Address by Dr. R. W. Ells. 203 



I would also, on behalf of the Literary and Scientific Society, tender our most 

 hearty thanks to our worthy member, Mr. Wm. Scott, and to the Electric Light Co. 

 for their kindness and liberality in providing us the present beautiful arrangement for 

 lighting our microscopic exhibit, thus making bur evening so much more pleasan: and! 

 attractive. 



There is one other item in connection with the proposed scheme of affiliation 

 which I would like to mention before I close, viz., that of the publication of a 

 scientific and literary journal. The only publication of the kind now in Ottawa is 

 that issued by the Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club, which has now appeared regularly 

 for about fifteen years. As however, this journal is published simply through funds 

 derived from membership fees in the society, at a nominal price of only $1.00 a year, 

 the possibilities of its expansion are not great, though many excellent papers 

 pertaining to most of the departments of natural science have appeared from time to 

 time in its pages. It ought to be possible, however, in a city like this, possessed of 

 such a varied array of talent, to issue not only the best journal in Canada, but one 

 which shall equal any in the adjoining republic. A journal wntch would embody 

 the results of the operations of the large staff of explorers in the Departments of the 

 Interior and the Geological Survey would be of the greatest possible value in bringing 

 to the knowledge of Canada and the world at large, the extent, physical features and 

 resources of our own country, and would thus make widely known a vast store of infor- 

 mation much of which is now locked up in the Archives of the several Departments, or 

 appears from time to time in some blue book, in which form, it is allowable to say, it 

 does not always receive the publicity it demands. In this way also could be made 

 known the most interesting points in connection with the life history of our insects, 

 birds, plants, fishes, etc., the development of our mineral resources, the geographical 

 structure of the country, or the elucidation of many problems of a more strictly 

 scientific character ; while the discussion of literary subjects could also be taken up 

 and our most important lectures permanently recorded. For all this we have a store 

 of information and a staff of workers in this city unsurpassed anywhere on this 

 continent. At the present time, however, owing to lack of facilities for publication 

 here, many papers of great value are written for and published in foreign journals, 

 either in England or in the United States, and consequently Canada is. to a large 

 extent, deprived of the credit she should receive in this connection. Much of the 

 proposed improvement in existing conditions could be brought about if a scheme of 

 centralization and fusion of all our forces could be effected. 



I trust I have not wearied your patience by too lengthy explanation of this 

 scheme, and I hope the time is not far distant when some of Our hopes or dreams in 

 this direction m\y be realized. In the m^antim^, on the part of the Literary and 

 Scientific Society of Ottawa, I most cordially welcome you all to the present 

 conversazione, and trust that this hall will be well filled at each subsequent meeting 

 of the joint course of lectures throughout the present season. 



