XII ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



large should be made aware of the numerous representations which have 

 been made from time to time, in days past, and at the present day as 

 well, as to the necessity for having a suitable location for the valuable 

 collection comprised in our G-eological Museum. The Government is 

 fully aware of the fact which was brought to the notice of my honour- 

 able friend from Norfolk (Mr. Charlton), that when the collection was 

 removed from Montreal to Ottawa it was thought that a suitable place 

 should be provided for it. The present Government has under its serious 

 consideration now the question of seeing what can be done in that resisect. 

 That something should be done will go without saying. We cannot be 

 otherwise than alive to the fact that under existing circumstances the 

 valuable collection of the Geological Museum, which has cost a great deal 

 of labour and money, could be at any moment burned to ashes. There is 

 no protection whatever for it now. If the Government thinks it advis- 

 able at some time or other to ask Parliament for an appropriation to have 

 a suitable building erected, I suppose it can rely upon the concurrence of 

 all parties in this House." (Hear, hear.) 



In again urging the construction of a National Museum the council 

 of the Eoyal Society reiterate their hope that it will contain adequate 

 accommodation, not only for geological and other specimens of value to 

 students of geology and natural history generally, but also for a perma- 

 nent exhibition of history, ethnology and various departments of indus- 

 trial and artistic work which will be creditable to Canada and of infinite 

 value to all those who are now devoting themselves to scientific, historical 

 and other useful studies. This suggestion naturally opens u]) the inter- 

 esting subject of 



12. The Collection op Historical Material. 



It is with much satisfaction that the council of the Eoyal Society 

 note a growing interest in some sections of Canada in the collection and 

 presei'vation of material out of which students and historians are to 

 describe the making of Canada. Still there is much need for greater 

 •effort on the part of individuals and provincial governments, outside of 

 Quebec, where much energy and enterprise bas been shown for years in 

 the collection and publication of valuable documents. The same subject 

 is also attracting interest among students in the United States, where, as 

 with us, much historical matei'ial is disappearing from human view for 

 ever, the loss of which will be a serious one, not only to the students of 

 history, but to the country and the world. 



The remai'ks of Professor Sparks, of Chicago University, and other 

 writers in an April number of The Dial of that city, may well be consid- 

 ered by Canadians. Much material cannot in many instances be 

 duplicated once destroyed, there is often nothing left of the facts but 

 conjecture and tradition. The generation of to-day could place much 



