. 33 p. 
 
 4« Livraison, 1868, Histoire de Montreal. 272 p. 
 
 5" Livraison, 1870, Regime Milltaire. 328 p. 
 
 6" Livraison, 1875, Dolller et Gallinee, voyage. 84 p. 
 
 7' Livraison, 18.S0, Peter Kalm, traduit par Marchand. 168 p. 
 
 8" Livraison, 1880, Peter Kalm, 2 vol., traduit par Marchand. 2.50 p. 
 
 9* Livraison, 1880, I ' s Voritables Motifs des Messieurs et Dames. 94 p. 
 ^ Historical documents published by the Quebec Literary and Historical Society, 
 since Its foundation up to 1887. First series ; 
 
 1. Memolres sur le Canada depnls 174'J jusciu'a 1760, en trois parlies ; avec cartes 
 et plans lithographies. VII. et 211 p. in-8, Quebec, 1838. Re-lmprlm^s en 1873. 
 
 Ce m^molre a pour deuxleme titre : " Memolres du S de C , contenant 
 
 rhlstolre du Canada durant la guerre et sous le gouvernement anglais." 11 
 fut communique k la Societe Littoraire et Historique par M. le colonel 
 Christie. L'lntroductlou donne A entendre que I'auteur du manuscrit 
 pourralt 6tre M. de Vauc'aln, oflHcler de marine en 1759. 
 
 2. Collection de memolres et de relations sur I'hlstolre ancienne du Canada, 
 d'apr^s des manuscrits recemment obtenus des archives et bureaux publics, en 
 France. (8 memolres relics en 1 vol. (papier), ln-8, Quebec, 18-10). 
 
 1. M6molre sur I'etat pre.sent du Canad.i, attrlbu^ k M. Talon. 7 p. 
 
 2. Memoire sur le Canada (1736), attrlbu^ k M. Uocquart. 14 p. 
 
 3. Consldi^rations sur I'etat present du Canada (1758). 29 p. 
 
 4. Histoire du Canada par M. I'abb^ de Belmont. % p. 
 
 
4 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
 
 It became urgent for tlu) French CunadinnH to nniko known whiit 
 the laws, deciHionH and Nontencos had been. Moreover, the deeiNions 
 rendered by the military tribunals, which ha<l govermul the country from 
 1759 to I7(i;{, were likely to have innovated in certain judicial matters. 
 IrroguiaritieM doubtleHs had o(!curr(Ml, and the new constitution granted 
 by tlie Quebec Act, in 1774, as well as other causes, had created uncertainty 
 on some legal points ; this nuule it of paramount importance for all parties 
 to know how they stood. 
 
 Such the origin ot tlie commission or committee named by His 
 Excellency, Lord Dorchester, on the 27th December, 178(), composed of 
 Judge Adam Mabane and Messrs. Dunn and de Lery at Quebec, and of 
 the membi'rs of the council at Montreal, with instructions to report to the 
 governor without delay, the actual state and condition of the old register 
 and records of the province of Quebec ; where they were stored, etc. On 
 the 19th Jutie, 1788, the committee was further directed to report as to 
 the contents of every volume, the period it coven'd, the numbiu* of its 
 pages, its contents and markings, it.s present condition, its authenticity, 
 the public ottice to which it belonged, where it was deposited, aiul on 
 every other point which might atlect matters previous to the conquest. 
 
 The report, seven hundred copies of which were printed in 1791, in 
 
 5. Relation du Si«gc de Quebec en 1759, par luie religleu.se de I'Hopitftl 
 
 General de Quebec. 24 ]>. 
 
 6. Jugeinent Inipnrtial sur les operations milltaireH de la canipagne en Canada 
 
 en 175H. « p. 
 
 7. Retiexions aoinmuires sur le comnierce ((Ui s'est fait en Canada, 8 p. 
 tS. Histoire de I'eau-de-vie en Canada. 29 p. 
 
 3. Voyage.s de decouverte.s au Canada entre les annees 1534 et 1542, par JacqucK- 
 Cartier, le Sieur de Koberval. Jean Aipbonse de Xaintonge, etc. Suivi.s de la 
 description de Quel)ec et de .ses environs en lOOH, et dc divers extraits rel;itivenient 
 au lieu de riiivernement de .lacque.s-Cartier en bW5-3(i (avec gravures /oc-*trMi7<'.) 
 Re-lmprime sur d'ancieinies relations. IW p. in-8, papier, Quebec, 1843. 
 
 4. M^moire du Sieur de Ram.sa.v, commandant a Quebec, au sujet de la rcddition 
 de cette ville le 18 septenibre 1759, d'apres un niann.scrit aux archives du bureau de 
 la Marine, a Paris. 84et38p. in-8, Quebec, 18((1. (Uii AM. Geo. B. Faribault.) papier. 
 
 Historical Documents, 2nd series. 8vo., paper. 
 
 Extract from a manuscript journal relating to the Siege of Quebec in 1769, kept 
 
 by Colonel Malcolm Fraser. 37 p. in-8. 
 The Campaign of Louisbourg, 1750-58, attributed to Chevalier Johnstone. 28 p., 
 
 8 vo., Quebec, 1867. 
 A Dialogue in Hades, a parallel of military errors, of which the French and 
 
 English armies were guilty, during the campaign of 1759 in Canada. 55 p., 
 
 8-vo., Quebec, 186(1. Attributed to Chevalier Johnstone. 
 The campaign of 1760 in Canada. 24 p., 8-vo. A narrative attributed to Chevalier 
 
 Johnstone. 
 The invasion of Canada in 1775. Letter attributed to Major Henry Caldwell.— 
 
 1776. 19 p., 8-vo., published at Quebec, 1866. 
 A journal of the expedition up the River St. Lawrence, republished from the 
 
 New York Mercury of 3l8t December, 1759. 19 p,, 8-vo. 
 
[lbmoinb] 
 
 ARCHIVES OF CANADA 
 
 En^liHh Aiu\ ill FnMicli, iit tlio ottico of NeilHon'M old Quebec Gazette, m at 
 proMoiit li mro and valued doeuiuciit. 
 
 TluH iiivontory shownd that novoral iin|H)rtaiit rooonlH therein 
 mentioned wore luiMsiiijcf. If not irretrievably lost, tlieir absence from 
 the shelven of the public otflee, which at one time had owned thorn, was 
 eHtabliHlied. 
 
 I can recall viHitini; in my youth the damp, Hiibterranean vaultn of 
 the old parliament house at Quebec (nince destroyed by tire) and being 
 struck by the prodigious mass of documents, bound and unbound folioH, 
 parchmentrt and registers stored there. Some, however, were destined to 
 escape the corroding tooth of time and decay, and one of the most zealotis 
 presidents of the Tjiteniry and Historical Society at Quebec, the late 
 George B. B^aribanlt had succeeded in inducing the society to have them 
 transcribed. Others were removed to the dark cells of the Quebec court 
 hoase, whilst many perished in the great tires that ravaged the city. The 
 major ]>art, however, one is happy to say, were' safely slon'd, after 
 Oon federation, in the fireproof rooms of the provincial registrar in the 
 now legislative building at Quebec. 
 
 Several friends of progress, since that period, the first prime-minister 
 of the j)rovince, Hon. P. J. O. Chauveau, Hon. fidil^on Ouimet, later on 
 the Hons. Jean Blanchet and C. E. A. Gagnon, provincial secretaries, 
 
 Historical (lociimeuis, Uni .series. Published under the auspices of the Literary 
 and Hi.storical Society. 1 vol., cloth 8-vo., Quebec and Montreal, 1871. Contents : 
 Histoire de Montreal, lOtO 1672. 128 p., 8-vo. Ouvrage attribuei M. F. Dollier 
 
 do Ca.s,son, S. S. 
 Journal des operations de Tarmee Am^ricaine, lors de rinvasion du Canada en 
 
 I77.'i-T6, par M. .J. B. Badeaux. 48 p., in-8, Montreal, 1871. 
 Recueil de ce qui .s'est pass6 en Canada au sujet do la Kuerre, tant des anglais 
 
 que des irocjuois, depuis I'annee 1682. 82 p., in-8, Quebec, 1871. 
 Voyage d'lberviile. Journal du Voyage fait par deux fregates du roi, la Badine 
 
 et Ic Marin, l(tt)8. 48 p., in-8, Montreal, 1871. 
 Journal of the Siege of Quebec, 1751) fit), by General Jas. Murray. 45 p., in-8., 
 
 Quebec, 1871. 
 Historical Documents, 4th .series. 1 vol., 8-vo., pap«!r, 1875. 
 A journal of the expedition up the River St. I^wrence, 17.50. 21 p. 
 General orders in Wolfe's army during the expedition up theRiverSt. Lawrence, 
 
