PEOCEEDINGS FOE 1894. XV 



sketch of Canada compiled from the best writers on the subject. In this way, every author of note 

 is made to contribute to the different epochs or periods of our histoi-y, and a most I'eadable and 

 valuable compilation prepared for the use of students. It I'cpresents the mental efforts of the most 

 thorough and cultured historical writers, far more so assuredly than ihe inferior abstracts that are 

 dignified among us by the name of school histories — abstracts too often destitute of any redeeming 

 literary merit. 



XVIII. A Text-book op Government. 



While giving expression to these opinions with respect to the writing of a readable general 

 history for the purpose in question, the Council of the Royal Society feel that they can heartily sym- 

 pathize with the desire of the National Council to see introduced into the public schools of Canada, 

 as soon as it is compiled by some qualified person, a small and intelligible text-book, "having for its 

 object to fix in the minds of the boys and girls of the Dominion a just conception of their rights and 

 duties as citizens." "Probably never before," to quote again the apt words of the resolution of the 

 National (Council, "was there such urgent need for a clear undei'sfanding of the principles of our 

 government." We agree with the National ('ouncil that such studies aie of primary imjjortance, 

 and cannot be impressed at too early an age on the youth, on whom rest the future happiness and 

 stability of this i-ising nation. 



XIX. The Historical Archives of C,\nada. 



The Council refer the Royal Society and all those interested in the collection of historical archives 

 to the following interesting report by Dr. Marmeftc, assistant archivist of the Dominion : 



"The importance of that branch of the public service which has had charge of the historical 

 archives of Canada since its foundation in 1872, has been shown more clearly year by year, with the 

 steady accumulation of new and numerous copies of unpublished documents which come to us from 

 England and France. Hardly a day passes without our receiving from all parts of Canada and the 

 United States requests for information on certain questions to which we can alone give a satisfactory 

 reply, if not always a complete solution, in view of the fact that we alone in America possess the 

 copies of unpublished historical documents relating to matters of war, politics and diplomacy affect- 

 ing these two countries and England. 



" Apart from the copy of the Bouquet collection, which comprises thirty written volumes and 

 covers the years from 1757 to 170'5, and the Haldimand papers, which take up one hundred and thirty- 

 two volumes, and include the historical records from 1758 to 1787, we have at present in hand three 

 hundred and sixty-four volumes copied from the State papers of the Colonial Record Office at London, 

 and containing the correspondence between the English authorities, the governoi-s and other official 

 personages in Canada, commencing with 1760 and coming down to 1831. The copying of these 

 interesting documents is now going on in London under the direction of Mr. Brymner, who has 

 nearly closed the investigations which are necessary for the guidance of the copyists charged with 

 completing a collection which is unique in Ameiica. 



" At the same time there is going on in London, the copying, commenced this year, of the War 

 Office papers, of which we have already fifteen volumes, as well as of the Board of Trade papers, of 

 which we have now twenty-nine volumes collected. 



" Besides this collection, so rich in new material relating to the history of the country under 

 English dominion, we have also the advantage of possessing one thousand and sixty-three manu- 

 script volumes of military records — all quite original — touching the public events and military works 

 during the occupation of Canada by the English troops from 1760 to 1867. 



" The French portion of the archives — somewhat behind for reasons beyond control — comprises a 

 hundred volumes of manuscript relating to the ' terrier', and the judgments of the intendants under 

 the French regime, as well as the commencement of the correspondence between the court of France 

 and the French governors and intendants of Canada. 



