APPENDIX D LXXXV 



V. — From The Ottawa Literary and Scientific Society, through 



H. H. Bligh. 



Having been appointed delegate of the Ottawa Literary and 

 Scientific Society as its representative at the present session of your 

 body, I have the honour to submit the following report: — 



During the past year our Society has continued its operations 

 in the usual manner, and although it has not made any conspicuous 

 departure nor added anything very remarkable to its history, the pro- 

 gress has been satisfactory, the work has been continuous and regular, 

 and the results have been sufficient to make us hopeful as to the future. 



Some of our members have felt the desirability of increasing the 

 annual contributions to the funds with a view to the enlarging the 

 work and scope of the Society, but up to the present time this advance 

 has not been considered favourably by the majority. It has been con- 

 tended, not unreasonably perhaps, that such a course would diminish 

 our numbers owing to the inability or unwillingness of some to pay a 

 larger fee, even though tliis should most certainly ensure larger, better 

 and more satisfactory results. We are, therefore, for want of more 

 funds obliged to continue our operations on practically the old and 

 well established lines, not having the means to enlarge the scope of 

 our efforts to that degree of efficiency and development that the mem- 

 bers and friends of our Society most ardently desire. 



In addition to our yearly membership fee, I should not forget 

 to mention the handsome grant of four hundred dollars annually from 

 the Ontario Grovernment and also the several considerable donations 

 by prominent gentlemen who in the past have so kindly come to our 

 assistance. 



The establishment of a public library in this city which has now 

 become a settled fact, is a matter of most special interest to us as a 

 Society. How far this will interfere with our future success remains 

 to be proved. I have the boldness to submit that it should not inter- 

 fere in the ^slightest degree. It may as well be admitted, however, 

 and it would be useless to deny that one of the most conspicuous phases 

 of our Society is its library, and that one of the most prominent 

 features of our library is its lending department. It may, therefore, 

 be hastily argued, that the chief purpose of our Society will be supplied 

 by a public library. I do not hesitate to say in this connection, that 

 no public institution should detract from the interest in and welfare 

 of our Society. Let it be kept in mind that our Society is a privatel 

 association, and that our library is a private enterprise. Consequently, 

 the difference between a public library and what we offer our mem- 

 bers is so real and so clear, that the two objects can never be unified 

 and need never conflict. They are distinct and separate. There is 