 17,59. o(i p. (Original in the hands of J. M. LeMoiiie.) 
 Journal du siege de Quebec en 1751), par Jean Claude Panet. 31 p. ' 
 
 Journal of the siege and blockade of Quebec by the American rebels, in autumn 
 
 1775 and winter 1776, attributed to Hugh Finlay, Postmaster-General. 25 p. 
 Historical Document.s, 5th series. 1 vol., 8.vo., 152 p., Queljec, 1877. Containing 
 
 documents relating to the war of 1812. 
 Historical Documents, 6th series. 1 vol., S-vo. 
 Tabular statement of arrivals from sea at Quebec, during the navigation season 
 
 of 1793, showing dates of sailing and arrival, nature of cargo, names of ships, 
 
 masters, owners, &c., extracted from the registers of the Quebec Exchange 
 
 and contributed for publication in the archives of the Literary and Historical 
 
 Society, by MacPherson LeMoyne, Seigneur of Crane Island, Montmagny, 
 
 province of Quebec. 
 
e ROYAL 80CIKTY OF CANADA 
 
 urgwl on l»y liiNtoriciil Hocictios and hy anloiit HttxltMitH of CuruuliHii 
 hiHtory. ^'l•all(■i^^ I'arkinaii, (Jfur^c IJahy, Abh^w Vcrroau. l^)ir<. Tan^uiiy, 
 CuHgniiii and otlicrs. sucftnltMl in induring tlio IfgiHiutniv (o vote t'tnuh 
 to print wvoral voliiiuiiionH HcrioM of thvno doriniuTitM in 18h;{ and in 
 following yi'nrH, nor ought ono omit recording tho hi'arty co- operation 
 of th.> lull' I)r T. H. AikiiiH, of Nova Scotia. 
 
 A powerful impulse had been given to the collection of public 
 archives in this province, by the civation at Ottawa in 1872, of the 
 archives otflc*'. an aiiiu'X to the tlepartiuent of agriculture, in which our 
 colleague. Mr. Douglas Hryinner. has won goldi'u opinions. 
 
 Any one c()nver.->ant witii the neglected state of our archives in the 
 paBt, will readily ailinit that the era of collecting and preservation waH 
 not comnuMiced one day too soon, though matters in this resjtect were 
 not HO bail in Canada as I hey were, until lately, in Kngland. 
 
 Mr. Hrymner. after mentioning the early legislati(ui in Knghuul to 
 inquire into the state of public records and to devise means to prenorvo 
 them, in the reign of Kdward III. (1478). in Queen Klizabeth's time 
 (1659-l(:o,i). under James VI. (KUT). (ieorgc III. (17i;(t-1820), William 
 IV., in 1837, notes a striking contrast between the dreadful state of 
 neglect of the English archives and those of Scotland. The records of the 
 Queen's I{emcmbrancer. says he. it was discovered were stutfed into fiOO 
 sacks in a most tilthy state, and to <lisinter a •locumeiit known to exist 
 somewhere in these heaps, was a work of a most disgusting nature. The 
 report of the committee of the House of Comnions of 183(5, gives the 
 evidence of Mr. Henry Cole as to the state of the King's mews containing 
 these records. He says: '"In these sheds 4.136 cubic feet of nati(mal 
 records were deposited in the most neglected condition. Besides the 
 accumulated dust of centuries, all. when those operations commenced, 
 wore found to be very damp. Some were in a state of inse])arable 
 adhesion to the stone walls. 
 
 " There were numerous fragments which had only just oseajied entire 
 consumj»tion by vermin and many were in the last stage of putrefaction. 
 Deca}' and damp bad rendered a large (puuitity so fragile as hardly to 
 admit of being touched ; others, particularly tho.-'e in the form of rolls, 
 wore so coagulated together that they could not bo unrolled. Six or 
 seven perfect skeletons of rats were found imbedded, and bones of these 
 vermin were generally distributed throughout the mass ; and besides 
 furnishing a charnel house for the dead, during the tii-st removal of those 
 national records, a dog was em ployed in hunting the live rats which were 
 thus disturbed from their nests.'' ' 
 
 The only exception to the ''shocking state" of the documents is in 
 the case of Scotland, of the record office of which the committee spoke in 
 
 Report of Dominion archivLst, 1881. p. 6. 
 
[lkmoink] 
 
 AUCmVKH OF CANADA 
 
 thpw terms : "(!olU>ctP(l topjothcr. in oiif contral. iimplo. roniinodious alid 
 Httf'o Ixiililiiig in Kdinlxirjfli, piacotl undttr tlio luiHtody of most ooinpoient 
 and n'fl)>oiiHihl*< kocpoi-s, they »|>|t«ui' to Im k»'|)t in a Htat»> of (lorfcrt ar- 
 ran^cnu'tit and iun|ilo information HU|iplit'<l hy full calondars and iudexox." 
 
 The nyHti'iaalic arranj^fonu-nt (tf n'cordH, iIid facility of accoMs tliiTi'to, 
 the umpio information ai^ to content** Muppii«'(l by full calendars and 
 indexcH, outlined in old Kmltro, one is iiappy to find, has i^uided the canny 
 hand ol' her iiidiistrious son, Doiiijlas Brvmner, in the formation of <>ur 
 own public record otlice at Ottawa. 
 
 It baH been previously stated that the Jlistorieal Society of Montreal^ 
 and her older wster. the Ijiterary and Historical Society of (Quebec, hail 
 repeatedly ur^ed on successive ad niinist rat ions the pit>priety of collecting, 
 preserving and publishing documents of an important historical char- 
 acter. Both associations deserve a good Wf»rd, but the share of the 
 Quebec institution in this progressive work, ever since its foundation, on 
 the (Jtb January, IHli4. by the Karl of J)alhousie. then governor general 
 of Canada, is sf) marked as to warrant special notice. In a circular given 
 to the jmblic the purposes of the society were thus declared : • To discover 
 "and rescue from the unsj)aring hand of time, the records which yet 
 "remain of the earliest history of Canada. To ])reservc, whilst in its 
 "power, such documents as may be l()und amid the dust of yet unexplored 
 "depositories, and which may prove im{)ortant to general history and to 
 "the particular histor}' of the i»rovince." 
 
 A glance at its Transactions and publications will show that it has not 
 been recix'ant to its trust. 
 
 The origin of the archives office at Ottawa dates back, as previously 
 stated, to the year 1872 ; it was the outcome of the petition ]iresented to 
 parliament in 1871, setting forth that authors and literary inquirers were 
 placed in a very disadvantageous position in Canada, in comparison with 
 persons of the same class in tlreat Britain, Franco and the United States, 
 in coasequonce of being practically debarred from facilities of access to 
 the public records, documents and otticial papers in manuscript, illustra- 
 tive of the history and progress of society in Canada, and praying that 
 steps be taken to have the archives of Canada collected. Parliament then 
 voted a sum for the purpose of making preliminary inquiry into the 
 subject. Further sums have been voted from year to year. 
 
 Mr. Douglas Brymner was charged to inquire into the state of the 
 archives in. the several provinces of the Dominion. 
 
 His voluminous report to the head of his department sums up the 
 whole case so ably, tha> I cannot do better than quote a portion of it. 
 
 "1 visited," says he, "Toronto, Montreal and Quebec (the two latter 
 cities more than once), Halifax, St. John and Frederictoii ... I 
 consider it desirable to call attention to the manner in which the reconls 
 and official documents are kept. In Montreal, the vaults under the old 
 
 I 
 
 H 
 
8 
 
 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
 
 government court house .... are unfit for the purpose to 
 which they are applied The air is damp and fbul, so that it is dangerous 
 to the health to remain in them l.eyond a very limited time .... 
 Many of these are of much historical value ; some of them could not bo 
 replaced " 
 
 "The complaint as to the dampnes.s of the vaults in Montreal, applies 
 also to those under the court house tit Quebec." 
 
 It may bo well to state that these complaints have since been 
 eti'ectually removed. He continues : 
 
 " In Halifax the documents in the province building are stored in a 
 room which is not fireproof; otherwise they are well kept and in good 
 order " 
 
 " In 1857, on motion of the Hon. Jo.seph Howe, an examination of 
 the ancient records and documents illustrative of the history and progress 
 of society in Nova Scotia, was ordered to be made. In 1864, upwards of 
 200 volumes of manuscripts had been selected, arranged, catalogued and 
 bound, and in 1865. the legislative assembly referred the matter to a 
 committee." 
 
 It would take me far beyond the bounds to which space limits me, 
 were I to attemi)t a full history of the I)omini(jn archives since their 
 origin. Those curious of entering dee])er into the subject hove ample 
 verge and nuiterial to consult in the fifteen reports submitted on this 
 matter to the legislature since 1872 by Mr. Brymner, by the learned 
 Abb4 Verreau in 1874, and by Mr. Josej)h Marmette (Alas, no more !) 
 
