PROCEEDINGS FOR 1882. Vs 
The Society then adjourned to meet in sections for the purpose of organization and the reading 
and discussion of papers previous to the 
Formal Opening of the Session. 
At 4 p.m. the Society assembled in the Senate Chamber, a large number of ladies and gentlemen 
of the city of Ottawa being also present. His Excellency the Governor-General having entered the 
chamber, followed by the Council of the Society, the members of the Society were presented to him, 
after which he addressed the Society as follows : 
Gentlemen—These few words I do not address to you, presuming to call myself one of your 
brotherhood, either in science or literature, but I speak to you as one whose accidental official 
position may enable him to serve you, persuaded as I am that the furtherance of your interests is for 
the benefit and honour of Canada. Let me briefly state the object aimed at in the institution of this 
Society. Whether it be possible that our hopes will be fulfilled according to our expectation, the 
near future will show. From the success which has attended similar associations in other lands, 
possessed of less spirit, energy and opportunity than our own, there is no reason to augur ill of the 
attempt to have here a body of men whose achievements may entitle them to recognize and encourage 
the appearance of merit in literature, and to lead in science and the useful application of its dis- 
coveries. It is proposed then that this Society shall consist of a certain number of members who 
have made their mark by their writings, whether these be of imagination or the study of nature. In 
one division our fellow-countrymen, descended from the stock of Old France, will discuss with that 
grace of diction and appreciation of talent which are so conspicuous amongst them, all that may affect 
their literature and the maintenance of the purity of that grand language from which the English is 
largely derived. They will know how to pay compliments to rising authors, and how with tact and 
courtesy to crown the aspirants to the honours they will bestow. Among English men of letters the 
grant of such formal marks of recognition by their brethren has not as yet become popular or usual, 
and it may be that it never will be customary. On the other hand it surely will be a pleasure to a 
young author, if, after a perusal of his thoughts, they who are his co-workers and successful precursors 
in the wide domain of poetry, of fiction, or of history, should see fit to award him an expression of 
thanks for his contribution to the intellectual delight or to the knowledge of his time. They only, 
whose labours have met with the best reward—the praise of their contemporaries—can take the 
initiative in such a welcome to younger men; and whatever number may hereafter be elected to this 
Society, it is to be desired that no man be upon its lists who has not, by some original and complete 
work, justified his selection. The meeting together of our eminent men will contribute to unite on a 
common ground those best able to express the thoughts and illustrate the history of the time. It 
will serve to strengthen emulation among us, for the discussion of progress made in other lands must 
breed the desire to push the intellectual development of our own. We may hope that this union 
will promote the completion of the national collections which, already fairly representative in geology, 
may hereafter include archives, paintings, and objects illustrating ethnology and all branches of 
natural history. In science we have men whose names are widely known; and the vast field for 
study and exploration afforded by this magnificent country may be expected to reward by valuable 
discoveries the labours of the geologist and mineralogist. It would be out of place in these few 
sentences to detail the lines of research which have already engaged your attention. They will be 
spoken of in the record of your proceedings. | Among those the utility of which must be apparent to 
all, one may be particularly mentioned. I refer to the meteorological observations, from which have 
been derived the storm warnings which during the last few years have saved many lives. A 
comparatively new science has thus been productive of results known to all our population, and 
especially to seamen. Here I have only touched upon one or two subjects in the wide range of 
study which will occupy the time and thoughts of one half of your membership, devoted as two of 
your four sections will be to geological and biological sciences. It will be your province to aid and 
