PEOCEEDIXGS FOE 1891. Ill 



have delivered before the Societies, whose work is already annually given in the Transactions. If 

 this idea finds favour, it is proposed that the first statement aptpear in the next volume, if members 

 will lose no time in giving the Secretary the information he desires." 



The vacancies that have for some time existed in the Second and Third Sections have not yet 

 been filled up. In accordance with the rules, the nomination of Professor Capijon, of Queen's Univer- 

 sity, was made for the vacancy in the Section of English Literature, but he did not receive anything 

 like the two-thirds vote necessary to elect him. In the Section of Mathematical, Physical and 

 Chemical Sciences there were five nominations to fill three vacancies, viz. : — 



T. C. Keefer, CE., C.M.G. Dr. Salluste Duval, M.A. 



Dr. W. L. Goodwin. Dr. W. II. Ellis. 



M. de Foville. 



Of these five gentlemen, three received nine each, viz., Di\ Ellis, Dr. Goodwin and Mi: Keefer. 

 M. de Foville received eight, and Dr. Duval five votes. 



Under all the circumstances the Council simply report the facts for the consideration of the 

 Society, but they must, at the same time, call attention to the unsatisfactory character of the rule 

 under whose operation the vacancies in the Third Section have not been filled up for three years. No 

 attempt has been made in any section to carry out the provisions of the amendment of last session, 

 which permits the election of an additional member each year, until the number of a section reaches 

 its maximum of twenty-five Fellows. It is certainly inexpedient that difl&culties should be created to 

 prevent the bringing in, whenever necessary, of men engaged in active intellectual work throughout 

 the Dominion, whose cooperation will be found of service to the Society. The object of the Society is 

 to make itself, as far as possible, the centre of the best literary and scientific thought of Canada, and 

 if it is to succeed in this way it must have the earnest aid of all workers in this country. 



During the meeting of 1890, the Eoyal Society had the honour of communicating a resolution to 

 His Excellency the Governor- General, asking him to take such steps as might be necessary to secure 

 the cooperation of the Astronomer Eoyal at Greenwich in a telegraphic determination of the exact 

 longitude of Montreal. His Excellency interested himself actively in this project, and Her Majesty's 

 Government has assented to'the Eoyal Observatory taking part in the undertaking, as the following 

 communication from the Colonial OfSce indicates : — 



JJord Knutsford to Lord Stanley of Preston. 



Copy. 



Canada. ' Downing Street, 24th December, 1890. 



No. 245. 



My Lord, — With reference to your despatch No. 107 of the 2nd of June last, relating to the wish 

 of the Eoyal Society of Canada to secure the cooperation of the Astronomer Eoyal at Greenwich in 

 the matter of the determination of the exact longitude of Montreal, I am directed by Lord Knutsford 

 to ti'ansmit to you, for communication to your Government, copies of a letter from the Astronomer 

 Eoyal, and of one from the Board of Admiralty, from which it will be seen that Her Majesty's Gov- 

 ernment have assented to the Eoyal Observatory joining in the undertaking, 



I have, etc., 



Knutsford. 

 The Governor-General. 