 1873. — The report for this year includes an account of the Dominion 
 archivists visit to London, and of the records and desi»atches stored in 
 the British Museum, the British, public record of!ice, the Tower of London, 
 the war.otfice. the oflice of the secretary of state, on war. fishericf, com- 
 merce, emigration, etc. 
 
 With respect to the documents stored at Montreal, he adds : '• There 
 is a collection of statutes, in P'rcnch and in English, which I would 
 re.s])ectfully recommend should be distributed to ]»ublic libraries and 
 literary institutions. They are cbiefiy the old 'Acts and Ordinances' 
 and 'Edits et Ord'^nnancfs,' reference to which is frequentlj' desired." 
 
 The legislative aasembly of Halifax referred the subject of archives 
 to a committee, who recommended the publication of a volume of ])ublic 
 documents, to be selected by the commissioner of ])ublic records. Dr. T. 
 B. Aikins. That gentleman had the volume published in 1869, con- 
 taining ; 
 
 1. Documents relating to the Acadian Fivnch inhabitants and their 
 
 removal from Nova Scotia in 1755. 
 
 2. On the encroachments of the French authorities of Canada on the 
 
 territories of Nova Scotia. 
 
[i.bmoine] 
 
 ARCHIVES OF CANADA 
 
 3. On the siege of Fort Beaus^jour in 1755 and the war on the 
 
 continent terminated by the cession of Canada. 
 
 4. Papers connected witii the settlement of Halifax in 1749 and the 
 
 first British colonization of the province. 
 
 5. The otiicial correspondence preparatory to the establishment of a 
 
 representative form of government iti 1758. 
 
 The records in possession of the military authorities at Halifax are 
 voluminous. The earliest date is 177!). and they are continued to the 
 pre.sent day. " General Sir Hastings Doyle,' says Mr. Brymner, " gave 
 instructions that I should have access to the papers, and Major Roberts<in. 
 militar}- secretary, saw that every facility was atl'orded to me to have 
 them examined." On permission being subsequently asked from the 
 imperial government to have this valuable collection of documents removed 
 to Ottawa, it was granted. 
 
 Mr. Brymner's vi-sit to St. John, N.B., in quest of old documents was 
 not so successful. 
 
 His mission to Quebec, to wit. to examine the documents of the Quebec 
 seminary. ])'';)vcd satisfactory. Mr. Brymner do.ses his report for 1872. 
 with an exj)ressi(m of thanks to Rev. Mcssire Tanguay, in charge of the 
 records, and also to the Rev. Abb^ Laverdi6rc. librarian of Laval Univer- 
 sity, for the facilities afforded the archivist in his laborious quest. 
 
 1874. — The report of the Rev. Mr. Verrcau. deputed to L(mdon and 
 Paris in 1874. throws much valuable light on docunicnts relating to 
 Canadian history stored in European cities. This gcntlenum dived into the 
 records of the British museum, examined the .Seignier collectiim. Harleian 
 manuscripts, the voluminous Haldimand collection. nianuscrii)ts of (leorge 
 III., English state archives, the Quebec correspondence comprised in 
 twelve volumes, containing a nuiss of curious and unpublished details, 
 some bearing on Montcalm's last lcttt'i*s and on the ch'-quered career of 
 the notorious ex-Jesuit. Pierre Roubaud. in Canada and in Englan<l ; the 
 valuable collection of tifty-six volumes, entitled " Dorchester Papers. " 
 They had been pi-esenteil by .Mr. M. Morgan Castelow, secretary to Mr. 
 John Seymour, who bequeatlie(| them to the Royal Institution in 1804. 
 
 Mr. Verreau then cro.sscd over to France, visiting the extensive 
 archives of Lille. At Brussels, he found at the •' Archives du Royaume." 
 a volume entitle<l Missions d'Amerique." containing several autograjth 
 letters, one on Canada; searching successfully for material, at the • Bib- 
 liothcque Jtoyale.' etc.. there also he jiickcd uj) jjiv'cioiis infornnition 
 relative to a large number of French officera, who had emigrated from 
 Canada at the time of the conquest. 
 
 At Lit^ge and at Metz. the archa-ologist found in the public libr -ies 
 a few works relating to Canada. 
 
 The •' Bibliotheque Rationale " in Pari.s, which is consulted by tVie 
 learned men of every country, offered the (>anadian delegate a rich mine 
 
lO 
 
 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
 
 for reHearch, as well as the "Ardiivos Nationales " and the Departement 
 (le la marine. Here occur the moat important and most numerous docu- 
 ments bearing on the terntories comprised under the name of Nouvelle- 
 France. p. 15>3. 
 
 At the department of foreign art'airs. under the heading '• Americana," 
 in volumes i., ii., iii.. iv., are found |)ul)lic documents of paramount interest 
 on ('anada and Acadia as early as 162i>. 
 
 There also occur, marked ' Kngiand," '• Rome,'" " St. Petersburgh," 
 manuscript volumes deeply interesting to the student of Canadian history. 
 
 1881. — Among the topics alluded to by the archivist in his rejx^rt for 
 this year, may be noted various documents on Newfoundland ; on the 
 protection of its fisheries from the inroads of the French, 1696-97 ; on the 
 trade of the colony, 1705-6 ; on the mimber of vessels trading, with par- 
 ticulars of the annoyances and hindrances the French caused to trade. A 
 list of the chief harbours is also given, and we Hnd a mention of " White- 
 burne's discourae on Canada." also of a vocabulary of the language of the 
 Newfoundland Indians; a general description of the province of Nova 
 Scotia, and a report on the state of its defences by Lieut.-Col. Moore in 
 1783 ; plans of difterent forts ; the journal of Sir Hovenden Walker's unsuc- 
 cessful attempt on Quebec in 1711 
 
 1882. — One of the subjects to which Mr. Brymner draws attention 
 that year, is the urgency of enlarged space lor the archives rooms, in 
 order to classify and arrange separately, for the eight provinces consti- 
 tuting the Dominion of Canada, the rapidly accumulating paitei-s referring 
 to each. 
 
 • If," says he. '' lists of records of the different provinces in the 
 possession of their respective governments were procured, they would be 
 of the greatest use in proceeding with the work of this branch, and would 
 assist very materially in furnishing information to historical investigators, 
 who not unfrequently make inquiries as to the existence and plans ot 
 deposit of papers which they desire to consult." 
 
 We are next reminded bj' him of the wise policy of having one general 
 collection of historical documents at the seat of the federal government, 
 and one special at each province in its provincial capital. 
 
 "The ]K)S8e.ssion of records in dujilicate is a guarantee, to a large 
 extent, of their preservation from ilestruction by tire ; experience has 
 shown the risk from this cause. " 
 
 An ample calendar follows, of letters and papers on the siege opera- 
 tions at (Quebec in 1759 ; plans of forts, custom house laws and proceedings, 
 commerce. 
 
 1883. — Two interc^sting reports on archives were submitted to parlia- 
 ment this year; one from ^Ir. Brymner and one from Mr. Marmette. 
 This gentleman duly accredited by Lord (rranvilie through the English 
 amba-ssador, Lord Lyons, to the French government, congratulates himselt 
 
[lemoinb] 
 
 ARCHIVES (»F CANADA 
 
 11 
 
 on the facilities artbrdcd him tooxuniine the archives brunch of the ministry 
 of foreign atfairs ami the • Bibliotheque Mazarine.' The papers, plans. 
 map.s and documents stored in these various ottices, cover the whole I'rench 
 period, 1()(>3-1759, and throw light on many obscure points iti our history. 
 
 Mr. Brymner. after relating the preliminarj* steps in 1871 in our 
 parliament, which led to the organization of our archives office, says that 
 the tii-st important contribution to it was made by the war oHice, which, 
 after some negotiations conducted bj- him when in London in 1873, 
 consented to transfer the Canadian military correspondence, going back 
 nearly one hundred yeai's. which was packed up in Halifax ready for 
 transmission to London. These papei-s numbered upwards of 200,000 
 documents of various sizes, shapes and contents. 
 
