PROCEEDINGS FOR 1S96 XXXIII 



The officers for tluî present year are as follow : 

 President, Prof T). P. Penhallow. 

 First Vice-President, Mrs. Eobert Reid. 

 Second Vice-President, Mr. McLaren. 

 Secretary, Miss C. M. Derick. 

 Treasurer, Mr. Mulock. 



Ladies' Committee — Miss Blanche Macdonnell, Mrs. K. Boissevain, 

 Mrs. Deacon, Mrs. Stroud and 3Iiss Derick. 



II. — From The Elgin Misturical and Scientific In^titute^ throu^-h 

 Dr. J. G. BouRiNOT, C.M.G. 



The past year has borne fruit with us in important historical work. 

 Since our last report the tirst volume of our transactions has appeared, 

 entitled " Historical Sketches of the County of Elgin." This consists of 

 three general sketches of our history under the sub-titles : 



(a) " The Country of the Neutrals." being a slcetch of exploration 

 from Champlain to Talbot, by James H. Coyne, B.A. 



(6) " The Talbot Settlement," being a slcetch of its founder, and his 

 plan of settlement, by C. O. Krmatinger, Q.C., junior judge of the 

 County of Elgin. 



(c) ■' The Development of the County of Elgin." being a municipal 

 history, by K. W. McKay, county clerk. 



The articles are accompanied by reprints of Galinee's map of 1670, 

 and of the map of the county of Elgin ; portrait!? of the Hon. Thomas 

 Talbot, founder of the settlement, and Thomas Locker, tirst warden of 

 the county, and by other historical memoranda. 



The cost of printing and binding was generously defrayed by the 

 county council, whose example may well be followed by others through- 

 out the province and dominion. 



After the publication of the general history it was considered advis- 

 able by the council of the institute to publish short histories of sections of 

 the county, so as to preserve as complete a record of the pioneers as is 

 practicable. With a public spirit and liberality worthy of emulation, 

 Mr. James S. Brierley, editor and proprietor of the St. Thomas Evening 

 Journal, at once proposed to the society to present prizes, at his expense, 

 for the best local histories ; a silver medal for each school section (more 

 than lOU in number), and a gold medal for each township. The prizes 

 are awarded by the council of the institute, and the papers published in 

 Mr. Brierley's newspaper. Mr. Brierley has added to the institute's 

 obligation by printing off, in book form, a number of copies of each paper 

 for the use of the institute. The papers are illustrated by a large num- 

 ber of portraits of the pioneers and early settlers, and outline maps ot 

 early settlements. More than seventy j^apers have already been sent in ; 



Proc. 1896. c. 



