LXXVI EOYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA. 



To test the two methods, I have this evening conducted 19 elections, the number of candidates 

 ranging from 3 to 6 and the number of vacancies from 1 to 4 — and the voting papers being made out 

 in a perfectly haphazard manner. The result was as follows : In one case Dr. F.'s method brought 

 out two candidates as equal when my method showed that one of them ought to have been elected. 

 In two cases Dr. F.'s method elected a candidate between whom and another candidate my method 

 showed that the voters were equally divided. In one case Dr. F.'s method elected a candidate to 

 whom my method showed another candidate to be preferred by the voters. In all other cases both 

 methods gave the same result. Thus 21 per cent of the elections resulted in miscarriages with 

 his method, and a little over 5 per cent in miscarriage of a serious kind. If a larger number of tests 

 were applied these percentages would probably be different, though whether larger or smaller it is im- 

 possible to say. They seem to me, however, to show that before adopting the recommendation of the 

 committee the Society should refer the matter back to them with instructions to apply a large num- 

 ber of tests and determine how frequently miscarriages are likely to occur. 



It would be better still, it seems to me, to avoid the possibility of miscarriages altogether by 

 adopting the method which I proposed. When it effected an election, the candidate or candidates 

 elected would be those whom the voters wished to elect, and when it failed to effect an election the 

 failure would be due to the equal division or the very conflicting opinions of the voters. I know, sir, 

 that you would not object to the additional fifteen minutes of time which it would require of you as a 

 scrutineer. 



Should the matter come up for discussion in the Society, I should be obliged by your reading 

 this communication. Should It be referred to a committee this letter might be laid before the com- 

 mittee. 



Yours very truly. 



J. Ct. MacGreqor. 



Election of Officers for 1894-95. 



The Eoyal Society then proceeded to the election of officers of the Society, for the year ending 

 May, 1895, and the following gentlemen were unanimously chosen : 



President — J. M. LeMoine, Esquire. 

 Vice-President— Dr. Selwyn, C.M.G., F.E.S. 

 Honorary Secretary — Dr. Bourinot, C.M.G. 

 Honorary Treasurer, James Fletcher, Esq., F.L.S. 



General Business, 



The following resolutions were unanimously adopted : 



(1.) Resolved, That Eule 6 be suspended and that the Eeverend Dr. James Williamson, of Queen's 

 University, Kingston, Ontario, be elected a Fellow of Section III. of the Eoyal Society. (On motion of 

 Dr. Sandford Fleming, seconded by Mr. Hoffmann.) 



(2.) Resolved, That Dr. S. H. Scudder of Cambridge, Mass., be nominated as a corresponding 

 member of the Eoyal Society of Canada. (On motion of Prof Penhallow, seconded by Dr. Selwyn.) 



(3.) Resolved, That Sir James Hector be elected as a corresponding member of the Eoyal 

 Society of Canada. (On motion of Prof. Penhallow, seconded by Dr. G. M. Dawson.) 



(4.) Resolved, That in the report presented May, 1893, to the Society, the Council made 

 reference to the effort of a number of societies throughout Canada, associated with the Eoyal 

 Society, to have some permanent memorial established respecting the " Eoyal William," the pioneer 

 ocean steamship ; 



That as a result of these ortbrts it is intended at an early day to place by order of Parliament a 

 memorial brass within the precincts of the Parliament buildings, and it is felt that on the occasion 