 They are now in Ottawa, bound in 1.087 volumes. Tt was. of course, 
 necessary for him to go through a deal of red-tapeism before obtaining 
 leave to have access to and to tran.scrilxi several important state papers, 
 as he was restricted to extend his search to documents printed piior to 
 1842. The report, calendar and index, are replete with useful information 
 
 1 shall, however, make room for a few extracts from a striking 
 letter addressed to Mr. Taylor, London, by T. Frederick Elliott, a nephew 
 of Lord Minto, secretary of the frosford commission, sent out to report on 
 Canadian grievances in 1835, bearing date, (Quebec. 24th October, 1835. 
 This letter is mentioned thus in the (rreville memoirs, vol. iii., p. 125: 
 "I have just seen au excellent letter from Frederick Klliott to Taylor, with 
 a descri|)tion of ])ariies and ])olitics in Lower Canatla, which has been 
 shown to the ministei's, who think it the ablest i'.r)ios^ on those heads that 
 has been transmitted to thorn." Lord Howick tells us he hopes this 
 clever letter would be shown to Lord Glenelg, to Lord Melbourne and 
 to the king. Mr. Elliott dis[)oses of the opinion i)revalent in some quarters 
 to this day. that the insurrection in Lower Canada in 1837 was a mere 
 question of race. French versus English ; whereas, far from being a jaero 
 rising confined to the French element, it had had for its most strenuous 
 leadei"s and organizers, men of quitt> another race than the French ; such 
 as Drs. Wolfred Nelson. Piubert Nelison ; .Scott, Tnicy, T. S. Brown, 
 O'Callaghun, (iirard, liindeliuig, Samuel Newcome, ' B. Mott. The intoler- 
 able abuses of the period, the oppressive cohmial misrule of the oligarchy, 
 80 unsparingly criticised by Lord Durham, such are the ))rimary causes 
 of discontent. 
 
 Mil. Elliott's Letter. 
 
 '^ Quebec, 24th Oct., 1835. 
 '• My Dear Taylor, — People have been accustomed in England to 
 hear of only two parties in Canada, the English and the French, but there 
 
 ' SiiiiMifl Nt'wcomeimd Bery Mott fonned part of the fifty PiKl't political pri.soners 
 transported in 1839 to New South Wales, and who returned afterspenditig five years 
 and four months in exile. 
 
12 
 
 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
 
 are in fact three parties, the official, the English and the French, besides 
 some important French classes altogether distinct from the party which 
 goes by that name. 
 
 " The official, or as the French term it, Bureaucratic party, is com- 
 posed of a few old men holding the highest offices. They seem to be 
 fond of privilege, jealous of interference, and ready to hold office at any 
 inquiry into the popular allegations. Most of them are dull, and those 
 who are the rever.se are said to be interested. It is of very little conse- 
 quence what they are. Whatever inrtuonce they may have formerly 
 exercised through the instrumentality of weak governors, they are now 
 destitute of any of the real elements of power, having neither connections 
 at home (England) nor weight in the ])rovince. If there be a body in 
 the world, which may, without fear, be handled according to its merits, 
 that is the high official party of Canada. In the province itself it is very 
 difficult to say by Avhich great divisions of the ])eople it is detested the 
 most. Very ditfereiit from this feeble corps is the real ' English party.' 
 It is composed of almost all the merchants, with an admixture of consider- 
 able landholders, and of some of the younger and more intelligent civil 
 officers. It possesses much wealth and still more credit, and in addition 
 to these it has all that mutual contidcnco and that precision and unity of 
 purpose, which, to do our countrymen justice, they know better than anj' 
 other people how to confer on political associations. This imposing body, 
 moreover, has groat advantage at the present moment in the moderation 
 of tone which it can assume in contrast to the violence of its adversaries, 
 thus gaining the good-will, if not the overt support, of the numerous 
 portion of society which jirefors security and a tranquil life to everything 
 else. Yet I do not like the English part}-. It is fully as ambitious of 
 dominion as the French party, and in my opinion, prepared to seek it by 
 more unscrupulous means. Whenever either of the two at the present 
 moment speaks of separation. 1 look upon it as a mei-e bombast or artifice 
 to bend the course; of government, but, depend upon it that if ever these 
 heats in Lower Canada shouUl go so far as to hazard tlie connection witlj 
 the mother-country, the English will be the foremost to cut the tie. 
 They, of the two parties, are by far the best disposed to sympathize with 
 republican institutions. 
 
 " They are the most rancorous, for they remember the power they 
 have lost, and hate their rivals as a sort of usurpers.'' 
 
 How singularly this letter wvitten sixty years ago reads, especially 
 when one recalls the memorable utterance of the late Sir E. P. Tach6, 
 A.D.C. to the queen. • The last gun tired on Canadian soil in favour of 
 England will be by a French Canadian." Other bits of information, as 
 new MS the last, and curious as subjects for reflection, occur in Mr. Elliott's 
 second letter to Mr. Taylor, dated 'Quebec, 12tb Novemlxjr, 18H5." 
 
 Aftf Ung to the opening of the session and to the doubt whether, 
 
[i.kmoine] 
 
 AKCHIVES OF CANADA 
 
 18 
 
 in voting the arrears of the last two yeai-a. the assombly would include re- 
 paj'ment of the sum of £31,000, advanced to the civil servants out of thn 
 military chest. Mr. Klliott adds: " If Mr. Spring Rice himself had been 
 there he could not have wished to hear more home trutlis than 1 delivered 
 on the subject to two or three Ki-ench meinbei'S with whom I dined en petit 
 comiti, among whom was the editor of Le Canadien newspaper. 
 
 •' It is astonishing how this country has been mismanaged. When I 
 came to know the men whom tiio military rulei-s here have been accus- 
 tomed to regard as little hotter than traitors and little wiser than children, 
 I am surjirised to tind : 
 
 " 1. On what fnendly bases their views generally are founded, and, 
 
 "2. How much superior are their percejjtions in political science to 
 those of the men by whom they have betm so arrogantly despised." 
 
 How strange Mr. Klliott's strictures seem to us in the yjresent day, 
 and how could a full and impartial record of the ]Mist Ix? indited without 
 referring to these dry-as-dust documents of another age? 
 
 Mr Elliott's letters are followed with one addressed by the Hon. A. N. 
 Morin to Sir Francis HincUs, dated at Quebec, 8th May, 1841, replete 
 with politic and patriotic utterances, in which he comments on an e.\i)ressioii 
 of Lord JJurham on the political events of the period. This clever and 
 proud statesman is alleged to have .said, through the mouth of one of his 
 attaches, •■T'>t they (the oligarchy) had done enough to drive the 
 people w'' o the woods." (|). 172 of Archivist's report for 1883.) 
 
 18v -It may be interesting to note the names, rank and land grants 
 
 of the distinguished French emiiirh in the township of Markam and in 
 
 other localities round Toronto. These French loyalists, several titled men 
 
 among them, after escajiing the guillotine in France, had applied to the 
 
 British government for land in Canada. Their names appear in the 
 
 military conespondence as follows : 
 
 Count tie Piiisiiye olitiiins 850 iicrt's. 
 
 " (le Chalus, iiiareciial de earn]), colonel 550 " 
 
 M, d'Alle)4re, major-general of the district de Vannes, colonel 450 " 
 
 M. de Marseuil, major-general of division, lieutenant-colonel '.-W " 
 
 Vis-ount de Chahis, udjntant-Keneral, colonel IfciO " 
 
 M. Quelton de St. (ieorge, major of division, lieutenant-colonel. . . 400 " 
 
 M. de Tracy, aide-de-camp, cajiitaine ■ U50 ' 
 
 M. Renault, capitaine. without commit<.sion 150 " 
 
 M. Sejeant, lieutenant 150 " 
 
 Fouchard, Furose, Langevin, Bugle, Marchand, non-commissioned 
 
 olticers and .soldiers 500 
 
 M. Renault was besides recommended for a grant of 1.200 acres and 
 M. Scjdaut for a grant of 500 acres. 
 
 So far as can be ascertained one family only, that of M. Qnetton de 
 St. George, is now represented in western Canada. 
 
 The re])ort for this year mentions among the acquisitions to the 
 archives, the volumes presented by the right honourable the master of 
 
14 
 
 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
 
 the i"o11h in Kn^lniul. tlio papers of Dr. John Rol])h. beurin)[( on the 
 n'l)ellion in Upper Caiiuda in 1837-8; also the lettern of Mr. Ilobort 
 Baldwin, Sir Francis lUncltH, David GibHon, William Lyon Mackenzie, 
 likewiw^ original documents and copies received fi-om Detroit, Cornwall. 
 Windsor, Sandwich, respecting the early occupation of those districts. 
 We are also informed that copies are being made in Jlome of documents, 
 till then inaccessible, Archbishop Taschereau having, by the good oftices 
 of the historian of Montcalm and Levis, Abbd II. It. ('asgrain, undertaken 
 to have them transcribed from the archives of the Gesu and the Propa- 
 ganda in Home — a veritable windfall for historical investigators. A 
 curious letter is also given from Charles I. to Sir Isaac Wake, ambassador 
 to France, respecting the rendition of Quebec and Acadia, dated 12th 
 June, 1631. 
 
