PEOCEBDINGS FOE 1887. XIII 



Tour Committee liave had under consideration the proposals contained in a letter of Sir William 

 Dawson, LLD., F.R.S., President of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, addressed 

 to Pi'of. George Gabriel Stoke-i, M.A., D.C.L., etc., President of the Royal Society of London, and a 

 copy of which was submitted to the Council of the Royal Society at its meeting on March 3lst 

 last. Your Committee begs leave to leport : — 



(1.) That the olijects referred to seem of the greatest importance to the advancement of geo- 

 logical science, and deserve the consideration of this Society, and more especially of its Geological 

 Section. 



(2.) That the present year, when all the subjects of the British Empire are united in a common 

 desire to celebrate the fiftieth year of the reign of Her Most Gracious Majesty, when the public mind 

 is impressed with the recent gathering of the resources of the empire in the Colonial and Indian 

 Exhibition, when plans lor imjierial fodei-ation are befoio the public, and when a conference of 

 delegates from the colonies, for the purpose of promoting a more intimate connection, is being held 

 in London, appears eminently favourable to the idealisation of the idea of an Imperial Geological Union. 



(3.) It would appear that tiie first steps toward such union should be taicen by scientific bodies 

 of London, and that the Royal Societ}' of London should be requested to begin the movement by 

 inviting in the first instance to a conference, representatives of the Geological Survey of Great Britain 

 and of the various societies and associations in Great Britain an 1 Ireland, prosecuting geological 

 work, with representatives from similar bodies in the colonies. Such a conference might define the 

 objects to be attained, and might prLipare a constitution and arrange for subsequent meetings and for 

 reports to be sent in on impoitant questions. 



(4.) It ajtpears to your Committee that when thus organised, the work of the " Imperial Geo- 

 logical Union " might be carried on by local and general conferences and conventions ; by regular 

 reports from local branches for publication annually by the officers or council of the union ; by 

 cori'espondence and conference with geological bodies abroad, and probably by other methods which 

 would develop themselves. 



(5.) In so far as Canada is concei-ned, this work might bo aided by the Geological Survey of the 

 Dominion, by this Society and the societies affiliated with if, and possibly also by the universities. 



(6.) The Director of the Geological Survey of the Dominion has intimated his willingness to co- 

 operate in sending rei^resentatives of the Survey to any conference or convention, and also by 

 furnishing information as to the work and methods of the Survey. 



(7.) It appears to your Committee that this Society might cooperate by empowering the Council 

 to continue its committee and to select delegates to represent the Society in event of a preliminary 

 conference being called in London, and by inviting all the affiliated societies which prosecute geo- 

 logical work in the Dominion to lake similar action. 



Your Committee would therefore recommend that this report, with the letter appended, be 

 printed and circulated among the different local societies connected with this Society, and among 

 such other bodies as may be interested in the matter, and that their aid and countenance be solicited 

 in carrying out the scheme, and that the Society empower the Council, or a committee ajjpointed 

 for the purpose, to rejsresent the views of the Society by correspondence, or by attending any 

 conference on the subject which may be summoned. It will, however, be understood that no expense 

 shall be incurred without the c 'nsont of the Council of the Society. 



It appears to your Committee that while the usual language of the Union would necessarily 

 be English, communications should be received in any language used within the Empire, and that in 

 this Dominion the English and the French languages would be recognised as in this Society. 



" J. Wm. Dawson, 



(Signed) Alf. E. C. Selwtn, 



J. C. K. Laflamme. 



