CXCVIII ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



Our annual meeting was held at London on the 10th and 11th Sep- 

 tember; copies of the annual report, 1908, are herewith transmitted. 



The attendance was large, both of local citizens and of members of 

 the Historical Societies in this central section of Western Ontario. 



The members were welcomed by the council of the city and provided 

 with a complimentary electric railway excursion around the city and to 

 Spring Bank Park and along the banks of the Eiver Thames. 



The reading of papers which had commenced at the morning session 

 was continued in the pavilion in the park. Much added interest was 

 thereby given to the papers read here on " The beginning of London," 

 (Dt. C. T. Campbell), and "The Highland Pioneers of Middlesex," 

 (Mr. H. McCall), which touched particularly on the valley of the 

 Thames and the parts of the city through which the members had been 

 conducted. 



An afternoon Garden ;Party was given by Mr. Prank Leonard, the 

 President of the London and Middlesex Historical Society, and Mrs. 

 Leonard at their beautiful residence. Luncheon and hospitality were 

 given on both days by the members of the London society. 



At the public evening meeting in the Normal School, the address of 

 the President was given, dealing principally with the materials for his- 

 tory to be found in common life, the discovery of the remains of Veren- 

 drye and Fort Charles by the clergy of St. Boniface, and the nomen- 

 clature of the Rainy Lake and River, Lake Superior which had been 

 named by the great explorer after René Gaultier de Varennes, his grand- 

 father. 



The reading of papers was continued on the second day and fol- 

 lowed by the election of officers and committees. 



The papers read at the London meeting, together with a further con- 

 tribution of church records in the Niagara District, will be published in 

 Vol. IX, " Papers and Records of the Ontario Historical Society," which 

 all members in 1909 will be entitled to receive. 



The movement for the protection of old Fort York at Toronto, was 

 continued mainly with a view to distinct undertakings being given for its 

 restoration and maintenance. Full and detailed plans for adequate 

 restoration in accordance with the Ordnance Plan of 181G, which had 

 been obtained through the courtesy of Dr. Doughty of the Archives De- 

 partment, were prepared by this Society and presented to the city of 

 Toronto. The matter was also brought to the attention of the Dominion 

 Government. 



The Patent now issued, which contains a clause to the effect that 

 the Fort shall be restored as far as possible to its condition in 1816, has 

 been accepted by the City, and we may trust that this historical land- 



