XX ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
fifteen years he never failed to attend the meetings of the Society, 
contribute to its Transactions, and participate in the discussions of the 
geological and biological section, of which he was the most prominent 
member. The Secretary of the Society who was associated with him 
from its foundation, can testify to the assistance and sympathy he met 
from his friend and teacher in the work of the Society at times when 
he had much need of encouragement and advice. Before Sir William 
Dawson died he had the satisfaction of knowing that the Society had 
overcome the many difficulties which naturally surrounded it during 
its infancy, and was at least able to take a useful and important posi- 
tion among the scientific and literary institutions of the present day. 
The members of the Society cannot pay a higher tribute to the memory 
of this able Canadian than by continuing their efforts—to quote the 
thoughtful words of his presidential address—to carry, out the plan on 
which it was originally established “in the most perfect manner pos- 
sible, with a regard not to personal, party, or class views, but to the 
great interests of Canada and its reputation before the world.” We 
should prove ourselves “first unselfish and zealous literary and scien- 
tific men, and next Canadians in that widest sense of the word in which 
we shall desire, at any personal sacrifice, to promote the best interests 
of our country, and this in connection with a pure and elevated litera- 
ture, and a true, profound and practical science.” 
Sir James David Edgar 
Was one of the latest acquisitions to the ranks of the Society, but 
unhappily he was unable, on account of failing health and pressing 
duties as Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada, to contribute 
to the Transactions. It was with pride that he accepted his unanimous, 
election to an association in whose work he had for years taken a deep 
interest. Although engaged in the practice of law, and in the absorb- 
ing profession of politics, he found in the cultivation of letters that 
relaxation which was most congenial to his cultured intellect. Both 
he and Lady Edgar devoted much attention to the study of Canadian 
History. The latter has published a volume entitled “Ten Years of 
Upper Canada in Peace and War (1805-1815),” in which the editorial 
comments on the valuable letters which the book chiefly contains are 
distinguished by great accuracy, and lucidity of style. Sir James 
Edgar wrote a number of essays in the periodicals of the day, and also 
annotated several important Canadian statutes of considerable value 
to his profession, but his principal claim to membership in the Royal 
Society rested on his poems, which, though few, are declared by no less 
an authority than Dr. Frechette to be distinguished “by elevation of 
