XXVIII EOYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA. 



March 15. Two papers: (1) An extract from a letter of 1812, referring to the removal of the 

 Porte des Eecollets, an ancient gate of Montreal, to the bridge at the Cascades, where it was bodily 

 set up as an Arch. (2) Notes on the Militia of Canada, by Major L. A. HuguetrLatour. 



April 26. Lambert Closse, the earliest Town-Major of Montreal, by Mr. À. Chaussegros de Léry 

 Macdonald. 



May 17. Some rare MSS. Ordinances from old documents of the Barony of Longucuil, by Judge 

 Baby, the President. 



The year has, however, been too full for us of other matters of interest to make papers a promi- 

 nent element. On one occasion, our chief attention was attracted by the exhibition of a rare sketch in 

 oils of the ancient Chfiteau de Longueuil, the finest specimen of a feudal castle in New France. On 

 another, it is an original edition of Chamj)lain's works, or Peter Kalm's. Or we have the discussion 

 of the Société Historiquo's proposal to have a portrait painted of Jacques Viger, first Mayor of Mon- 

 treal and founder of antiquarianism there. Or we discover among our exliibits or donations some 

 new matter of value on the Acadian question. 



Our twenty-fifth anniversary occm-s this year on December 15th next, on which occasion we 

 are taking steps to issue a medal bearing the head of our esteemed President, and also to bring to- 

 gether an exhibition of historical portraits in the gallery of the Art Association, which will, wo trust, 

 be an event of some importance. 



IX. — Fi-om The Society for Historical Studies of Montreal, thiough Mr. W. J. White. 



As this is the first I'eport which our Society has had the privilege of presenting to the Eoj'al 

 Society, it may be of interest to mention briefly the various steps which have marked our progress 

 from the beginning. 



On March 2nd, 1885, Messrs. Thos McDougall, John Eeade, J. P. Edwards and "W. J. White n^et 

 to consider the advisability of forming a Society in Montreal exclusively for the study of history and 

 especially Canadian history. Othei's were then invited to cooperate and meetings for organisation 

 were held on March 8th and April 1st of the same yeai". The use of a room in the Fraser Institute 

 was secured, and the Society held its first meeting for study on November 18th, 1885, on which occa- 

 sion Mr. Francis McLennan read a pajjer upon " The Political History of the Church, down to the 

 Conquest." A constitution and by-laws were adopted, officers elected, and the Society began the 

 year 1886 with fifteen active members. Since then the following meetings have been held, and 

 papers read : — 



January 13th, 1886, Mr. Henry Mott read a paper entitled " Meanderings in History," touching 

 particularly upon points in and about Montreal, such as the naming of its streets and squares, with 

 a comparative reference to European street nomenclature. 



January 24th, the Society accepted the invitation of Mr. Gerald E. Hart, who read a paper 

 entitled " A Cabinet of Books, a résumé of Bibliography " in the Windsor Hotel. In connection with 

 this paper, Mr. Hart exhibited a collection of rare and interesting books and manuscripts. 



March 24th, Mr. J. P. Edwards read a paper on " The Fiist Settlements in Acadia." 



May 19th, Mr. John Eoade contributed a ]iaper on " The Canadian People," dealing willi the 

 various immigrations and their effect upon the population. 



A paper entitled " Colbertism in Canada," piepared by Mr. Tbos. McDougall, was read on 

 November, 3rd dealing with the commei'cial policy of Colbert and its influence upon the progi-ess 

 of Canada. 



December 8th, a paper on " The Northern Boundary of the province of Quebec," was read by Mr. 

 Francis McLennan. Mr. McLennan discussed the various opinions and decisions as to the northern 



