PROCEEDINGS FOR 1882. NAT 
Allow me to present to you a few thoughts bearing on this aspect of our position, and, in doing so, 
to confine myself chiefly to the side of science, since my friend Dr. Chauveau, who is to follow, is so 
much better able to lay it before you from the literary point of view. 
Young though our country is, we are already the heirs of the labours of many eminent workers 
in science, who have passed away or have been removed from this country. In geology, the names 
of Bigsby, Bayfield, Baddeley, Logan, Lyell, Billings, Hector and Isbister, will occur to all who have 
studied the geological structure of Canada, and there are younger men like McOuat and Hartley, too 
early snatched away, who have left behind them valuable records of their labours. In botany and 
zoology we can point to Michaux, Pursh, Hooker, Shepherd, Bourgeau, Douglas, Menzies, Richardson, 
Lord and Brunet. These are but a few of the more eminent labourers in the natural history of this 
country, without mentioning the many living workers who still remain to it; and were it the object of 
this Society merely to collect and reproduce and bring up to date what these older men have done, it 
would have no small task before it. But to this we have to add the voluminous reports of the Geolo- 
gical Survey, and the numerous papers and other publications of the men who are still with us. In 
natural science we thus have a large mass of accumulated capital on which to base our future opera- 
tions, along with an unlimited scope for further researches. 
The older men among us know how much has been done within the lifetime of the present 
generation. When as a young man I began to look around for means of scientific education, there 
was no regular course of natural science in any of our colleges, though chemistry and physics were 
already taught in some of them. There were no collections in geology or natural history except the 
private cabinets of a few zealous workers. The Geological Survey of Canada had not then been 
thought of. There were no special schools of practical science, no scientific libraries, no scientific 
publications, and scarcely any printed information accessible. In these cireumstances, when I pro- 
posed to devote myself to geological pursuits, I had to go abroad for means of training not then equal 
to that which can now be obtained in many of our Canadian colleges. Nor at that time were there 
public employments in this country to which a young geologist or naturalist could aspire. It is true 
this was more than forty years ago, but in looking back it would seem but as yesterday, were not these 
years marked by the work that has been done, the mass of material accumulated and the scientific 
institutions established within that time. Those who began their scientific work in these circum— 
stances may be excused for taking somewhat hopeful views as to the future. 
Perhaps at present the danger is that we may be content to remain in the position we have 
reached, without attempting anything farther; and, however inconsistent this may be, it is easy to 
combine the fear that any movement in advance may be rash and premature, with the self-satisfied 
belief that we have already advanced so far that little remains to be attained. We must bear in 
mind, however, that we have still much to do to place us on a level with most other countries. With 
the exception of the somewhat meagre grants to the Geological Survey and to the Meteorological 
Service, the Government of Canada gives nothing in aid of scientific research. What is done for 
scientific education by local societies must, under our system, be done by the separate Provinces, and 
is necessarily unequal and imperfect. Few large endowments have been given for scientific purposes. 
We have had no national society or association comparable with those in other countries. Yet we 
are looking forward to a great future. Wealth and population are moving rapidly onward, and the 
question is whether culture of the higher grade shall keep pace with the headlong rush of material 
progress. Various elements may enter into the answer of this question, but undoubtedly the forma- 
tion of such a society as this is one of these of the utmost importance ; and, even though at the present 
time the project may fail of success or be only partially effective (of which, however, I have no 
apprehension), it must be renewed till finally enabled to establish itself. 
Another consideration bearing on this question is the vastness of the territory which we possess, 
and for the scientific development of which we have assumed the responsibility. Canada comprises 
one-half of the great North American continent, reaching for three thousand miles from east to west, 
