PROCEEDINGS FOR 1886. VII 
little has been done, likewise, in the way of taking heel-ball impressions from monumental inscrip- 
tions. The writer would take this opportunity to recommend that some one should undertake a set 
of the more interesting Canadian inscriptions, of which there are many of value in the churches and 
graveyards. The process is the simple one of laying a piece of white “lining-paper” (which any 
wall-paper dealer sells) over the inscription and rubbing across the surface with shoemaker’s heel- 
ball. Indeed, to make a broad suggestion, every family ought to possess a set of these simple records 
pertaining to itself. I shall close my sketch of our year’s work by adding that material is being 
collected by our Secretary, Mr. Bowe, for a projected description of the coats-ofarms of French 
Canadian seigniorial families, 

IJ.—From the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec, through Dr. Jon Harper :— 
As I predicted last year, in making my report as delegate from the Literary and Historical 
Society of Quebec to the Royal Society of Canada, the efforts of our President, George Stewart, Jun., 
to place our Society more directly in line with the literary activity of to-day have been attended by 
the most favorable results. A greater interest has been taken in the various departments of our 
work, and in none more so than in the reading of papers and in the arrangements for a course of 
lectures. The latter particularly have been a great success, the various lecturers having been greeted 
by large audiences, consisting of the members of the Society and the citizens of Quebec. Though 
our finances are not altogether yet in a sufficiently flourishing condition to enable the Society to 
resume its work of publishing papers and original documents, arrangements were made whereby a 
printed Report of our Transactions has been issued; and in the name of the Society, I have much 
pleasure in presenting the Council of the Royal Society with a copy of this Report, wherein will be 
found the record of the Society’s proceedings for the past three years, and a reprint of the “Histoire 
du Canada,” by Abbé de Belmont—a memoir which was first published by our Society in 1840 from 
the original MS, in the Bibliothéque du Roi at Paris. The various papers and lectures which have 
been received by the Society, as may be seen from the printed Report, are as follows :— 
Noy. 19, The Administration of de Denonville and the Second Term of Frontenac: Inaugural 
Address, by the President, Dr. Stewart. 
Dec. 3. A Yeur’s Experience among the Eskimos in Hudson Strait, by Mr. W. A. Ashe. 
Dec. 11. Burmah and the Indo-China Territory in its connection with the Canadian Pacific 
Railway, by Lieut.-Col. W. Rhodes. 
Dec. 18. Impressions de voyage, sir Walter Scott, sa carrière, ses écrits, son château d’Abbots- 
ford, by Mr. J. M. LeMoine. 
Dec. 30. Une course dans le nord de l'Afrique, by the Hon, Justice Routhier. 
« Jan. 29. Quebec and Literature, by Dr. John M. Harper. 
Feb. 12. Historic Glimpses in the Old World, by Rev. Dr. Mathews. 
Feb. 19. The Origin of the Saguenay, by Abbé J. C. K. Laflamme. 
Feb. 26. Hudson Strait, by Mr. W. A. Ashe. 
March 12. Stories of Coast Life, and Description of some of the least known and most interesting 
Fish of Canada, by Mr. J. U. Gregory. 
March 19. Railways and Waterways, by Mr. Joseph Shehyn. 
Our membership includes at the present time about two hundred and thirty names, and a Com- 
mittee has been appointed to secure additional members, in order to place the Society in a sound 
financial position. During the year, twenty-four new members have been elected, while twelve of the 
old members have withdrawn. Six of our most highly esteemed members died during the year, viz., 
William Darling Campbell, Ninian Davidson, E. C. Burke, William Home, Michael Stevenson and 
Dr. Jackson. His Excellency the Marquis of Landsdowne, Governor-General of Canada, was elected 
