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to Ottawa and a museum was established, which to-day does honour 

 both to its curators and the Canadian peoj:>le. Owing to the immense 

 collection of minerals and fossils brought from Monti-eal and gathered 

 since, geology and mineralogy almott monopolize the limited space, and 

 Natural History is left to take care of itself. At present a small room 

 is devoted to mammals and birds, while the insects and })lants of the 

 Dominion are placed in the halls, there being no room for them else- 

 where. At South Kensington we had a collection of mammals^ 

 .birds, fishes and woods which did credit to the country, and yet hei* 

 in our own Capital we have not room for a tenth of what was there 

 exhibited. These collections are, at least in part, on their way here, 

 and the question naturally arises, what will be done with theni 1 This 

 question is to be answered, and the public should speak and the citizens 

 of Ottawa take action. Instead of halving separate collections of 

 minerals, fossils, vegetables, birds, fishes, mammals, etc., we should 

 have one grand museum that would include every branch of Natural 

 History and economic science, archaeology, ethnology and geology ; and 

 were the proper representations made to the Government, wo should 

 see rising in some conspicuous part of our city a building designed for 

 a museum, which would be the crowning glory of the greatest matb 

 Canada has ye"; seen or may see for a century Sir John A. Macdonald 

 whose name since T was a boy has been a household word in Canada 

 for progress in every direction. And now let him in his declining, 

 years give us a building for Canadian science which will be a credit tck^ 

 our city and a lasting monument to his enlightened statesmanship^ 

 I cannot here enumerate the many advantages which would necessarily 

 be derived by the city and the country at large, through the estal)lish- 

 ment of such a museum, and can only lefer to the vast benefits it 

 would confer upon students and the citizens generally. In conclusioa 

 I would urge upon the Club the necessity of increased energy 

 and activity. The desire and aim of the Club have ever been to 

 euc <urage and enlighten the youth of the city on scientific subjects, and 

 whatever position it may take on the question of amalgamation with, 

 the Literary and Scientific Society my wannest sympathies are with 

 tl)ose who feel that they are both able and willing to take an indepen- 

 dent stand and to shoulder the responsibilities such action may entail. 



