PROCEEDINGS— APPENDIX A A-7 



APPENDIX I. 



Memorial to His Excellency the (xovernor General from the lioyal 

 Society of Canada. {April 27th., ISOG.) 



To His Excellency the Earl of Aberdeen, Governor-General of Caniid.i. 



The memorial of the Eoyal Society of Canada 



Humbly Sheweth : 



That the Eoyal Society of Canada has repeatedly- had under 

 consideration the unification of the nautical, astronomical and civil da^s, 

 so that all may be in agreement and begin everywhere at imdnight, 

 as contemplated by the sixth resolution of the International Prime 

 Meridian Conference held at Washington in the year 1884. 



That for many years Canadian scientific societies have taken a 

 leading part in the general movement for reforming the system of time- 

 reckoning throughovit the world. 



That the Canadian Institute was the first society to promulgate the 

 system of Standard Time-reckoning which has been adopted in whole or 

 in part in various countries in each of the continents. 



That the International Conference of 1884 is an outcome of cttorts, 

 in which Canada took part, to establish a time-zero which would be 

 common to all nations. 



That the sixth resolution of the International Conference of 1884 

 has not yet been adopted, and its adoption would be of advantage to 

 navigation and commerce in all future generations. 



That astronomers in all parts of the world have been consulted 

 by circular sent out by the Canadian societies, and it has been learned 

 that a majority of astronomers heard from in the following countries 

 are in favour of unification being carried into effect on the first day of 

 January, 1901, viz., in Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, 

 England, France, Greece, Italy, Ireland, West Indies, Madagascar 

 Mexico, Eoumania, Eussia, Scotland, Spain and the United States. 



That the shipping of these countries embraces 85 per cent of the 

 tonnage of the world's marine. 



That nautical almanacs are prepared several years in advance and as 

 they would be somewhat afffected by the adoption of the sixth resolution 

 referred to, in order that it may take effect at the change of the 

 century, it will be necessary so to determine without much further 

 delay. 



