XCIV ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



Archbishop made his opening address and the Governor-General was 

 asked to throw the flag aside, revealing the brass memorial that will 

 mark for future generations the fact that John Cabot and his glorious 

 voyage were not forgotten either by the people of Halifax, the j^eople of 

 Bristol, the Government of the country or the Eoyal Society of Canada. 

 The unveiling proceedings lasted more than an hour, and were exceed- 

 ingly interesting, even to those on the noisy thoroughfare beyond the 

 reach of the speakers' voices. The gathering was called to order by His 

 Grace Archbishop O'Brien, President of the Eoyal Society of Canada, the 

 body under whose auspices the unveiling was taking place. 

 Archbishop O'Brien, in opening the proceedings, said : 

 Your Excellencies. Ladies and Gentlemen, — Four hundred years ago 

 to-day the flag of England was first raised on these western shores, and 

 we have met to-day to celebrate that event. The man who discovered 

 this country and raised the English flag thereon has been for a long time 

 forgotten. Lately, however, his memory has been revived, and many 

 viseful articles have been written concerning his voyages and discoveries. 

 Two years ago the Eoyal Society of Canada resolved to hold its annual 

 meeting in Halifax in order to commemorate the 400th anniversary of 

 the discovery of North America by John Cabot, and it was intended to 

 erect some small memorial of that great event, something which would 

 recall the memory of the distinguished voyager who gave us our title to 

 this country. It was determined by the society to erect a small brass 

 tablet in the Provincial Building of these provinces, and the nearest to the 

 place where Cabot landed. The tablet in itself is not of much import- 

 ance, but it will serve as a reminder to future generations of the debt 

 that they owe to this man, and perhaps it may be the means of causing 

 them to erect some fitting monument to his memory His Excellency 

 the Governor-General has kindly consented to come here to-day to assist 

 at this ceremony, and other distinguished personages have also arranged 

 to grace the occasion with their presence. 1 shall not take up your time 

 longer, but will ask His Excellency to add to his man}' acts of kindness, 

 not only to the Eoyal Society, but to this country, by kindly unveiHng 

 this small tablet. (Applause.) 



His Excellency, who on rising was greeted with cheers, said : 

 Your Grace, General Montgomery Moore, Admiral Erskine, Your 

 Honour, Ladies and Gentlemen, — lam sure we shall all join in celebrating 

 the fame of the grand old navigator, John Cabot. His Grace the Arch- 

 bishop spoke of the tablet as a small one. It may not be very much in 

 dimension, but it is a very handsome piece of work, and will very fitly 

 commemorate in this good old city by the sea the name and the memory 

 of John Cabot. From the inscription on this tablet you Avill observe that 

 John Cabot was directed to conquer and possess for England all lands he 

 might find in whatever part of the world they might be. I think you 



