PROCEEDINliS FOR 189() XXXI 



few miles, the pi-eeise spot upon whieh the banner of St. (Jeoî'ge was first 

 planted ; and, while your eommittee believe that the landfall was at the 

 easternmost point of Cape Breton, it is not probable that the exact apex 

 of that point was lighted upon after so long a voyage across an ocean of 

 darkness. Sydney would then, in their opinion, seem to be sufficiently 

 near the landfall, if the Cape Breton theory be adopted, and yet the 

 society will not be so absolutely bound to that theory as if they were to 

 erect a monument on the Cape itself. The Cape is an unfi'equented and 

 forgotten place. No one now lands on a point which was the rendezvous 

 of the fishing fleets of three hundred years ago, and one of two points 

 found on all the maps from 1504 down to the present moment. There 

 are many very well informed men, even in the maritime provinces, who 

 do not know of a real Cape Breton, which gives its name to the Isle 

 Royale of old Louisbourg days. The overjoyed courtier who, at an 

 anxious period of the old French war, ran to tell King George that Cape 

 Breton was an island was the prototype of a number of excellent people 

 who are discovering that the island is named after a cape, next to Cape 

 Race, the most ancient, and persistently known to mariners since the 

 veil of the western ocean was lifted. Sydney is the easternmost settle- 

 ment of any importance on the continent of America, and may, therefore, 

 rightly claim the monument to Cabot. 



Your committee have inquired into the matter, and find that a 

 simple and sufficient monument could be erected at a cost of $1,000 to 

 $1,800. Without in the least degree compromising the question or bind- 

 ing themselves, still less the society, to even an opinion, they obtained 

 tentative drawings, with approximate cost. It now remains for the 

 society to decide upon what is required and as to the amount it is 

 advisable to expend. The drawings are, in the committee's opinion, un- 

 suitable, but they are useful as a guide to the approximate cost of the 

 monument to be erected. The monument should be easily visible from 

 vessels entering the harbour, and an obelisk about twenty feet high 

 could be had for about $1,000, and would, in their opinion, be^more 

 suitable. 



Such mementos of great historic events often cost large sums, run- 

 ning up to many thousands of dollars, and without some definite starting- 

 point the subject could not be discussed. 



Your committee trust that this report will be sufficiently definite to 

 bring the whole question vip in such a way that it may be thoroughly 

 and intelligently discussed. If anything is to be done, it must be done 

 at this meeting. 



On motion the report was adopted. 



Moved by Dr. S. E. Dawson, seconded by Dr. George^ Stewart, — 

 " That the committee on the Cabot celebration be continued, and that 

 Mr. B. Suite and Capt. Deville be added thei'eto, with power to add to 



