454 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. X. 



tion to the institution, be granted, it owes more to him than to 

 any of its benefactors. 



And yet the remains of this man who did so much to mould 

 the early history of Montreal, when its society was still plastic, 

 planting- the seeds of goodwill and honor and truth in its virgin 

 soil, and who also is entitled to the credit of orisinatin^; two of the 

 most prominent and useful institutions in the city, lie to-day in 

 a nameless grave in Mount Royal Cemetery. They were first 

 deposited alongside those of the members of his family, who all 

 died before him, in the Protestant Burying Ground, on Dor. 

 Chester Street. His friend, Dr. AVilkie, to whom, as has been 

 seen, he left a handsome legacy, erected a very tasteful monu- 

 ment to his memory. But when the authorities of the city 

 resolved to convert the old place of burial into Dufferin Square, 

 a proceeding against which a good many minds revolted, no 

 delicacy of sentiment was shown in carrying the resolution into 

 effect ; and in the general demolition of monuments which fol- 

 lowed, the beautiful memorial which Dr. Wilkie's friendship had 

 dedicated to Mr. Somerville's memory was so injured before the 

 attention of any person interested in its preservation was called to 

 the matter, that it could not be re-erected except at a cost such as 

 would almost suffice to replace it with a new one. As St. Gab- 

 riel Church profited by Mr. Somerville's generosity, I felt called 

 upon, in the absence of any kindred of his left in the country, to 

 take action and have his remains removed to Mount Royal Ceme- 

 tery. A few members of St. Gabriel congregation subscribed 

 about $100, and a very eligible lot was procured in a prominent 

 position, and there, we trust, his bones will lie undisturbed until 

 the resurrection. But, while there are on all hands granite and 

 marble monuments over the graves of citizens of less account, is 

 it fitting that the last resting place of one who so well deserved 

 to be remembered by the community, should be unmarked by so 

 much as a marble slab? It may be said that he has erected his 

 own monument, one more lasting than brass, in the bequest that 

 he made to this society, the benefits of which to the citizens have 

 been pointed out; and in the still more distinguished public 

 charity, the General Hospital, the foundations of which he helped 

 to lay. But that he did his duty does not release us of the obli- 

 gation of doing ours. The citizens of Montreal are not likely to 

 be ungrateful. They will not forget their benefactors. The 

 people of St. Gabriel Church have already done a share of the 



