PEOCEEDINGS FOR 1894. IX 



quels sentiments de gratitude j'ai accueilli le grand honneur qui m'était fait. 11 me semble que je 

 viens de contracter envers le Canada une dette de reconnaissance qu'il me sera très doux de payer, et 

 je vous prie, Monsieur le Secrétaire, de vouloir bien vous faire, auprès de vos honorés collègues, l'in- 

 terj>rête de cette reconnaissance et de mon dévouement. 



" Ce sera une des joie de ma vie de me sentir lié ainsi, dans ce qu'il y a de plus élevé, à ce Canada 

 dont j'admire la vaillance et dont j'aime le cœur. 



" Veuillez, Monsieur le Secrétaire, recevoir l'expression la plus profonde do ma sym])athie et de 

 ma gratitude. 



Signé, " Jules (îlaretie." 



" Hotel des Roches-Noires, Trouville-scr-Mer, 5 août 1893. 

 " Monsieur, — En réponse à votre obligeante lettre du 1er juin m'informant que la Société royale 

 du Canada m'avait élu membre correspondant, j'ai le regret, ayant décliné pareil honneur de la part 

 d'autres sociétés savantes, de ne pouvoir accepter celui que votre docte compagnie a bien voulu me 

 conférer. 



" Présentez, je vous prie, mes remerciements les plus sincères à la Société royale du Canada, et 

 veuillez agréer, monsieur, l'assurance de ma considération la plus distinguée. 



Signé, " Henry Harrisse. 



" M. J. G. Bourinot, CM. G., LL.D., Docteur es Lettres, Seciétaire honoraire." 



VII. Attendance of Fellows. 



The attendance of Fellows for the past four meetings has been exceedingly irregular, ovving 

 chiefly to the fiicts that the membership is scattered over so large an area of territory and the expense 

 of travelling is a serious matter to some persons. Professional and business engagements, necessarily 

 of primary importance, have also constantly intervened to prevent that attendance we should like to 

 see at our meetings. Every man belonging to the Royal Society is busily employed in scientific, 

 educational, or journalistic pursuits, or in official life, and it is often at much inconvenience and 

 expense that many of our members have come to Ottawa to discharge their obligations to the Society. 

 It is also necessary to remember that several men who have done good work in science and literature, 

 like Mr. Thomas Kirby, the Abbé Cuoq and Horatio Hale, now feel the burden of the years of a very 

 active and industrious life, and are unable to venture on the risks and excitement of travel. At the 

 present time Archbishop Begin, who was always an active member before the assumption of his high 

 office, is in Rome and not likely to return in time for this meeting. Mr. Ramsay Wjight, who deli- 

 vered one of the public lectures last spring, is now in Genoa. Mr. Justice Routhier is engaged in 

 his judicial duties. Dr. Loudon, President of Toronto University, cannot possibly leave his onerous 

 duties during the meeting. The Abbé Laflamme is busily employed in investigating the causes of the 

 serious calamity which occurred so recently at Saint-Albans, in the county of Portneuf. Mr. Carp- 

 mael is in bad health and on his way to England. Several other members have sent excuses regret- 

 ting and ex)3laining their unavoidable absence. On the whole, it must be admitted, the attendance is 

 above the average of that common to scientific and other societies of America, where the membership 

 is far lai'ger. Whilst recognizing this fact as satisfactory, we must not lose sight of the indifference 

 or apathy that appears to be shown by one or two Fellows who never attend or even send excuses. It is 

 hardly necessary to say that it is most desirable that this Society should have its annual meetings as 

 fully attended as possible in order that its discussions and proceedings may be conducted with even 

 greater energy than at present, and its influence in all the centres of thought and activity increased 

 bj' the presence of men anxious to promote the objects the Society has in view. It was with the 

 object of extending its usefulness that provision was made some time ago for increasing the member- 

 ship of a section from twenty to twenty-five in the course of five years. It is now proposed that the 

 rules of the Society should be rigidly carried out, and that each section should carefully i evise its 



Proc. 1894, B. 



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