 1885. — Through the resi^irclies of Messrs. Brymner and Marraette in 
 London and Paris, ini|)ortanl additions were made to our archives this 
 year — documents relating to events pn'cuding or immediately succeeding 
 the establishment of civil government. We note the first murmurs of dis- 
 content in the New Kngland colonies; the conduct of the Canadians, 
 both the old and the now subjects, during the war of the revolution ; the 
 difficulties which beset Carleton in his government ; the bitter hostility of 
 Lord Germaine to the " Saviour of Canada " ; the conduct of the war, 
 including Burgoyne's operations; the »e-establishment of peace ; Colonel 
 Moore's (E.E.) report in 1784 ; the boundary discussion between Nova 
 Scotia and the easternmost of the United States; Colonel Gother Mann's 
 observations thereon ; the notorious career and perfidious machinations 
 of Pierre Antoine Roubaud in Canada and in Kngland ; the alleged fabri- 
 cation by the latter of Montcalm's prophetic letter of 24th August, 1759 ; 
 Francis Parkman's ojnnion of this clever rascal ; Du Calvet's connection 
 with Iloubaud. (p. xiii., 1885.) Another valuable source of information 
 is described in the Ai'tes de Fuye ct IJommai/c, the fealty rolls, 1667-68-74, 
 setting forth the origin of the old Seujniories, d-c. 
 
 1886. — The report, calendar and appendix of the archivist and his 
 assistant, Mr, Marmetie, for 1886, embraces 850 pages. It opens with the 
 proposal of Samuel Waldo for the reduction of Louisbourg in 1758, 
 followed by his plan for settling Nova Scotia. 
 
 Mr. Marmette, from Paris, mentions the continuation of his labours, 
 in transcribing documents relating to the history of C-anada and Acadia 
 in the " Archives Coloniales." as well as those which the late Mr. George 
 B. Faribault had not had time to co])y when he visited Paris in 1851, 
 some 68 volumes, leaving jet for future examination 400 volumes and 
 cartons, exclusive of the " Correspondance Gf^n^rale." All this goes to 
 prove that the office of our archivist, at home or abroad, was not a 
 
 sinecure. 
 
 The journal of Le Gardeur de St. Pierre, made accessible for the first 
 
[lbmoink] 
 
 ARCHIVES OF CANADA 
 
 IS 
 
 time to the English roiidiT, sheds light iipi)n the expedition made by him 
 and Marin for the discovery of a western sea. 
 
 In 1755. he, with a l>arty of Indians, formed |»art of Dieskau's 
 expedition to Lake George, where he was killed wliilst Dioskau was trying 
 to draw the British iorces into an ambu.scade. 
 
 New details follow on the campaign of 175!)-6((. in General Ilaldi- 
 mand's correspondeneo and that of Ids secretaries, 1702-91 : the rivalry 
 between the Hudson Bay Comjjany, chartered in London in 1(!70, and our 
 Northwest Company, founded in 1783-H4, by Montreal merchants, modi- 
 fled in 1798 and partly re-constructed under the name of the X Y Com- 
 pany by jtartners who had broken from the Northwest Company. The 
 rivalry culminated, in 1816, at Assiniboiaby the murder of the governor, 
 Mr. Semple, under the cannons of tlie fort. 
 
 Thecorres|)ondenceof the period shows that in 1797-98, the Northwest 
 Comi>any bad built a canal on the Canadian side of Sault Sainte Marie, 
 one of the finest canals constructed on this continent. 
 
 The early canals, erroneously <U'scribed as French works, were 
 opened under Hlnglish rule, as results from Bougainville's '■ Memoires sur 
 r^tat de la Nouvelle France." 1757. No canal then existed at the Cascades. 
 Colonel Gotber Mann, li.H., in his rei)0i1 on the state of the canals, dated 
 24th October. 1800, says they were first built tetween 1779 and 1783. and 
 recommends their enlargement. 
 
 •' Much of the interest in the history of these canalslies in the fact that 
 ihey were the germ of the vast canal system now in existence." 
 
 The mimes of Lord Selkirk, Sir John Johnson, Baby, Franch(ire, 
 Mabane, F'nnys, Frobisher, occur repeatedly in this extensive collection 
 of letters. 
 
 I887. — Much needed light has been thrown by the copying of the 
 voluminous correspondence t)f General Ilaldimand, a distinguished soldier 
 of Swiss extraction and an able atlministrator, charged with watching 
 over the destinies of Canada in peculiarly troublous times. 
 
 There are few '>f our governors whose official acts have been more 
 misrepresented and motives unjustly ignored or challenged by our his- 
 torians. 
 
 Ilaldimand was born at Yverdun in Switzerland. In 1756, he was 
 commandant at Philadelphia, and served with distinction during the seven 
 years' war. 
 
 On the ca]»itulation of Montreal in 1760, he was appointed to the 
 command of the town, which he retained until he was sent to Three 
 Rivers, in June, 1762, where he acted as locum tenens for Ralph Burton. 
 The latter had been sent to take ]mrt in the reduction of Havana, whilst 
 James Murray was governor of Quebec, Gage of Montreal, Lord Amherst 
 being governor-general. 
 
10 
 
 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
 
 In 17<i7, we find Ilaldiraand in charge of east and west Florida. 
 In 1773, he was in military command of east and west Florida. In 1773, 
 he was military commander at New York. Stationed in Boston in 1775, 
 he leaves that year for London, from whence he is sent as inspector- 
 general of the forces in the West Indies. On the 30th June. 1778, ho 
 landed at Quebec, succeeding Guy C!arleton as governor-general of Canada, 
 where both had served in 1759. His administration lasted until 1784, 
 marked all through by firmness, administrative ability, during a most 
 trying period. 
 
 On his return to England in 1784, he was assailed by Pierre Du Calvet, 
 a Huguenot and a trader of Montreal, and sued for false imprisonment, 
 though the British government stepped in and held him harmless against 
 the machinations of his merciless persecutor. 
 
 Du Calvet was nothing but a traitor in disguise, of whose guilt, 
 Haldimand, when governor at (Quebec, had ample proof. He hud escaped 
 with a few years of imprisonment in the Rdcollet convent at Quebec and 
 on board of the war vessel "Canceaux." Some think his proper place 
 ought to have been on a gibbet, as a warning to disloyalty. 
 
 1888. — The con-esnondence and papers acquired by our archives office 
 this year were of no ordinary importance ; in fact, indispensable to who- 
 ever wishes to write or study the history of the dependency. The last 
 volumesof the Haldimand collection, consisting of 233 volumes, with Col. 
 Bouquet's collection, of thirty volumes, were deposited in Ottawa; both 
 cover interesting periods of Canadian history. " There are no other copies 
 of these collections on tliis continent, adds Dr. Brymner, and their 
 existence here has led to a very considerable amount of correspondence. 
 The correspondence is steadily increasing, and the demand for the annual 
 reports, not only from learned societies, libraries and individuals on this 
 continent, but from various other points of the world, show the interest 
 that is taken in the work in progress. An examination of the list of 
 works presented will show that the8e come not only from Canada, but 
 from many states in the American union, &c " A glance at the table of 
 contents will suffice to justify the statements of the archivist on this point. 
 I subjoin the leading ones : 
 
 The Walker Outrage at Montreal, 1764, 
 
 Memorial by tbo Prisoners, with accompanying documents. 
 
 Report of Chief Justice Hay. 
 
 List of the Grand Jury. 
 
 General Murray's Recall. 
 
 Petition of the Quebec Traders. 
 
 Petition of the London Merchants. 
 
 The Seiijneurs of Quebec to the King. 
 
 The French Noblesse in Canada after 1760. 
 
 Sir Guy Carleton to Lord Shelburne. 
 
.m 
 
[LmOINR] 
 
 ARCHIVES OF CANADA 
 
 17 
 
 Memoriul of the (Jhovali»<r do L^ry, 
 
 A Gonoral Statti of the Fn'iich yohlcssc. actually resident in the Pro- 
 vince of (iuob«ic or in iho Frencli service, and where resident 
 in Novombor, 17»>7. 
 
 Canadian officers in actual service in France, whose paronts have 
 remained in Canada. 
 
 Pierre Du Calvet. Reply by Father do Berry to the calumnioH of 
 IMerro Du Calvt't against tho li^iolli'tx of Quebec. 
 
 The NortliwoHt Tmdo. 
 . Report from ('harles (Jrant to General Kaldimand on the Fur Trade. 
 
 Petition from tlie Xorthwost Traders. 
 
 lienjamin Frobislier to I>r. Mabane. 
 
