Natural History Society of Montreal. 153 



has told us that in hearing him he believed he listened to the 

 great Linnaeus. 



Pierre Boucher, of Boucherville, who was Governor of Three 

 Rivers, was equally remarkable for his integrity and magnanimity. 

 He was in the country 30 years, when he was deputed to go to 

 Louis the Fourteenth. He informs us that the great King was 

 delighted by his frank answers. He had been ennobled, however, 

 before that period. In 1663 he published a True Natural His- 

 tory of New France (Canada). Charlevoix said that that work 

 was superficial, yet people like to read it, because it informs them 

 of matters not now known. 



Honourable Mr. Chauveau, in conclusion, tendered his person- 

 al congratulations to the Society for the success which had 

 attended their efforts, as particularly marked in the inauguration 

 of the building. He resumed his seat loudly applauded. 



The President said it was matter for congratulation that they 

 had with them on this occasion some of the earlier members who 

 had to do with the origination of the Natural History Society. 

 He would now call upon Dr. Holmes, as one of those early mem- 

 bers, to address the meeting. (Applause.) 



Dr. Holmes said that modesty w r as a quality which met with, 

 general approbation, and after what they had heard this evening 

 he thought Canada possessed a considerable stock of it. They 

 had been living here for years past under the impression that 

 they had been little known to the rest of the w r orld, and that they 

 had been doing very little to make themselves worthy of being 

 known. But this evening they had the gratification and pride of 

 hearing that they w 7 ere in several points of view in advance of 

 the whole world. (Cheers and laughter.) He accepted with 

 great pleasure and gratification the statements which Professor 

 Hall had made in regard to this point, and he was sure it had 

 afforded them all great pleasure to hear that the labors of the 

 scientific men of this country were appreciated at a distance in 

 the manner they appeared to be. Dr. Holmes then proceeded to 

 sketch the progress of the Natural History Society from its origin 

 to the present day. It dated back, he said, to about the period 

 when Professor Hall w T as being taught that Canada produced 

 nothing but lumber and furs. At that time, though they did not 

 make any very great noise externally, he w r as aware there were a 

 number of men in Canada, who, though placed in unfavorable 

 circumstances for their cultivation, nevertheless fully appreciated 



