XVIII ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
The plan of the fort at Annapolis Royal, which is reproduced on 
previous page, was enlarged by Mr. Harry Piers, the present curator, 
from a map of the town and district in MS. 74, an uncatalogued volume, 
added ta the collection since 1886. The index states that it was “copied 
from the original on file in the public.record office, London.” In one 
corner is an “explanation of the figure,” which runs as follows:— 
“Plan of Annapolis Royall and Fort the principall place of strenght 
in Nova Scotia in America, its situation is upon a tongue of land formed 
on the North-East Side by the river Dauphin, and on the South-East 
by a large Morras, in 44 degs. 25 minuts north latitude. Surrendered 
to Her Majesties armes under the command of the Hon. Col. Francis 
Nicholson after Eight dayes siege in October, 1710.” Enquiry at the 
Record Office as to the age, history, etc., of the map proved fruitless, 
but it is clearly to be dated about the time of the capture. The “ Ex- 
planation” has reference to the place “ where we landed our Cannon 
and ammonition,” and “The incampment of the severall Regiments.” 
The tracing shows the Vauban system of fortification, and preserves 
the original contour, before the ravelins were added to the south and 
east. 
It is to be hoped that the example of the Nova Scotia Historical 
Society will be followed by other associations in all the provinces. 
Very much could be done:in this direction in New Brunswick, where 
there are a large number of archives relating to the Loyalists, who 
founded that province, which ought to-be collected and published with 
the aid of private and public subscriptions. No doubt the most useful 
work that historical societies can perform is the preservation and 
publication of diaries and memoirs and other old documents which 
are in the possession of individuals or in provincial archives. 
The Ontario Historical Society has commenced to do good work in this 
way, and the same is true of the Lundy’s Lane Historical Society, who 
have recently issued the fourth part of the “ Documentary history of 
the campaign on the Niagara Frontier in 1812,” edited by Major E. 
Cruikshank, of Fort Erie. 
It is consequently with much satisfaction that the Council of the 
Royal Society has read the following communication, which the 
Honorary Secretary has very recently received from the Reverend W. O. 
Raymond, of St. John, New Brunswick, who has devoted himself for 
many years to the study of the history of the Loyalists, and is most 
competent to edit the important work to which he refers. 
By the joint assistance of the New Brunswick Historical Society 
and Mr. F. E. Winslow, of Chatham, N.B., we are having printed the 
