PEOCEEDINGS FOE 1887. VII 



subject from public departments and societies, beginning with those of the mother counti-y and its 

 colonies and dependencies, but looking ultimately to union with those of the United States also. 



In the meantime, I propose to mention the subject to the Council of the British Association, to 

 the English and Amei-ican Committees of the International Congress of Geologists, and to the Council 

 of the Eoyal Society of Canada, and shall be glad to have your permission to regard this communi- 

 cation as an open letter to Le used in anj^ way likely to promote the object in view. 



I have the honour (o be, with all kind regards, 



Yours sincei'ely, 



(Signed) J. Wm. Dawson. 



The Council, fully appreciating the importance of the subject, at once apjjointcd a Committee 

 composed of Sir W. Dawson, Prof Laflamme, and Dr. Selwyn, to take the matter into consideration, 

 and to report thereon to the Society at the present meeting. 



In accordance with the rule adopted at the last general meeting. Section II has submitted to the 

 Council the name of John Charles Dent as that of a suitable person to fill the vacancy caused by the 

 resignation of Mr. Charles Sangstcr. It will be for the Society to take action on this nomination. 



In accordance with the resolution passed last May, a Committee has considered the rule with 

 reference to the filling of vacancies in a Section, and the Council now submit for your consideration 

 the following draft of a new regulation which they hope will meet all the difficulties of the case and 

 ensure that full deliberation which is so necessaiy in selecting members of the Society: — 



To the Council of the Royal Society of Canada. 



(JentlEiMen, — The undersigned, members of the Committee appointed at your la^t meeting, May 

 188G, to draft a regulation concerning the election of members, beg to recommend the following : — 



" Nominations to fill vacancies may bo made at any time in writing, by any three members of a 

 Section, and the nomination papers shall be lodged with the Ilonorarj' Secretary, who shall make a 

 record of them. When a vacancy occuis, the Honorai y Secretary shall notify the members of the 

 Section in which it has taken place, and shall transmit to each a j)rinted list of the candidates nomi- 

 nated, at least four months before the annual meeting of the Society. Each member may then place 

 a mark (X) opposite the name of the candidate for whom he votes, and return the voting paper to 

 the Ilonorarj^ Secrctarj', who shall then ropoi-t to the Council, at a meeting to be held at least two 

 months before the Annual Meeting, the number of votes obtained by each candidate. Should any of 

 these have obtained two-thirds of the votes of the whole Section, the Council shall consider such can- 

 didate elected, and so report to the Society. Should this i-esult not be attained, then the Council may 

 select one or more of the candidates obtaining the highest number of votes of the Section, and cause 

 the members of the Society to be advised of the names of the candidates so selected, at least one 

 month previous to the date of the annual meeting, when the election shall take place by vote of the 

 members present." 



(Signed) T. Sterry Hunt, 



Thos. Macfarlane, 

 J. Wm. Dawson. 



Montreal, December 29th, 1886. 



