VI EOTAL SOCIETY OF CANADA. 



" As Your Excellency is aware, the Eoyal Society was founded by the Marquis of Lome duiing 

 his administration in Canada, with the object of encouraging Science and Literature, and of assisting 

 in the intellectual development of this country. 



" Althouifh the membeiship of the Eoyal Society is limited, yet it rests on no narrow basis, and 

 its Transactions are open to the literary efforts of every person who has good work to offer. It is 

 affiliated at the same time with all the leading Scientific and Literary associations of the Dominion, 

 who send delegates to its annual meetings, and otherwise assist in the promotion of the work for 

 which it has been established. 



" Its membership recognizes no distinctions of race or creed, but is based on the same principles 

 of liberalitj' and unity on which the Confederation is founded. As the French Canadian has combined 

 with the English Canadian to build up a great Dominion, studded with provinces from the Atlantic 

 to the Pacific, the representatives of the two nationalities have united in this Society to prove to the 

 world that in the walks of Letters and Science, as in the sphere of Politics, there are many opportuni- 

 ties for emulation and usefulness. 



" We are confident that Your Excellency, like the two distinguished noblemen who immediately 

 preceded you in the elevated position you now occupy, will extend to the Society that cordial sym- 

 pathy which is essential to its success, and which will be not the least gratifying evidence that its 

 members can receive of the value of the objects which they have at heart. In a country like this, 

 where there is so much to do in the way of material development, Literature and Science must 

 necessarily engi'oss the time and ability of a relatively limited number of persons. This Society, 

 however, has every reason to be gratified with the encouragement which its labours have received in 

 every country where its Transactions are circulated ; but no one fact is more satisfactory', or better 

 calculated to stimulate exertion, than the readiness with which the Government and Parliament of 

 Canada have come to its assistance since its foundation, and enabled it to give its Proceedings to the 

 world in a form in every way worthy of the country. 



" We feel that a Society which has the cultivation of Literature as one of its principal objects, 

 has a special claim on Your Excellency's attention. All of us remember with the deepest interest 

 that your illustrious father in his youth won many academic honours in the study of the great poets 

 of ancient days. In the noted oratorical efforts of his brilliant career he displayed that fire and 

 energy which were characteristic of the heroes of the immortal ejjic he had mastered so well. While 

 the historian of politics will record his triumphs as the ' Eupert of Debate,' men of letters will like 

 best to linger on his success in rendering the ' Iliad ' into matchless English verse. 



" In conclusion we can only repeat the numerous expi-essions of kindly wishes which Ycur Excel- 

 lency has already received since your assumption of office. We are quite sure that both Your Excel- 

 lency and Lady Stanley of Preston already know full well, how much respect the people of Canada 

 entertain for the representative of the Sovereign they revere, and how deeply they are animated by 

 the desire that your residence in this loyal dependency of the Crown will be made enjoyable in every 

 sense, and that when you are called upon to retire from your high position in this country you will 

 feel that you have left another England behind." 



It is proposed that this address shall be signed]by all the members in attendance and presented at 

 Government House at 1.30 o'clock to-morrow. We may add that it has been engrossed and artistic- 

 ally executed under the direction of the Honorary Secretaiy, so that His Excellency may have 

 always in a permanent form this expression of the kindly wishes of the members of the Eoyal Society. 



