PEOCEEDINGS FOE 1894. XIIT 



hereby appeals to the several societies and associations with which it is in correspondence, both in 

 this country and in foreign lands, to memorialize the postal authorities of their respective governments 

 in behalf of a reduction of postage upon scientific specimens, and to use their influence in every prac- 

 ticable way to further this object, so important to the interests of scientific study and research, with 

 special reference to obtaining some united action among the governments associated in the Interna- 

 tional Postal Union, at the approaching conference of representatives of that body." 



XIV. Catalogue op Scientific Pdblications. 



The Council have received a circular from the Eoyal Society of London, calling attention to the 

 proposed compilation, under its direction, of a catalogue containing the titles of all scientific publica- 

 tions, whether printed in pei'iodicals or independently. This catalogue, it is suggested, should be 

 issued as rapidly as possible, and arranged, not only according to authors' names, but also according 

 to the subject-matter. As the preparation and publication of such a catalogue is beyond the power 

 and means of any single society, the Piesident and Council of the English Eoyal Society have 

 appointed a committee '' to inr^uire into and report upon the feasibility of such a catalogue being 

 compiled through international co-operation." The Council refers the circular to the consideration of 

 the two scientific sections for their report. 



XV. Eeview op Canadian Books. 



A number of literary men, some of whom have no connection with the Eoyal Society, have 

 asked the Honorary Secretary to direct the attention of the First and Second Sections of French and 

 English Literature to the advisability of having published in the ' Transactions ' ashort critical review 

 of those Canadian books which have appeared in the course of the year and are deserving of notice 

 and encouragement. History, poetry, romance, and political science, might be included in this 

 review, which, of course, could be extended to pure science. The object would be to stimulate 

 literary taste bj' that judicious criticii-m which is rarely seen in the Canadian press. As things 

 are now, we see either the indiscriminate eulogy of zealous friends or the wholesale advertising of 

 publishers who appear to have literary editors in their employ, whose sijecial duty is to insert notices 

 in the press. In a country like this, where a newspaper's staff is fully occupied in editorial and other 

 ordinary journalistic work, it is only at rare intervals, and in a very few journals, we can see, or expect 

 criticism of new books in the true sense of the term, Newspaper notices — for they cannot be digni- 

 fied, as a rule, with the name of reviews — consequently only rank as so many advertisements. In this 

 respect the press of Australia shows a superiority over that of Canada, speaking generally. If the 

 Eoyal Society could induce some of its members to devote themselves to a judicious criticism of new 

 Canadian books, which could be read at our own general meetings, it is quite possible a positive 

 encouragement would be given to our nascent literature. At all events it would be an advantage to 

 have published in this way what would be at least a yearly review of Canadian publications of merit, 

 which would enable the world outside of Canada to have a fairly accurate idea of the progress of 

 Canadian letters. The subject is at all events deserving of the earnest consideration of the two sec- 

 tions under whose purview it seems naturally to fall, and the Council therefore refers it to them for 

 their report. It is suggested that each section should obtain the assistance of a member of each sec- 

 tion to take charge of the matter as editor, and to obtain the co-operation, when necessary, from time 

 to time, (^f other members in his section. 



XVI. Local Historical Societies and County Histories. 



From time to time we hear of the establishment of local historical societies in different sections 

 of the Dominion. For instance, we notice the organization in the city of Belleville of the Bay of 

 Quinte Lojalist Histoiical Society, which ought to be of much value in preserving the records, 

 written and oral, of a district which has peculiarly interesting associations of the early history of the 



