XXVm EOYAL SOCIETt OP CANADA. 



of native literary tastes and historical rcscai'uli, jjcrhai^s even in promoting the universal feeling 

 which has greeted the efforts of the Marquis of Lome in forming this Royal Canadian institution, 

 that the oldest literary society in Quebec scndeth greeting to the Eoyal Society of Canada. 



The Literary and Historical Society of Quebec, while resembling to some extent the Eoyal So- 

 ciety in its origin, differs from it at least in one respect. The Eoyal Society has its tendencies all 

 turned towards the j)rosj)ect of a brilliant future, — a future which I think every one is ready to 

 admit has been assured by the character of the first issue of its Transactions, which, I may say, forms 

 at the present moment one of the most attractive volumes in our library at Quebec, and for which I 

 have instructions to tender to this Society the thanks of our Council. The Eoyal Society has a bright 

 future, while the Literary and History Society of Quebec has perhaps onljr its past to contemplate. 

 There are no less than three memoirs of our Society in print; altogether there is material enough 

 in connection with its internal history to make up an interesting paper, worthy of the pages of the 

 Transactions of the Eoyal Society. As delegate, however, I have only to make my report for the 

 year, being content to remark that a full guarantee is given of the dignity of our Society in 

 some of the names which are to be found upon its roll, — such names as Garneau, the historian ; Abbe 

 Home, the geographer ; Admiral Bayfield, the hydrogra2:)her ; Chauveau, the educationist ; Sewell, the 

 jurist ; LeMoine, the antiquarian ; Dr. Anderson and Dr. Douglas. It would be a very pleasant and 

 easy task to give an account of the work of oiu- Society under the auspices of such distinguished 

 members, for it is all on record; but my present duty is merely to read the following very simple 

 Eeport of last year's work. 



Our annual meeting was held, as usual, in January, and from the Eeports read on that occasion 

 the following facts may be gleaned. Three of our most prominent members died during the year, 

 namely, Mr. H. S. Scott, one of the oldest, most zealous, and devoted members, and for several years 

 one of our Vice-Presidents; Dr. James Sewell, a life member; and Judge Alleyn. There were in all 

 sixteen resignations, some of them caused by the removal of the members from our city, while 

 twenty new members were elected and five names enrolled as corresponding members. At the 

 public meetings of the Society, the following papers were read : — " Great Explorers before Colum- 

 bus," by John Eeade, Montreal ; " The Origin and Development of the Greek Drama," by John 

 Harper, Quebec ; " The Genius and Life-work of Longfellow " and " The Eégime of Fron- 

 tenac," by George Stewart, jun, ; " A Visit to Naples," by the Hon. D. A. Eoss, President of the 

 Society; and "Evolution in the French Language," by Frederick de Kastner, Quebec. In the 

 the month of February, the Society had the pleasure and privilege of listening to Mr. Matthew 

 Arnold, who delivered atone of our public gatherings his lecture on "Literature and Science." 

 An addition of over two hundred volumes has been made to our Library, which has to some extent 

 been rearranged so that greater facility in finding books in the various departments has been aiforded 

 to those who make use of the books on the premises. Valuable additions have also been made to our 

 collections in the Museum; and in their Eeport the Council urge the necessity of increased accom- 

 modation for specimens in Natural History, etc. 



In the matter of finances, I am sorry to report that wo are at present in danger of losing our 

 government grant, or of having that grant curtailed. Should we really be dejjrived of this source of 

 revenue, we shall have to forego, to a large extent, the work which the noble founder of our Society 

 proposed that it should accomplish. In his excellent memoir, M. Louis P. Turcotte remarks that though 

 one of the objects of the Literary and Ilistoi-ical Society of Quebec, was the advancement of Literary 

 and Scientific culture, yet it had also in view the collecting of historical materials and the transla- 

 tion of rare MSS. and historical woj-ks; and one has only to read a list of the works which have 

 been published by the Society from time to time, to see that it has been faithful to its early promises. 

 Without our grant from Government, however, one is hardly able to predict what the future of our 

 Society will be. 



The following is a list of our Officers for the current year: — 



