APPENDIX A XLIII 



have arisen, if many could have had the same experience as I had some 

 years ago; to my own great astonishment, I admit. 



It mil be acknowledged that if the whole French-speaking popula- 

 tion of Canada Icould be transferred to England and settled there within 

 five or six hours of London, there would be much greater probability of 

 the absorption of i^he French language than under present conditionSc 

 Well, you will find actually in that position, a people about the same in 

 numbers, with a language and literature which are not English, and, with 

 an enthusiasm for their language and literature which is not exceeded 

 anywhere; who have preserved both for more than six hundred years; a 

 people who have great weight in the Imperial Parliament, and who are 

 more than satisfied with their influence in it and in the Empire at large. 

 Who are more loyal to the Empire than the Welsh? I might even say, 

 who more devoted, maintaining it with true Celtic fervour? It is their 

 own. Nevertheless there is a large part of that people who cannot speak 

 a word of English. Books will give you no conception of this fact. 

 You must go and live in Wales for a short time to appreciate the reality. 



I spent a month there, near the eliief centre for English tourists, and 

 yet I was sometimes obliged to use the language of signs) alone to try to 

 convey my requests ; with var^dng results. The only part of a symbolical 

 sentence that was an invariable success was the exhibition of the Queen's 

 profile on silver. 



Aid to the Government. 



There was a hope also that the Government would sometimes find the 

 advice of the society useful within the society's own field. That the re- 

 presentatives of the people at large would take counsel with the repre- 

 sentatives of that portion of the people who live on the hill nearer the 

 sources of knowledge from which issue the descending streams that en- 

 rich and beautify the practical life of the community. And this hope 

 has been fulfilled. 



Courtesy and Official Action of the Government. 



It is an evidence of the success of our Canadian constitution that the 

 Government elected by the people, has shown itself without distinction 

 of party always ready to receive the representations of this society, with 

 courtesy, and while proceeding with deliberative caution, to act with 

 liberality when satisfied. 



Tidal and Hydrographie Surveys. 



This very day one of your committees has reported two instances 

 under two separate governments, in which surveys have been established 

 for the safety of Canadian navigation on the suggestions of this Society- 



