XLIV ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



Visit of the B.A.A.S, to Winnipeg. 



You have also a report before you showing with what quick apprecia- 

 tion the present Prime Minister received a deputation from, the Society 

 last 3'ear, and how promptly, after inquiry, he agreed to propose to Par- 

 liament a handsome grant to enable us to have a visit from the British 

 Association in Winnipeg. 



International Geological Congress. 



It will not be forgotten that in a previous year a similar request con- 

 cerning a visit from the International Geological Congress, was received 

 in a similar spirit and with equal liberality. We can only regret tlmt 

 the Congress could not come, and hope for better fortune on a future 

 opportunity, after the visit of the B.A.A.S. to Winnipeg, which according 

 to precedent, may be safely counted on in due course. 



Provision for Visits of Associations from other Countries. « 



But how are we to make sure of a future opportunity? What 

 everybody desires, everybody may expect his neighbour to get for him; 

 and then every effort becomes a matter of chance ; or again, two different 

 desires may present themselves to two persons at the same time and then 

 there may be a clash of efforts. That visits of associations like our own 

 from other countries will be of great value to Canada and are thus very 

 desiirable/ all feel; but how are we to get them if we have no system? 

 Ought we not to put on some small committee or on the Council, the 

 responsibility of recommending to the society from time to time, at re 

 gulated intervals, if possible, invitations for such visits? 



Chance and not-chance. 



If not they will be left to chance. I speak with knowledge, for if 

 I may be epccused for mentioning the fact, it was due to chance that the 

 movements for two meetings of the B.A.A.S. in Canada (out of three 

 altogether), were initiated by the same individual, myself. One being 

 lor the meeting in Toronto in 1897, which was started by correspondence 

 with leading men in Toronto immediately after my return from the 

 Edinburgh meeting in 1893. The other for Winnipeg, as the Eev. Dr. 

 Bryce very kindly indicated, when bringing forward the resolution lasî 

 year in this society; I had been waiting for months previously to make 

 the suggestion to him at the meeting of the society, in connection with 

 what is now the third city in population in Canada. How ably and 

 successfully he has organized the movement we all know. I can there- 



