APPENDIX A LXXXI 



history at its highest, because they do not represent, do not aim at 

 representing, the full play and stress of human activity. 



And here mention should be made of another work which, though 

 not partaking of the nature of general history, deals with a subject of 

 much historical importance. I refer to Col. Denison's ''History of 

 Cavalry," first published over thirty years ago, a new edition of which 

 is just issuing from the press. The circumstances under which this 

 work was produced are well known, yet they may properly be placed 

 on record here, the author being a highly esteemed Fellow and ex- 

 president of this Society, which, however, was not in existence when 

 his first edition appeared. A prize had been offered by the 

 Emperor Alexander II of Russsia, so cruelly assassinated in the year 

 1881, for the best work on Cavalry. This prize was open to all the 

 world, and was keenly competed for by writers of many different 

 nationalities. Our colleague, with the spirit which distinguishes him, 

 saw no reason why a Canadian should not compete; and, competing, 

 he carried off the prize while, it is hardly too much to say, all the 

 world wondered. His book has been translated into two or three of 

 the principal languages of modern Europe, and continues to carry 

 the highest authority. 



To the credit of Canadian writers must also be placed a certain 

 number of useful and well-written biographies, chiefly, indeed almost ex- 

 clusively, of persons connected with the history of Canada. Such 

 works as the Abbé Gosselin's "Life of Bishop Laval;" Hon. Thomas Cha- 

 pais' monograph on the Intendent Talon and his more recent work on 

 Montcalm; some of the biographies in the "Makers of Canada" series; 

 General Robinson's life of his father, Chief Justice Robinson; Sir Joseph 

 Pope's Life of Sir John A. Macdonald, to mention a few that occur most 

 readily to the mind, are all deserving of honourable mention. At this 

 moment a very comprehensive work on Canada is in preparation which 

 it is hoped will constitute when completed a valuable addition to the 

 historical literature of our Country.^ 



In speaking of history in Canada it would be a singular omission not 

 to mention the valuable historical essays to be found within the compass 

 of the Transactions of this Society, monographs by such writers, past and 

 present as Wilson (Sir Daniel), Bourinot (Sir John), Brymner, Bryce, 

 S. E. Dawson, Reade, Dionne, Gérin, Gosselin, Jos. Edmond Roy, Suite, 

 Verreau, to mention only a few, out of many prominent names among 

 our own members. In addition the Society has had the benefit of the 



* Of the twenty authors of these biographies not less than twelve are, or were, 

 members of the Royal Society of Canada. 



* "Canada and its Provinces," edited by Adam Shortt and A. G. Doughty, to 

 be completed in twenty-three volumes quarto. 



