PEOCEEDINGS FOE 1888. XV 



Society. Besides including tlie Proceedings of tiie Society and the papers contributed by the memliers 

 and read before it, the Record has published a number of original articles from the pens of others. 

 Some of these articles are of great scientific value. In all, twenty-two original papers have appeared. 



The endeavour of the Editing Committee of the Record has been to publish the magazine with 

 regularity. It now claims to be the onlj' periodical in the Domiuion devoted to science thus regularly 

 issued, aud whose columns are open to contributions from scientific men at large. It continues to be 

 circulated gratuitously amongst local and foreign educational and scientific sociiities and institutions. 



The Sommerville course of lectures has this year been greatly appreciated. The subject chosen 

 by the Lecture Committee for illustration was '• Climate," and the large attendance at each lecture 

 proved the great interest which was shown by the public. The wisdom of endowments of this nature 

 for supplying the most recent scientific infoi'mation in a popular form was amply verified. The course 

 this year comjjrised the following lectures : — 



1. Climate in Geological Time, by Sir Wm. Dawson. 



2. Climate : the Present Atmospheric Conditions of the Globe, by Prof. McLeod. 

 o. Climate in relation to Vegetation, by Prof Penhallow. 



4. Weather Probabilities, by Prof. C. Carpmael. 



5. The Climate of the Canadian West, by Ernest IngersolL 



6. Climate in relation to Health, by Dr. T. G. Eoddick. 



The annual field day has always been looked on hy the Societj-, not only as an opportunity for its 

 membei's to meet and work together in the field, but also as a means of popularising science among 

 the man}- others who join in these annual excursions. Verj^ many most interesting localities within 

 a radius of sixty miles from Montreal have thus been visited, and explored by the Society, and the 

 extreme courtesy of the leading railways has added greatly to the jileasuie which has been aft'orded 

 its members on these occasions. The field day of the past season, which was no exception to the 

 usual success that attends these gathei'ings, was held at St. Jerome. 



VJ. — From The Numismatic and Antiquarian Society of Montreal, through Mi-. E. W. McLachlan : — 



In availing themselves of the jjrovisions artorded bj' the constitution of the Eoyal Society to thus 

 make public a synopsis of its proceedings, the members of the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society 

 report with pleasure considerable progress during the year. — 



In December last the Society celebrated its twentj'-fifih anniversary. This took the form of a 

 Canadian Historical Portrait Exhibition, opened by His Excellency the Governor-Geneial. Knowing 

 that there was scattered throughout the country a wealth of old jjort raits of those who were the 

 makers of Canadian History, the membei's of the Society set to work, and the result of their ettbrts 

 proved fiir beyond their expectations. Had there been more means and space at their disposal much 

 more could have been accomplished. As it was over two hundred portiaits in oil (some of which weie 

 rescued from the rubbish heaj)) besides many water-colors and prints, were shown. Combined 

 with this exhibition was a display of brie à brae mainly of such objects as related to the history and 

 early settlement of the country. Altogether the celebration was a complete success, although, as 

 is usual in such cases, its financial features bore rather heavily on the members. I have the honor to 

 present your Society with a copy of the catalogue of portraits, compiled for the occasion, also with a 

 medal struck in commemoration of the Twentj'-fifth Annivei'sary which bears a portrait of the 

 President of the Society, the Hon. Justice Baby. This medal is pronounced iy connoisseurs to bo 

 specimen of high art after the style of the celebrated medallists of the early Italian Eeuaissance. 



At the April meeting of the Society a resolution was passed, recommending that the two hundred 

 and fiftieth anniversary of the city should b(; celebrate I by an International Exhibition. The idea 

 has been readily taken hold of by the public, and it seems likely to be consummated bj' the holding of 



