XXX • ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA. 



thus given of the permanence of our publication will act as an incentive to members to renewed efforts 

 to ninlce it in every way worthy of tliis great, progressive and rapidly developing Dominion. 



SESSIOX IV. {May 25th.) 



The members of the Society assembled at 10 o'clock, a. m., and the President called the meeting 

 to Older, 



Miscellaneous Business. 



On motion of Dr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Cai'pmacl, it was 



" Besolved, that the Council do consider the advisability of having, next year, and in future years, 

 an evening meeting in the form of a conversazione, at which the reports of delegates of other Societies 

 can bo received, and at which opportunity can be given for social intercourse between members, dele- 

 gates and invited guests." 



The Honorary Secretary then i-ead the following communication which he had received from Mr. 

 Sand ford F 1 em i n g : — 



Ottawa, May 21st, 1888. 

 J. G BouRiNOT, Esq., LL.D., 



Honorary Secretary, Royal Society of Canada. 



SiE, — I deem it respectful to the Society to address you as Secretary, in order that j'ou may bring 

 the remarks I desire to make before the members at the proper time and in the proper maimer. 



At the last annual meeting, while I was in England, the Society elected me to the office of Vieo- 

 Piesident, and I desire to take the earliest opportunity of convej'ing to my fellow members a cordial 

 expression of thanks for this most unlocked for honour. 



During the six years of our existence as an oigani/.ed bod}', the custom has been followed at each 

 annual meeting of electing a President and Vice-President, with the implied understanding that on 

 the expiration of the Piesident's tei'm of office, the Vice-President shall be elevated to the higher posi- 

 tion. By a rigid adherence to this rule, the President would always be chosen a year in a<lvanco ; that 

 is to say, in electing a Vice-President foi- one ycai-, the President for the following year would invaii- 

 ably be determined. 



In venturing to suggest that this practice may wisely be departed from on the present occasion, 

 I beg leave to say that no one can be more sensible thanmyself of the honour attached to the position 

 of President of the Royal Society of Canada. The office has been held by men of the highest attain- 

 ments and eminence in the country, and it is in itself a position to which the most gifted and learnetl 

 might aspire. 



I respectfully submit that I can see some objections to another rule or practice, the limiting of 

 the term of office of any one President to a single year. 



With much diffidence I ask permission to submit for consideration, that the time has now come 

 when both practices might, with advantage to the Society be modified. I can point to other Societies 

 whore the Presidents are not changed annually. There is something to be said in favour of retaining 

 in office one who has become familiar with its duties. It is not uncommon, when a Society has the 

 good fortune to obtain a President preeminently fitted for the position, for his services to be i-etained 

 for more than one year, in some instances, for a number of years. In view of the influence which wo 

 all desire the Roj'al Society to exercise, at home and abroad, I respectfully ask, whether or not it 

 would be advisable to avail ourselves again of the services of any one of the able and distinguished 

 men who have already so well occupied the President's chair. 



I trust the members of the Society will not consiiler that I am intruding my opinions upon them 

 \\ithout reason which appear to me good and sound. From a personal aspect I could not but desiro 



