XXXVI THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



notre reconciliation et plus attachés que jamais à la patrie canadienne, 

 comprendront alors, en le redisant, toute la beauté et toute la vérité 

 de ce cri de l'âme qui termine cette strophe de Crémazie: 



Quand sur les tombeaux de nos pères, 



La brise du soir en passant, 



De leurs vertus calmes et fières. 



Cueille le parfum odorant, 



Elle répand comme un dictame, 



Les souvenirs du temps ancien ; 



Elle chante aussi dans notre âme, 



Qu'il fait bon d'être Canadien! 



His Excellency then called upon the President of the Society, 

 Dr. A. B. Macallum, to propose and Sir Robert Falconer, K.C.M.G., 

 to reply to the toast of The Royal Society and the Conference of 

 Canadian Universities. 



Your Excellency, and Gentlemen, 



It is my duty and my privilege to propose a toast to the Royal 

 Society and to the United Universities Conference on a subject which 

 requires, in order to do justice to it, more eloquence than I can render 

 on this occasion. I think it would have been better had this toast 

 been proposed by either of the last two speakers. They would have 

 certainly put it in a light that I cannot shed upon it, and, therefore, 

 there will be something wanting on this occasion. 



These two organizations which are now represented here are 

 united on an occasion of memorable interest. This is the first time 

 they have met together, and it is the first time, I think, that the 

 meetings of the two organizations have been held in Ottawa. It is 

 also the first meeting of the newly organized Universities Conference. 

 This is the fiftieth anniversary of Confederation. May we not draw 

 favourable auspices from such a conjunction of circumstances ? 

 Neither of them is indeed, as old as Confederation, but their history 

 will henceforth be associated with its history, and they will play a 

 worthy part in it. Their function is to foster science and literature 

 in Canada, to unite the efforts of the representatives of these two 

 branches of learning for the promotion of the intellectual life of the 

 Dominion, and thus contribute to the development of a strong, 

 self-respecting national spirit. In the constant exercise of that 

 function they must always be powerful factors in the attainment of 

 the ends Confederation, fifty years ago, was brought about to 

 accomplish. 



The Royal Society of Canada, as you have put it, Sir, is the sister of 



