PROCEEDINGS FOR 1899 XXXI 



are the pioneers of a national literature, who are labouring to create a 

 deeper interest in our country's history, or to carry us into the pure and 

 serene atmosphere where the true poet reigns supreme. How much 

 encouragement might our universities give to men like Lampman if 

 they would sometimes recognize the fact that the historian and the poet 

 are just as useful and. earnest workers in the promotion of the intellec- 

 tual development of the country as the statesman or divine on whom 

 tliey are so ready to confer their highest honours. All of us, however, are 

 ever ready to worship success in material things and sometimes forget 

 that the ideas of the poet or the wisdom of the historian or the elevating 

 romance of the storyteller may have at times as much influence on the 

 social or moral development of our country as the speeches of the states- 

 man or the sermons of the preacher. For of the knowledge of the his- 

 torian or the poet, Lampman has well said : 



" What is more large than knowledge and more sweet ; 



Knowledge of thoughts and deeds, of rights and wrongs. 



Of passions, and of beauties and of songs ; 

 Knowledge of life ; to feel its great heart beat 

 Through all the world upon her crystal seat ; 



To see, to feel, and evermore to know ; 



To till the old world's wisdom till it grow 

 A garden for the wandering of our feet." 



25. Farewell Addeess to the Eael and Countess of Aberdeen. 



The farewell address of the Eoyal Society of Canada was presented 

 on the afternoon of October 28th, at the Government House, to the 

 Governor-General and the Countess of Aberdeen, by the President, T. C. 

 Keefer, Esquire, C.M.G., CE., accompanied by Sir John Bourinot, 

 K.C.M.G., hon.-sec; Dr. Fletcher, hon. treas.; Sir S. Fleming, K.C.M.G.; 

 Sir James Grant, K.C.M.G.; Dr. Brymner, Mr. Whiteaves, Dr. Hoffm'ann, 

 E. Deville, W. W. Campbell, B. Suite, Dr. Saunders, Dr. S. E. Dawson, 

 Dr. DeCelles, A. Lampman, and other fellows resident in Ottawa. The 

 address is of elaborate design. On the initial page, containing the 

 inscription of the address, done in two large ovals set side by side, is a 

 device of purple flag lilies, surmounted by the double " A " in monogram 

 and a coronet. The laddress proper occupies nine ,sheets, the lettering 

 set in two oblong spaces, the English and French versions side by side. 

 Each sheet is surmounted by a broad border of illustrations and decora- 

 tion. On innumerable little medallions, wreathed round by the ground- 