 Order to Captain JJobertson to report on Lake Superior for a Post 
 
 Captain UnbortHon s Journal. , 
 
 Genorai Haldimand to LioutenaMt-(rovornor Ifay. 
 
 The French Royalists in Upjier Canada. 
 
 Sketch of an estalilishment to be founded in Canada for the settle- 
 ment of tho French einigrants. 
 
 Duko of Portland to ProHident Russell. 
 
 List of French Royalists gone from London with Count Joseph de 
 Puisaye for Canada. 
 
 Haldimand ('oUection. covering a vast number of colonial matters; 
 statistics of the trade of Quebec, 17t)8-8.3 ; correspondence with Major 
 Nicholas Cox, lieutenant-governor of (Jaspc. 1774-8(i; letters of Chief 
 Justice Livius. 1777-H4. 
 
 Papers relating to Pierre Du Calvet. 1776-8r». 
 
 Papers relating to Pierre Roubaud. 1771-87. 
 
 Papers relating to the case of Joseph Despin, 1778. 
 
 Papers relating to the cartel sloop •Sally." 1778-81. 
 
 The documents deposited in the archives otfice contain among other 
 damning evidence of the traitorous designs of tho disaffected citizens 
 during the invasion of 1775, a list of pei-sons from Kngland. Scotland, 
 Ireland, America. France, acting on bcluilf of tho invmlers. and who " fled 
 upon the latter leaving. — .fohn and Asklan Hondtield. John Welles, 
 Thomas Walker, Fdmond Antill, Major Moses llazen (who had served 
 under Wolfe) Pelissier. John lilake. Price, Ifoywood and others. 
 
 Pierre Du Calvet. tho agitator had held a commission as en.sign. 
 under Moses Hazen as ajipears by his receijit for pay, discovered among 
 Lt.-Col. Antill's pa])ei-H, at Holland House. Quebec. Congress compen- 
 sated him for his losstw in 1786, i)aying him half of his claim, when he 
 boasted that he was the only creditor (\>ngres8 had ])aid. This uncon- 
 victed traitor escaped tho halter or drumhead court martial. 
 
 1889. — Tho archivist's report for this year sets forth among other 
 documents and memoii-s copied or acquired for the Ottawa Public 
 
18 
 
 ROY A I- HOCIETY OF CANADA 
 
 Record OHico, viiriuuH piiiuTH on th« North wi'Hturn Explorations, the 
 journul of thi' fiiniouH explorer Lu Vortnidryt!, 1738-;J9 ; Capt. ilolhmd'H 
 phm to t'xplorii from (^uolioir ; rcli^ioiiM. (vlucatioiwil and other statiHticH ; 
 Buinniary of the Ct'OMUM of ('anada. 17H4; list of pariHhcM, Ac, of the 
 dioctts'i of (^lU'ht'c ; (HiimuK of cloixy ; return of Indian-*; the Vermont 
 nei^otiations ; Htatement hy Mr. .larvis ; (\)1, Bouquet to (renerul Am- 
 hei-st ; (ieneral AmherHt to Col. Uouquet ; lioiiquetH proehimation against 
 settling, 17(51 ; lV)uquet'H]>roclamatiim with regard to Indian lands ; letter- 
 book of Col. Uouquet. I7r)7-5S; corroNpondenet* with (Jeneral Amlierst, 
 175!t-():{; eorroHpondence with General WaHhington ; inventory of the 
 ott'oetM of the latt' Brigadier (leneral Bouquet. l7tJ5 ; statement of militia ; 
 oeelomantical state of Canada; Lc^vi Allen to (Jovernor Sinicoe; the 
 Bouquet papers ; the reservation of Indian lands. 
 
 ''Col. Bouquet was a native of Switzerland, and served in the Dutch 
 and Sardinian armies. IIc^ and Ilalditnand were in 1754, selected to raise 
 men for the ' Royal Americans.' a corjjs intended for the Britisii service in 
 America, the ofticers of which were to be either American or foreign 
 Protestants: this corps was afterwards known as the (JOth Rifles. 
 Romjuet was actively employcil in America during the last years of the 
 war between France and Britain and held a leading comnnmd in the 
 contest with the Indians, including the [leriod of the Pontiac war. lie 
 died in Pensacola. western Klonda, some time jH'evious to the 4th Sep- 
 tember, 17*55." 
 
 Bouquet was u thorough soldier, well trained, possessed of consider- 
 able ability. 
 
 1890. — A rich mine of information to students of history is revealed 
 by the ])ublication of the archivist's report this year. The position of 
 General James Murray, the tirst governor of (Quebec. ap]ieui-s to be any- 
 thing but enviable, ))laced as he is between carrying out tlie paternal 
 instructions of the king towards his new subjects the French Canadians, 
 and the hostile feeling existing towards them, by the nide and ignorant 
 classofsettlei'she describes, calling themselves the kings old subjects. The 
 administration of justice ; the constitutional act of 1791 ; Northwest ex- 
 plorations ; relations with tVie United States after the peace of 1783 : 
 such are the leading subjects in this report. 
 
 The claim set uj) by Lord Amherst to the Jesuits estates is discussed, 
 as well as Col. Moi-se's report of 1783, who expressed the opinion that by 
 the union of the maritime provinces with Canada. ''a great country might 
 be raised up, with a general government, having its seat in the island of 
 Cape Breton." The reasons for disfavour urged by the neighbouring 
 coiornes against the Quebec act of 1774, sound strange in the present 
 day. New Kngland was in arms against old England for legislation 
 recognizing the Roman (.'atholic religion, 'a religion, they said, which 
 had flooded with blood and had spread hypocrisy, persecution, murder 
 and revolt into all parts of the world." 
 
[limuinh] 
 
 ARCniVF.8 OF CANADA 
 
 19 
 
 a hill 
 
 ped, 
 
 rht 
 
 of 
 
 lent 
 lion 
 
 ler 
 
 The Anu'ricun IMiiloHopliicul Sodi'ty of l'liila(li>l|ilii)i RtyK'd it 
 for t'MtiiltliMhing l>o|H'rv iiixl iirliitniry powi-r in I^iu'Ikt.' 
 
 iSiU'li dt'claratiohs tlu' rolonicn toiiiul it (li'ticuit to t'X|ilaiii, wlion in 
 1776, tln'y triod lo stH'iiro the Kruncli (-aiiadians a- lliuir allios agaiunt 
 Great lintain. 
 
 Till) ('O!T0M|K)ii(l(M)c(> hctwt't'n Lt.Col. Hy. R.K., (u-iuTal Gothcr Mann, 
 U.K., and Sir Carnii(;hacl Smith, thruwH a tlood of li^ht on the works 
 undiM'taki-n on the liidoaii caiuil. 
 
 1891. — Tluualoiidarand appondix of tho arohivJHt this year diHcloHca 
 voliuninoiiscorrc.xpondi'iiti' ami striii^^cnt i'f^ulaliot\s of (iov<irnor Frt'soott 
 and (rovfiiinr Simcot' coiiconiiii^ tlu) <^niiitH of \vast<< lar\dH ot tho ('rown. 
 
 Aiuoiiji? appli('Uiit« for largt> tracts in Upper Canada, appoars tho 
 name of tho doublo-traitor Monodict Arnold ; ho nri^oH great jtorHonal 
 loBHos inctirrod and servicoM reiidorcd to tho Hritish caiKH*. 
 
 He tii-st modestly claims 20,000 aoro.s in (Ijipor Canaila. upwanls of 
 thirty-one .s()uaro miles, ami in .luly. 1707. ho applies to the king, by 
 ])etilion, for ftO.OOO for himself, his wife and seven ohildrt'n. 
 
 On the 17th May, 1794, the Council records a grant of 14,000 acres 
 to Wm. Uerzcy, of Voik. Upper <'anada. to settle there 2,01)0 .settlers 
 brought in hy him. 
 
 The marriage laws of Upper f 'anada seem to have been in an un- 
 settled state. liichard Cartwright, Junior. ro|)orts on them. 
 
 VVe are next treated to u cuiioiis convspondence referring to tho 
 French Republican designs on Canada. War existed between Kngland 
 and France, in 1793 ; later on French armies were striking terror and 
 reaping bloody laurels all over continental Europe. 
 
 French emi.ssaries, it seems, wei-o .sent to the United States, to enter 
 into correspondence with tho French element in Lower Canada. The 
 evidence produced at tho trial of Alexander McLean, supposed to bo in 
 league with this movement is given, and allusions made to his tragic end, 
 on tho gallows, at Quebec in 1797. 
 
 1892. — Hon. Mr. Angeix. Minister of Agriculture, submits this year 
 the archivist's report to the legislature, '■ to wit. transcripts of the state 
 papers for Lower Canada to 1825. a continuation of the administration of 
 General lii-ock, and in addition those of Sir Peregrine Maitland as acting 
 governors, Lonl Dalhousio as governor-in-chief, Burton as president of 
 the council and the resumption of office by Lord Dalhousio in September, 
 1825." 
 
