CXII ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
paper read in section two, to be published in the Transactions of the 
present vear ; 
‘That the plan proposed by Mr. Howland in no way clashes with 
the preceding recommendation of your committee ; the scheme is one of 
a broad national character, which the Royal Society should approve and 
support with its sanction and encouragement ; 
‘“ Your committee therefore recommend that delegates be appointed 
to represent the Royal Society in any body which may be organized for 
the purposes of getting up a grand national historical exposition to com- 
memorate the discovery of the continent of America in 1497, and that the 
delegates shall have no power to commit the society to any definite plan, 
but shall report at the next annual meeting.” 
The following resolutions were adopted : 
Moved by Dr. Sandford Fleming, seconded by Sir William Dawson, 
(1.) “ Resolved, That having reference to the unification of the 
nautical, astronomical and civil days, so that all may begin everywhere at 
midnight as contemplated by the sixth resolution of the Washington 
International Conference of 1884, and to the present state of the question as 
set forth in the accompanying memorandum, and having reference to the 
views of astronomers that the proposal can, with least difficulty, be carried 
into effect on the first day of January, 1901, and to the necessity of 
nautical ephemerides being prepared several years in advance, the Royal 
Society desires to express the opinion that it is in the interests of science 
and seamen in all parts of the world that a final determination be speedily 
reached, and hereby requests the council, in the name and on behalf of 
the society, to adopt such measures as may be considered expedient to 
bring about the desired result.” 
(2.) “ Resolved, That the committee, with respect to the Cabot cele- 
bration in 1897, be further empowered to make full inquiries into the 
subject and submit a full report thereon at the next meeting.” (On 
motion of Archbishop O’Brien, seconded by Principal Grant.) 
(3.) “ Resolved, That Dr. Bourinot, Rev. Dr. Clark, Principal Grant, 
Lieut.-Col. Denison, Dr. Ellis, Dr. Sandford Fleming and Prof. Ramsay 
Wright, be nominated delegates to represent the society in any body 
which may be organized to promote a great historical exposition at 
Toronto in 1897, and that said delegates shall report at the next annual 
meeting.” (Moved and seconded as in previous motion.) 
The following notice of motion was referred to the council with power 
to inquire into the whole subject of election of members, on the under- 
standing that the decision of the council (if any) should be communicated 
to the members of the society before the next general meeting : 
“That in any contest for the election of fellows, should no candidate 
receive the requisite number of votes, the council may elect such mem- 
