LXXVI ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
relative to a large number of French officers, who had emigrated from 
Canada at the time of the conquest. 
At Liège and at Metz, the archæologist found in the public libraries 
a few works relating to Canada. 
The “ Bibliothèque Nationale” in Paris, which is consulted by the 
learned men of every country, offered the Canadian delegate a rich mine 
for research, as well as the ‘ Archives Nationales ” and the Département 
de la marine. Here occur the most important and most numerous docu- 
ments bearing on the territories comprised under the name of Nouvelle- 
France )p:)193. 
At the department of foreign affairs, under the heading “ Americana,” 
in volumes i., 1i., 111.,1v., are found public documents of paramount interest 
on Canada and Acadia as early as 1629. 
There also occur, marked ‘“ England,” “ Rome,” “ St. Petersburgh,” 
manuscript volumes deeply interesting to the student of Canadian history. 
1881.—Among the topics alluded to by the archivist in his report for 
this year, may be noted various documents on Newfoundland ; on the 
protection of its fisheries from the inroads of the French, 1696-97 ; on the 
trade of the colony, 1705-6; on the number of vessels trading, with par- 
ticulars of the annoyances and hindrances the French caused to trade. A 
list of the chief harbours is also given, and we find a mention of ‘“ White- 
burne’s discourse on Canada,” also of a vocabulary of the language of the 
Newfoundland Indians; a general description of the province of Nova 
Scotia, and a report on the state of its defences by Lieut.-Col. Moore in 
1783 ; plans of different forts ; the journal of Sir Hovenden Walker’s unsuc- 
cessful attempt on Quebec in 1711. 
1882.—One of the subjects to which Mr. Brymner draws attention 
that year, is the urgency of enlarged space for the archives rooms, in 
order to classify and arrange separately, for the eight provinces consti- 
tuting the Dominion of Canada, the rapidly accumulating papers referring 
to each. 
“Tf,” says he, “lists of records of the different provinces in the 
possession of their respective governments were procured, they would be 
of the greatest use in proceeding with the work of this branch, and would 
assist very materially in furnishing information to historical investigators, 
who not unfrequently make inquiries as to the existence and plans of 
deposit of papers which they desire to consult.” 
We are next reminded by him of the wise policy of having one general 
collection of historical documents at the seat of the federal government, 
and one special at each province in its provincial capital. 
“The possession of records in duplicate is a guarantee, to a large 
extent, of their preservation from destruction by fire; experience has 
shown the risk from this cause.” 
An ample calendar follows, of letters and papers on the siege opera- 
