PROCEEDINGS FOR 1891. V 



at the time of the American determination, it is deemed of great importance that an effort should at 

 once be made to remove the doubt referred to. 



2. The Department of Marine, more particularly, is interested in the worlï, as it affects naviga- 

 tion. The accurate determination of a ship's position at sea, and, therefore, often the safety of the 

 ship depend on the clironometer. The error of the chronometer has always to be ascertained in 

 leaving a Canadian port by reference to the local time, and the longitude of place referred to Green- 

 wich. This Canadian longitude again is determined by reference to the longitude of the base station, 

 such as Montreal or Harvard Observatory, hence the necessity for extreme accuracy for the base 

 station. 



3. The object to be attained is not only of Canadian but of Imperial, and not only of Imperial 

 but of International importance. 



The following is a summary of the facilities at present offered for the undertaking (including 

 those already mentioned above) : — 



1. A grant of £650 stg. from the Imperial Treasury. 



2. The aid of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, with instruments and observers. 



3. The free use of the cable and telegraph lines of the C. P. R. Telegra])h Co. (This has been 

 promised.) 



4. The aid of the McGill University, Montreal, with instruments and observers. 



All that is farther reijuired is a grant from the Dominion Government similar to that given by 

 the Imperial Government for special instruments and general expenses. The amount estimated as 

 necessary is $2,000. 



The Honourable Charles H. Tupper, Minister of Marine, it is satisfactory to learn, has fully 

 appreciated the importance of carrying out the scheme to a successful completion, and in answer to 

 the memorial of the Society has written that he has brought the subject to the attention of His 

 Excellency the Govcrnor-General-in-Council with a view to its consideration in the preparation of the 

 estimates to be laid before Parliament. 



In answer to the hosj)itable invitation of the members of the Natural History Society, and of 

 other citizens of Montreal, the Council of the Royal Society, last autumn, made all the arrangements 

 possible on their part for the present meeting. A joint committee of all the Fellows resident in 

 Montreal, and of the members of the local committee, was at once formed to accomplish the objects in 

 view. The interesting little volume issued under the auspices of the Montreal committee furnishes 

 not only a brief sketch of the work of the Royal Society, but other information necessary for Fellows, 

 delegates and associate members who are to take j)art in the proceedings. Invitations to the meeting 

 have been issued on behalf of the Society to a number of eminent men engaged in scientific and 

 literary pursuits in Europe and America. Among those so invited were the Marquis of Lome, the 

 founder of the Society, and several distinguished gentlemen connected with the French Academy, 

 who are corresponding members of the Society. It is to be regretted that none of these gentlemen 

 could possibly attend on this occasion, but all of them have sent letters of regret, in which they 

 express their warm appreciation of the work of the Society, and earnestly wish it every success : — 



Kensington Palace, Kensington, March 13, 1891. 



Gentlemen, — I have to-day received j^our most kindly invitation to be at Montreal for the meet, 

 ing of the Royal Society in May, and to my great grief can only thank you, and say wiih what sorrow 

 it is that I cannot be with you. 



Duties on this side of the water tie me down, and I can only be with you in thought and 

 sympathy. 



