APPENDIX A XLV 



fere speak with conviction when I say chance, although the chances were 

 perhaps increased by the fact that 1 was connected with both the E.S.C. 

 and the B.A.A.S. as chairman of committees of both. 



What however is not a matter of chance but is due to the forethought 

 of the Duke of Argyll, and to the corporate character of the society he 

 founded, is, that a member who lived the retired life of a University 

 Professor, sunk fathoms deep in lectures, as most professors were in ante- 

 society days, and very many are now, should have had the opportunity 

 to emerge occasionally, and through the gathering together of his col- 

 leagues from all parts of Canada and the backing and encouragement 

 which they gave him, should have been able twice to influence the 

 ParHament to pass such large measures for the safety of our ships on 

 both oceans, and of the lives of our sailors; and twice to initiate the 

 movements for bringing across the Atlantic to Canada one of the 

 greatest scientitic associations of the world. 



Have we not here plain encouragement to members who from' their 

 position see, ancf dislike to see, Canada lagging behind on any line of 

 national development, and are willing to undertake the laborious and 

 often disheartening task of trying to quicken the action of the people and 

 the government? 



Central Position of Canada. 



There is an additional and a strong reason for an amendment in our 

 regulations or by-laws so as to make specific allotment of the responsi- 

 bility I advocate. It is the central position of Canada in the Empire. 

 1 ..have made lan estimate of the time and expenses of travelling from 

 London to Australia and New Zealand or vice versa and if any one else 

 ■will do the same, he will find that they are greater than to South Africa, 

 and so great as to preclude, in general, visits of a body of University 

 Professors to or from those countries. But professors from Australia 

 and iSTew Zealand could get to Winnipeg and back in the limited time at 

 their disposal and, no doubt, they will be invited. Besides, and this is 

 no small advantage, the American Association can, as on former occa- 

 sions, so choose its place of meeting for the year, that visits may be in- 

 terchanged to our mutual gain. We may hope therefore for more visits 

 in the future than in the past and ought to make provision accordingly. 



Papers in the Transactions. 



So far I have spoken only of the corporate action of the society; of 

 what it has been to do as a body. I should have liked, if it were 

 possible, to give some sketch of an analytical classification of the mass 

 of papers that have been published by the members during the 25 years. 



