PROCEEDINGS FOR 1885. Ill 



The meeting in Montreal of tlie Biitish Association for the Advancement of Science in the month 

 of August, 1884, being an event of interest to the men of letters and science in the Dominion, jour 

 Society, through ils Pi'esident, made to the Biitish Association a formal address of welcome which 



was ]ii-(>notince(l hv him liefore the Presiilcnt and Council of the Association, and was as follows : — 



" Tu the President and Council of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. 



"Mr Lords and Gentlemen: — The Royal Society of Canada greets with cordial welcome the 

 members of j'onr Association on the occasion of its first visit to the American Continent, and I'ejoices 

 to find, amimg those who have accei)ted the invitation of the citizens of Montreal, so many names of 

 men renowned as leaders of scientific research. 



"The Royal Society of Canada, which is a body recently organized and in the third year of its 

 cxistoiue, includes not only students of natural history and natural philosophy, who make up to- 

 gether one half of its eighty members, but others devoted to the history and the literature of the two 

 great European races, who are to-day engaged in the task of building up in North America a now 

 nation tinder the shelter of the British flag. 



" Recognizing the fact that material progress can only be made in conjuiiction with advancement 

 in literature and in science, we hail your visit as an event destined to give a new impulse to the 

 labours of our own students, — believing at the same time, that the great pi'obloms of material nature 

 not less than the social ami political aspects of this vast realm, will afford j-ou subjects for profitable 

 study; and trusting that, when your short visit is over, you will i-etui-n to your native land with 

 kindly Biemories of Canada and a confidence that its growth in all that makes a people good and 

 great is secured. 



" (Signed) T. Sterry Hunt, President. 



.ToiiN Geo. Boi'RiNOT, Hon. Secretari/. 

 "Montreal, August 27th, 1884." 



The British Association for the Advancement of Science, at its late meeting in Montreal, 

 appointed a committee to communicate with the Dominion on the important subject of Tidal Obser- 

 vations in Canada. Recognizing the expediency of cooperating with the British Association, the 

 Council of the Royal Society appointed a committee to use all the means in their power to create an 

 interest in a question, so immediately att'ecting the navigation of Canadian waters and so intimately 

 connected with the security of the commerce of the country. In January last this committee, con- 

 sisting of the President, the Honorary Secretary, Sir William Dawson, Principal Grant, and Professor 

 Alex. Johnson, had the honour of an interview with the Minister of Marine and Fisheries, who evi- 

 dently takes much inteiest in the mattei', and promises to give it his fullest consideration. The 

 Council of the Royal Society have also addressed memorials on the subject to the Privy Council and 

 the Parliament of Canada. The following is a copy of the petition addressed to the House of Com- 

 mons : — 



" To the Honourable Memben^ of the Bouse of Commons of the Dominion of Canada. 



"The Petition of the undersigned, members of the Council of the Royal Society of Canada, 

 humbly sheweth : — That the British Association for the Advancement of Science, at its late meeting 

 in Montreal, deemed it a matter of high importance, that the attention of the Parliament and Govern- 

 ment of Canada should be drawn to the great need for Tidal Observations on the coasts of Canada, 

 and to their great practical value in the interests of navigation ; and appointed a committee to take 

 steps to effect this object. The British Association has devoted much attention for many years to the 

 subject of tides in general, and has endeavoured to secure greater accuracy and a wider range of 

 observations, and at the same time to improve and develop the scientific methods for the prediction of 

 the tides at any place where the observations have been taken ; and consequently any communication 