 The papera during that period deal with matters of great interest ; 
 the proposed union in 1822 of the two provinces, with the arguments for 
 and against the proposal, which, it is well known did not take effect till 
 twenty years later ; the report on grievances, tho questions between 
 Upper and Lower Canada respecting the re-union, and other subjects 
 held at the time to be of vital importance. ... - 
 
so 
 
 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
 
 " For Upper Cunada transcripts liave been received to 1829, cover- 
 ing the period of Sir Peregrine Maitland's administration and the 
 beginning of Sir Jolin Colborne's. 
 
 "To j\idgo by tlie current histories of Upper Canada, the Itnowledge 
 of th(! domestic politics of that province at the beginning of this century 
 appeare to bo very limited, only a few vague generalities being given. 
 
 " It has, therefore, been thought desirable to publish at some length the 
 correspondence during the administration of President Grant, and part 
 of that of Lieutenant-dovernor Gore. The leader of the opposition to 
 the government, appeai-s to have beeu Mr. Justice Thorpe, who is referred 
 to in no laudatory terms in the histories of the province." 
 
 The sentiments expressed by this ■ hot, i^olitical partisan," his fiery 
 attack on General Hunter and the comments of Chief Justice Allcock on 
 his fiery colleague, afford quite a study in the present day. 
 
 In Lower Canada, Sir Eobert Shore Milnes seems anxious to increase 
 the crown revenues, from properties InMonging to it, and advocates the 
 extinction of the feudal tenure of lands. 
 
 There appears to have been a considerable amount of friction between 
 Cliief Justice Osgoode and the Lieutenant-Governor, the latter being 
 supported by all the exocutivo councillors. 
 
 A conversation between Monsgr. Plessis and Attorney-General 
 Sewell, in which Queen Mary gets some hard hits, is published in this 
 report. 
 
 1893.— The report for 1893, opens with a letter, dated 16th Novem- 
 ber. 1807. on Indian atfairs. received by Sir .Tohti Johnson, from Herman 
 Witrius Kyiand. civil secretary to Sir James Henry Craig. 
 
 As this clever functionary's correspondence occupies considerable 
 space in our colonial archives, a short sketch of his career may not be 
 out of place. 
 
 Herman Witrius Ej'land had landed in Quebec in 1795, as secretary 
 to Lord Dorchester. His scholarly training, brilliant parts, general in- 
 formation and attachment to Ih-itish institutions, as well as his social 
 position, gave him the ear of every governor, (except Sn- George Prevost) 
 for (ilose on twenty years. 
 
 It was during the stormy jx;riod of the war Ixitween England and 
 the United States that the Hon. Mr. iiyland, with the advice of the able 
 Chief Justice Sewell, was in reality entrusted with the holm of state. 
 
 As the historian liobert Christie ol)serves, Hyland was con.sidered 
 the " Fountain Head of Power." I'robably never was he more powerful 
 than under the ailministration of Sir James H. Craig. His I'^xcellency 
 despatched him to Knglanil, charged with a public mission three fold in 
 its scope, the ostensible object of which was, 1st, To get the Impc»,..l 
 Government to amend or sus])end the constitution. 2nd, To render the 
 government independent of the people by appropriating towaixis it the 
 
[lbmoink] 
 
 ARCHIVES OF CANADA 
 
 81 
 
 revenuee accruing; from the estates of the Sulpicians of Montreal, and of 
 the order of the JesuitH. 3nl, To Heize the patronage exercised by the 
 Roman (.'atholic bishoj) of Quebec, the curls or church livings in his 
 diocese, contending that no Roman Catholic bishop rt^ally existed in 
 Canada, (but merely a superintendent of rur^s) none having been 
 recognized by the Crown. 
 
 It has been stated that he had a fair chance of succeeding on two 
 points, had not the great Chancellor Lord KIdon intor\'ened to thwart 
 the scheme. 
 
 The correspondence exchanged between Mr. Ryland and his Excel- 
 lency Sir James II. Craig, to be found in the sixth volume of Christie's 
 "Parliamentary llistory of Canada," exhibits Mr. Ryland at his best 
 Withdrawn from public life, he expired at his country seat at Beauport, 
 near Quebec, on the 29th July, 1838. 
 
 Sir James H. Craig, though he had served with credit in Canada 
 during the invasion of 1775, was scarcely the administrator to be en- 
 trusted with the rule of the colony in such troublous times. His idea of 
 governing seems to have savoured more of the military discipline of the 
 camp ; he failed to win the support of the discontented majority, making 
 himself disliked by parliament, though seemingly inspii*ed by the best 
 intentions. 
 
 Among other matters referred to in his voluminous correspondence 
 with the home government one subject was constantly uppermost in his 
 mind, as early as 18(»7 — a rupture close at hand between the Unit«d 
 States and England, though it only actually occurred tive years later, in 
 1812, after his departure for England. The obnoxious right of search at 
 sea was the ostensible pretext, possibly not the real cause of the outbreak 
 
 A split had taken place in the American congress ; two hostile parties 
 had sprung up, the federalists representing the Ntw Kngland states. 
 They were opposed to war and agitated for neutrality in the event of 
 hostilities, with the secret intention ot seeking the protection of Kngland. 
 The other party, the democrats, apparently spoiling for a tight, thought 
 the time propitious, when Kngland. battling against coalesced Europe, 
 led by the greatest captain of modern times, had her hands full at home. 
 
 The secret correspondence on this matter will repay i)erusal. One 
 John Henry, of Montreal, seems to have made himself very officious, 
 visiting Hoston and the .state of Vermont, collecting and conveying to Sir 
 James H. Craig secret information about popular feeling in these centres 
 during the period of disquietude and alarm in Canada consequent on the 
 extraordinary triumphs of French arms in Kurojx). 
 
 One incident alluded to in his correspondence increased very much 
 lue dislike the French Canadians felt for the governor — the seizure, on 
 his orders, by a military force, in 18(18, of the printing jiress of Le 
 t'anadien newspaper and its forced sale at auction (Sir James became 
 
22 
 
 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
 
 himself the liighest bidder), the arrest and incarceration of three distin- 
 guished members of parliament, Messrs. Taschereau, B^dard and Blanchet, 
 one M. Borgia, an advocate, arid Mr. Plants, all connected with Le 
 Canadien as owners, printers or contributors. 
 
 But there were other topics less exciting than rumours of an impend- 
 ing war to engage the attention of Sir James. 
 
 Government had determined, among other projects, to encourage the 
 growth of flax and hemp by subsidies. In connection with this industry, 
 Louis Foy, storekeeper-general for the Quebec district, Mr. (Jreen, for 
 Montreal, and'^r. Campbell, for Three Eivers, had been ajipointed to 
 control it. The experiment, however, met with indiflerent success. 
 
 Amongst the documents collected occur several letters as to the best 
 means to secure the good-will of the Indians near Detroit, Caughnawaga, 
 the Two Mountains, etc., in the event of war ; despatches concerning 
 remittances to the Nova Scotia treasury and to Quebec touching fortifica- 
 tions in the latter place ; increased barrack accommodation for soldiers, 
 land grants to court favourites ; pensions to the widows of distinguished 
 coloni.sts ; the api)ointment of Chief .Tiistice Sewell as successor of Chief 
 Justice Allcock, deceased ; the raising of the fJlengarry fcncibles and other 
 piovincial corps ; the selection of new members for the legislative council ; 
 preparations for naval openitions on the western lakes ; the help that 
 might be expected from the militia in case of war ; the necessity for new 
 regulations for this arm of the service ; demands for ordnance stores, land 
 grants to U. K. loyalists. 
 
 The Lower Canada documents occasionally exhibit a mass of subjects 
 submitted for adjudication to the highest officers of the crown in Eng- 
 land, now dealt with by parish councils, such as roads, bridges, markets, 
 police, apprentices, constables, etc. 
 
 Lieutenant-Governor Gore's corresi)ondence, 1807-10, with Lord 
 Castlereagh discloses many minor incidents hitherto unknown anent the 
 early times in ITpper Canada — land grai\ts, Indian stores, public appoint- 
 ments. 
 
 One lights again on " Observations on the Culture of Hemp and Pro- 
 pagation of the Warren Babbit, etc., by a member of the Upper Canada 
 Agricultural and Commercial Society ;' a request for a pension by the 
 widow of Capt. Josej)h Brant, i)rincipal chief of the Mohawks, who died 
 27th November, 1807 ; the deserter Underbill shot, inquiry into the cir- 
 cumstances of the case ; Col. Claus, an Upper Canada worthy. 
 
