PROCEEDINGS FOR 1897 XXXV 



Address of the President on Work of Society. 

 {Read Oct. 13th, 1896.) 



It is with peculiar feelings of gratitude and pleasure that we meet 

 the evening of the day selected for our annual meeting, it being also the 

 anniversary of the victory at Queenston Heights eighty-four years ago. 

 How ditferent our surroundings and circumstances from those of that 

 night of grief and triumph, following a day of bitter contest with alter- 

 nations of gloom and exultation. Around were the dead, the dying, 

 burning buildings, prisoners, but the chief thought of all, that the be- 

 loved commander was no moi'e. 



It is much to be regretted that an historical society had not been 

 formed here a score of years ago, when pioneers and veterans were 

 alive, who could have told us so much that we have now no means of 

 obtaining. 



Our thoughts to-night must be both retrospective and prospective. 

 "We speak of what has been done and what we hope to do. In 1892 a 

 small society was formed, chiefly -with the view of giving assistance in 

 the centenary proceedings on July IGth. It is believed only two meet- 

 ings were held, and one open meeting, at which a paper was read, 

 " Niagara One Hundred Years Ago," which was printed by the Lundy's 

 Lane Historical Society. The officers were : President, Wm. Kirby ; 

 Secretary, Dan. Servos; Treasurer, D. McDougall. In November, 1895, 

 & meeting w^as called by all interested, as it was felt strongly by a few 

 that in this historic spot such a society should exist. I had thought of a 

 very suitable president to propose, but found to my astonishment and 

 dismay that I was selected for the position. It was with feelings of 

 great diffidence that I engaged in the task, for we had been assured that 

 it was useless to try to break down the cold, dead wall of apathy and 

 indifference that we everywhere encountered, and as to collecting relics, 

 everything valuable had disappeared, was either destroyed or given 

 away ; or that if any remained it M'ould not be given to us. But all 

 these dark prognostications proved false. What have we done ? Briefly 

 this : We have a list of over fifty members, have adopted a constitution 

 and by-laws, a motto too, " The Love of Country Guides." We have had 

 interesting meetings, three of them being open to the public, at which 

 papers were read. One by Capt. Cruikshank has been printed in pam- 

 phlet foi-m with an old engraving. We have had a successful anniversary ; 

 on the platform representatives of five historical societies, indeed the 

 presidents of four. A poem was read, dedicated to our society, by Mrs. 

 Curzon. A paper was read by Canon Bull, and addresses were made by 

 Miss Fitzgibbon, Capt. Cruikshank, Eev. J. C. Garrett, Eev. P. Spencer, 

 Col. Currie, Major Hiscott. You heard the satisfactory reports of the 

 secretary and treasurer, showing a balance in the treasuiy. 



