40 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Voj. viii. 



that we give a portion of it : "Whatever distinctions," said he, 

 " may be bestowed on us at a distance, it is upon the respect, 

 esteem, and confidence shewn us at home, that our happiness 

 and satisfaction must chiefly depend. I can assure you with 

 sincerity that the honor conferred upon me when you elected me 

 the first President of the Institute, was one highly prized, al- 

 though the circumstances of a distant domicile and the intent 

 pursuit of the investigations with which I am charged, rendered 

 it extremely difficult for me to be of much use in your proceed- 



1D gs It is a fortunate circumstance for me that 



my name should be connected with an act of grace on the part 

 of Her Majesty, which serves to confirm your feeling in regard 

 to the fact that as Canadians we enjoy a full share in the honors 

 and privileges of British subjects. And I am proud to think 

 that it was perhaps more because I was a Canadian, in whom 

 the inhabitants of the Province had reposed some trust, that 

 the honor which has been conferred upon me by Her Majesty 

 was so easily obtained. That I am proud of the honors which 

 have been bestowed upon me by the Emperor of France, in 

 respect to my geological labors, and also by my brother geolo- 

 gists in England, there can be no doubt. But I have striven for 

 these honors because I have considered they would tend to pro- 

 mote the confidence which the inhabitants of the Province have 

 reposed in me, in my endeavors to develop the truth in regard 

 to the mineral resources of the Province ; and in this work none 

 could have beeu more interested in my success than the mem- 

 bers of this Institute." * 



In August, 1857, the American Association for the Advance- 

 ment of Science held its annual meeting in Montreal, and for 

 several months previous Sir William was hard at work getting 

 his museum in readiness to receive his brother geologists. 

 Owing largely to his untiring exertions, the meeting was a most 

 successful one. He himself read two interesting papers, one on 

 the "Huronian and Laurentian Series of Canada,'' and another 

 on the "Subdivision of the Laurentian Rocks of Canada. 1 ' 

 After the business of the Association was concluded, accom- 

 panied by Professor Ramsay, who had come over to represent 

 the Geological Society of London, and Prof. Hall, he made a 

 Geological tour through New York State. Returning from this 



*Can. Journal, New Series, Vol. 1, p. 404. 



