XX VI ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
The annual excursion was held on the 17th June, 1899, at St. Annes, 
the rapids near which, it is generally supposed, were the subject of one 
of Moore’s melodies, and a visit was paid to the ruins of Fort Senneville, 
situated on the grounds of Mr. E. 8. Clouston, General Manager of the 
Bank of Montreal, who courteously placed them at the disposal of the 
Society. This ancient fortified mansion was built by M. Le Ber de 
Senneville, first about in 1687, and rebuilt in 1693, and after standing 
several sieges by Indians, was finally destroyed by the forces of the re- 
volting provinces during their invasion of Canada in 1775. 
The Antiquarian continues to be issued by the Society and records 
the transactions and articles laid before it. 
The Society is particularly happy in having been able to secure 
from the city of Montreal for a nominal rental, the Chateau de Ramzay, 
one of the few remaining residences of French noblesse and, as it 
happens, particularly rich in historic memories. The building was 
erected about 1705 by the then Governor of Montreal, M. Claude de 
Ramzay. At his death it passed into the hands of La Compagnie des 
Indres. At the cession of the country it became the official residence of 
the English Governors. From it Lord Amherst made his way by canoe 
to Quebec just in time to avoid capture by the army of Montgomery, who - 
with his officers took possession. In its vaults Benjamin Franklin, who 
accompanied the army, set up a printing press from which were sent 
forth proclamations to the inhabitants endeavouring to seduce them 
from their allegiance to the British Crown; he also issued a newspaper 
the succession to which remains to us in the shape of the Montreal 
Gazette. Here Lord Elgin fought the fight of Responsible Government 
at no small risk to his life; and while it would be impossible to enumer- 
ate the numerous prominent and distinguished persons who have enjoyed 
its hospitality, still among them I might mention another Franklin—Sir 
John of that name, the celebrated and ill-fated Arctic explorer. Within 
its walls the Society has accumulated a wealth of historic treasures bear- 
ing on the social and industrial phases of the country in the past, illus- 
trating both for the scholar and others interested in the growth of the 
country, the refinement of the gentry and ingenious resources of the in- 
habitants and settlers of former days. The ladies branch have had two 
of the rooms fitted up, one as a salon and the other as the living-room 
of a farmer or well-to-do member of the working classes. Here they have 
their reunions from time to time. 
The Chateau was visited on the 7th October last by Mr. Herbette, 
Conseiller @’Etat of France, who attended a reception given by the mem- 
bers and exhibited a lively interest in various antiquities relating to this 
a former colony of France. 
