XXXIV ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
arrearages resulted in the striking off from the roll of quite a number of 
names; but it is satisfactory to note that the real membership and the 
success of the society has been in no wise impaired. The removal of the 
names of those who have shown lack of interest in the Society has in 
reality strengthened it, and there has been a substantial net increase in 
the Society’s membership of 22. That the Society has gained in strength 
and in the active prosecution of its aims is shown in various ways. The 
financial condition of the Society has improved, the winter course of 
lectures instead of being carried on at a loss has not only paid its ex- 
penses, but has shown a satisfactory surplus. The shelves of the library 
have been enriched by an unusually large addition of books in all depart- 
ments of literature and science. Special note must of necessity be made 
to the fine series of valuable works added to the library by means of the 
generous donation of $100 made by Mr. Thomas Ahearn, of Ottawa, for 
the purchase of books. Through the instrumentality of the ex-Presi- 
dent, Mr. Otto Klotz, this generous gift made it possible for the Society 
to secure a splendid series of selected, and in many cases, costly works 
for the use of the members. All branches of literature have received 
new accessions and the library has been rendered of even increased value 
to the students of history, art, science, and general literature. The 
reading room, supplied with a varied selection of serials and the best cur- 
rent reading matter, continues to be a valuable factor in the Society’s work. 
It should be mentioned that amongst the papers and dissertations 
read on the lecture evenings during the winter, a number were of a 
specially original and technical character. In this way the Society by 
its ordinary educational work is aiming to add its quota to the 
increase of knowledge and research. These papers are designed, 
indeed to form the second number of the Transactions of the 
Society. They are-now in the hands of a sub-committee and will be 
published with plates and other illustrations very shortly. It cannot be 
denied that success has attended the effort to stimulate the members of 
the society to present original and technical papers of permanent value, 
embodying new studies and investigations, and in this way add to 
Canada’s contributions to science and literature. The first part of the 
society’s published proceedings was widely circulated, and realized in no 
mean measure the hope of the then President (Mr. Otto Klotz) that the 
first instalment of the ‘ Transactions’ of the society may serve a useful 
purpose, and prove to le a prelude to a long series of substantial contri- 
butions to the literary and scientific work of the Dominion of Canada. 
Societies and academies all over the world with which this society has 
exchanged its Transactions, have shown their appreciation of the pro- 
ceedings published by this society. 
