154 Natural History Society of Montreal. 



the value of science and literature, and who, though they did not 

 devote themselves to this pursuit, yet derived considerable grati- 

 fication from them. One of the reminiscences of his youth relat- 

 ed to a time when Griffintown contained but a single house, that 

 of Mr. Robert Griffin. That gentleman used to assemble his 

 friends — and he (Dr. H.) as a youth considered it a great privi- 

 lege to be allowed to be present — to hear recitations of Shaks- 

 peare. Now, as recitations of Shakspeare even at this advanced 

 period and in the metropolis of the world could draw large 

 audiences, he thought Canadians were not then so very far back 

 as Dr. Hall's books probably stated they were. (Laughter.) They 

 had even societies at that time amongst them. He belonged to 

 one which had existed before the Natural History Society, and 

 which was styled the Literary and Philosophical Society of 

 Montreal. This Society lasted for a year or two ; the members 

 got tired of it, the meetings were not attended, and it was broken 

 up. Some slight collections male by it, however, formed a germ 

 for the subsequent organization of the Natural History Society, 

 which commenced its operations in the year 1827, on the 12th 

 of May. To give it stability, it was determined that one of the 

 leading objects should be the formation of a collection illustrating 

 Natural Science. To one who, like him, had been engaged in 

 originating the Society, it was exceedingly gratifying to witness 

 such a museum as was displayed in this building to-night. (Ap_ 

 plause.) The Society met at first in a small room, over a book- 

 seller's shop in St. Paul Street, and remained there for several 

 years until their collection became too large for their room. 

 They then removed to a building — now thrown down — between 

 the Banque du Peuple and the Montreal Bank. They remained 

 there for several years, and then they purchased the building from 

 which the Society had just now removed. At the meeting at 

 which the Society was finally organized on the 16th May, 1827, 

 there were 26 members present. Of these there were now only 

 three living in Montreal — the Rev. Dr. Mathieson, Hon. Judge 

 McCord, and himself. There was one other of these 26 original 

 members who was now living in Upper Canada. Whether there 

 might be others still living, who had left the city, he was not aware. 

 Dr. Holmes proceeded to L>;ive an interesting sketch of the subsequent 

 history of the Society, mentioning the names of several of its bene- 

 factors, and drawing a comparison between the liberality of the old 

 Lower Canadian Legislature and the strange conduct of the present 