 On the 8th Octol>er, 1811, that great and good soldier General Isaac 
 Brock, after serving six yeai-s in (Quebec with his regiment, the 49th, 
 appeai-s on the scene in Upper Canada as acting governor. Boulton's 
 release from a French priscm ; £5,000 appropriated to maintain the militia 
 in readiness for the impending struggle with the United States. " Perfect 
 reliance,' says Brock, "can be ])laced on the loyalty of the original 
 inhabitants and their descendants." And was he not right ? 
 
[i.i moink] 
 
 ARCHIVES OF CANADA. 
 
 23 
 
 rd 
 It- 
 
 General Brook also i)ropo8e8 "that at the present juncture (1812) 
 "the prince regent should be moved to give permission to place the 
 family of every soldier, regular or militia, also every mariner on the 
 lakes, who may be killed in the coming cotitest with the United States, 
 upon the U. E. list, and to exteiul this advantage to ever}- mariner and 
 militiaman who may be maimed or disabled upon actual service." 
 
 We next are made acquainted with the proclamation of eral 
 Brock in answer to that of (leneral Hull. Hostilities follow, ami history 
 completes the glorious record of victories won on Canadian soil, ending in 
 the retreat of the invading foe. 
 
 But J n\ust not tre8i)ass on your forbearance any longer, and shall 
 bring iny renuirks to » close ; and if, laying aside the detached survey we 
 have been making of the manuscript sources of our historj-, wo should 
 like to crowd in one canvas the l)nlliant outlines embracing the fruitful 
 era of discovery, adventures, warfare, religious enthusiasm, which one of 
 our most gifted viceroys, the late Earl of Elgin, styled ''the heroic age 
 of Canada," what would you find ? A succession of martial feats ; ex- 
 amples of individual bravery; instances of extraordinary physical endur- 
 ance at the call of duty ; deadly ambuscades surrounding the pioneers of 
 a Canadian wilderness ; savage encounters by sea and bj* land of a most 
 startling nature, when measured by the standards of to-day. 
 
 At one time, 'tis the intrepid, conscious sacrifice of zealous preachers 
 of the gospel — in order to lift upwards into a higher life and cleanse de- 
 based humanity — men of prayer and pure mind, looking on death as the 
 only earthly crown worthy of living for. 
 
 At another time, 'tis delicate, self-sacrificing maidens, some, of courtly 
 nurture, bidding an everlasting adieu to the charmed circle of Pari.san 
 gaities. braving the temi)e8ts and perils of the deep, to cast their lot 
 amidst the rude aborigines hutted round their new forest homes on the 
 shores of our great lakes and rivei-s. 
 
 To-day. Indian savagery in its most hideous form is triumphant amid 
 the corn and wheat fields of Lachine : the great massacre in August, 1».89. 
 
 To-morrow, lion-hearted old Governor Frontenac, with fire and sword, 
 will bring the barbarians to sue for peace on their knees, or warn with 
 his big guns, from the gates of (Quebec, the New Kh:;hind marauders. 
 
 Pierre lie Moyne d'lbervilU-, the Cid of New France, will bear the 
 triumphant flag of his country to the icy shores of Hudson's Bay. 
 
 La Verendrye, de Sales and Marquette willex])lore the Rocky Moun- 
 tains and Mississipi, the father of the watei-s. 
 
 DoUard des Ormeaux, the Canadian Leonidas, vvill, after deep afore- 
 thought, by solemn covenant, pledge his life and the life of his sixteen 
 brave followers, to thrust back the wave of Indian ferocity surging nmnd 
 Montreal. 
 
 No poet to sing, no annalist to chronicle the manly deed ; all the 
 actors, save a Huron brave, perished — he it was who revealed the fact. 
 
24 
 
 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
 
 Is not our historj' also lighted up with the sweet, thoughtful faces of 
 heroic women — noble exainplars to their sex — beacons from on high, 
 illumining the rugged paths of struggling humanity : Madame de 
 Champlain, the Lady Latour, Madeleine do Vorch^res, Laura Secord ; nor 
 is the race extinct. 
 
 I have striven to reveal to you Canadian history in its rude begin- 
 nings. You have also had occasion to note its austere and patriotic 
 teachings. 
 
 Has your heart not also thrilled at its wild, seductive graces, when 
 touched by the wand of that enchanter, Francis Parkman, our late 
 lamented colleague ? 
 
 With the w^ealth of material already garnered in our archives and 
 daily added to, may we not count on it, at no distant future, as a stately 
 fabric ? Shall we compare it to an antique Grecian temple, with graceful 
 portico and many ornate columns, on which posterity will inscribe among 
 other respected names, those of Baron Mast^res, Wm. Hraith, Robert 
 Christie, Bibaud, (larneau, Fcrland, Faillon. Turcotte, Suite. Casgrain, 
 Bourinot. Withrow, Hannay. Miles. Murdock, Watson, Dent, Brymner, 
 Kingsford, Begg, Scadding. Ganong ? , • 
 
 ; 1 
 
 J 
 
J^ 
 
 On the last day of the annual meeting, Their Excellencies enter- 
 tained the members, the delegates of the Royal Society and many distin- 
 guished Ottawa citizens to a sumptuous lunch, in the stately banquet 
 hall at Government Ilouwe. 
 
 After the usual loyal healths had been drank, His Excellency Lord 
 Aberdeen, dwelled in glowing terms on the aims of the Society and the 
 good work it had already performed and could continue to perform, 
 closing with a gracious tribute to its President, J. M. LeMoine, to which 
 the President replied as follows : 
 
 Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, 
 
 "A pleasant, but a trying duty has just devolved upon me as the 
 unworthy spokesman of the Royal Society of Canada. For the kind 
 wishes and encouraging words just fallen from the lips of Your Excel- 
 lenty to our association, and for your too favorable remarks on myself, 
 I return the cordial thanks of the Society and my own. 
 
 Each year, at the auspicious period of spring, with recurring heat 
 and the return of the swallows, there takes place a pleasant incident ; 
 pardon, I might safely say, an event which gladdens the bearts of our 
 workers. The poet reaches out his hand for his lyre ; the student of 
 history dives again and again among his dusty, old manuscripts ; the 
 scientist ponders over a new problem of art or science ; the litterateur care- 
 fully roads over the essay or memoir, prepared duringlong, dreary winter 
 evenings, to make sure that his right hand has not lost any of its literary 
 cunning. Festive nature, in fact, that sweet inspiring time, which 
 according to the poets — and I think the poets are right — causes the pulse, 
 of youths and maidens to throb quicker, nature seems to have awoke 
 our intellectual bees. They forthwith wing their flight to the Dominion 
 Capital of Canada ; each anxious to bear an offering to the federation of 
 science and letters in session there during a whole week ; for has not 
 the notice of the Annual May Convocation of the Royal Society gone 
 forth ? Here, under the folds of the glorious old flag which more than 
 once has stood a friend to Canada, in full view of a neighbouring people 
 perhaps less favored than ourselves in point of extent of territory, how- 
 ever much they have otherwise prospered, with laws uiff'ering from our 
 own and a form of government which we think inferior to ours, it is the 
 aim of our society to co-operate in the perpetuation of the free institu- 
 tions implanted in this great, this rising dependency, this lesser Britain, 
 which guarantees liberty and equality to every man, to every creed. 
 
 e'^m m mm mmmim 
 
 IMMMMMlMnr' 
 
11 
 
 But why nhould I expatiate on the aHpirationa and worth of the 
 Royal .Society ? A friend has Just whispered in my car that it hus become 
 a national institution, so essential in fact to the welfare of the country, 
 that should this great Dominion be deprived of a Governor-General or 
 of a Prime-Minister and the Eoyal Society to boot, it would go to smash 
 and fall to pieces I (laughter and applause.) 
 
 Wo thank you, my Lord, for your bounteous and princely hospita- 
 lity. Wo thank you, our Jlonorary President, for the deep interest you 
 take in our ])roceedingrt. Again we thank you, and most cordially, for your 
 delicate, unremitting — shall I say paternal — solicitude for our welfare 
 during our presence in Ottawa. For similar acts of kindness and sweet 
 courtesies to our Societ}-, we thank your noble, earnest, courageous 
 Countess, your trusted hclj)-mate, whom our members seem, one and all, 
 to have in their hearts added to the list of true friends of the Royal 
 Society. 
 
 Long and happy days to Your ICxcellencies in this dear Canada of 
 GUI'S, and when you shall have returned to your ancestral halls beyond 
 the sea, long life and prosperity to you and yours." (Prolonged applause.) 
 
 {Movtnal Gazette, 24tli May, 1895.^ 
 
 i f 
 
 i 1 
 
 i '