IV EOYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA. 



necessity of making some provision for the circulation of a largo collection now useless for all practi- 

 cal purposes. The Society should carefully consider whether this collection should not be loaned to 

 some public institution, which can keep a catalogue of the books and pamphlets and engage to return 

 them whenever the Society is in a position to have a library of its own. 



The Council ai'e pleased to announce that the programme for the pi'esent session of the Royal 

 Society contains a number of papers in each Section which promise to be of much value. The 

 number of papers is as follows: — 



I. — French Literature, History, etc., 14. 

 II. — English Literature, Histoiy, etc., 14. 

 III. — Mathematical, Physical and Chemical Sciences, 10. 

 IV. — Geological and Biological Sciences, 22. 



The Council have to call attention to the neglect of the majority of the members of the Society to 

 observe the rule which requires that " no paper shall be read ia any Section at any general meeting 

 of the Society unless it has been presented in full or in abstract at least three weeks before the 

 day of meeting." The object of this rule is to ensure the rapid and correct publication of a "pro 

 gramme containing the titles and abstracts of papers to be read before the Society," which should be 

 sent to the Society " at least one week before time of meeting." For several years past, the Honoraiy 

 Secretarj^ has been able, only under the greatest difficulties, to jjublish a jjartial list of ])apers pio- 

 jTOsed to be read at the annual meetings. This year the difficulty was still greater in consequence of 

 the dilatoriness of membei-s in observing the rule. It must also be noticed that but few members 

 have sent in abstracts, whilst in some cases very long abstiacts have been so tardily forwarded that 

 it has been impossible to publish them in time. The programme was late this year in appearing, and 

 it was impossible to do more than issue an imperfect edition which had not, as in previous cases, 

 undergone the revision of authors. 



The usual invitations have been addressed to ail the scientific and literary associations of Canada 

 which have heretofore sent delegates to the annual meeting of the Eoyal Society, and we hope to be 

 favored with the presence of a number of gentlemen who will be able to show the progi'ess of literary 

 and scientific studies in their particular centimes of enquiry. It isimp)ortant that these reports should 

 be continued from year to year, and we would therefore earnestly call upon the societies affiliated with 

 our own body not to fail in their duty, so that there may be a continuous review from year to 5'ear in 

 the Transactions of the intellectual develoj)ment of this country. 



The Council consider it expedient to call attention to the relatively small attendance of members 

 at the annual general meetings in May. At the last meeting there were only forty-six members 

 piesent out of a total membership of eighty persons. It is hai'dly necessary to repeat what was said 

 in the last report. There are many circumstances which naturally prevent a regular attendance. The 

 Society is largely composed of gentlemen engaged in the work of education, in the geological and 

 other branches of the 2)ublic service, and it so happens that the time of the year chosen for the 

 annual general meeting has not operated advantageously for the interests of the Society. When this 

 Society was established by the Marquis of Lome, its members naturally chose that season when they 

 could have the advantage of the presence of their illustrious founder, and it has been the practice ever 

 since to follow the precedent then made and to meet at the end of Ma3^ After an experience of six 

 years, the Soeietj- must feel that it is worthy of consideration, whether a more convenient period 

 cannot be chosen foi' calling the members together for general business and the reading of papers. 

 The Council discussed this matter at a recent meeting, and it was thought inadvisable to make 

 any change on their own responsibility, but to leave the matter for the deliberate consideration 

 of the whole Society, 



At the last annual meeting, a committee of the Council made, and the Society adopted, a report 



