XXII ROYAL SOCIETY OP CANADA. 



The number of members ou our loU «till continues about the same (350), and the reading room 

 and library have been more used than in any previous years, — the capacity of the reading room being 

 often so taxed as to suggest the desirability of a further enlargement of quarters. Some periodicals 

 have been added to the reading room, while 214 new books have been bought or presented to the 

 library, and the purchase of some additional popular works has been lately autliorized. 



The Society has found it unnecessary to continue any longer its classes of instruction, especially 

 as classes in art and design are now conducted hy the better equipped and admirably managed 

 Ottawa Art School. 



The usual course of winter lectures was held, and pi'oved most successful. The Society deems 

 itself specially fortunate in having been favored by an eloquent address by the first President of your 

 Society, Sir William Dawson. 



One feature in the course, that of introducing a number of short papers on the same evening, 

 was very popular, and seems calculated to bring to light and develop the literary abilities of our 

 individual members, who might be unwilling to venture at first on more extended essaj-s. For this 

 reason our Societj^ would recommend a trial of this system by other similar Societies. 



The following is a list of the lectures delivered and papers read during the past winter: — 



1. Inaugural Address on the Elements of Culture, by the President, "Wm. D. LeSueur. 



2. Lecture on Methods of Illumination, with practical illustrations, by Wm. P. Anderson. 



3. Lecture on the Principles of Symmetry in Nature, hy A. Magill. 



4. Lecture on the Geology of the Nile Valley, by Sir William Dawson. 



5. Lecture on John Milton, by the Rev. W. T. Herridge. 



6. Lecture on Latest Advices, by the Rev. Principal S. S. Nelles. 



1. Address on the Value of the Study of Entomology, by James Fletcher. 



8. Essay on the Origin of Prairie Lands, by Dr. G. M. Dawson. 



9. Essay on Mimicry in Nature, by W. H. Harrington. 



10. Address on Charles Lamb and Tom Hood, by J. R. Armstrong. 



11. Essay on the Modern School of Poetry, by A. Lampman. 



12. Essaj' on the Iroquois in the Time of Champlain, by P. H. Gisborne. 



Miscellaneous Business. 



Dr. Johnson moved, seconded by Mr. Geo. Stewart, jun., " That that section of the Report which 

 refers to certain gentlemen as having failed to attend for three years be adopted, and that their 

 resignations be considered final." 



Dr. Daniel Wilson moved, in amendment, seconded by Dr. Chauveau, " That the section of the 

 Report in question be referred to a committee to communicate with the gentlemen named in the 

 Report as assumed to have resigned, and to report to the Council on the subject with a view to estab- 

 lish a precedent on the future action of the Society, and that the said committee be composed of Dr. 

 Chauveau, Sir William Dawson, Di'. Johnson and Dr. Wilson." 



And the question being put on the amendment, it was agreed to, and the main motion amended 

 accordingly. 



On motion of Dr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Bourinot, " It was agreed unanimously that M. N. 

 Bourassa, Dr. Osier and Dr. J. Bei-nard Gilpin be permitted to retain their titles and be entered on 

 the list of retired members, in accordance with the recommendation of the Report of the Council." 



