Ixxx PROCEEDINGS. 
remain, and we may feel satisfied if we have contributed our quota of 
bricks to the daily increasing foundation of the sciences. 
In every division of nature our deductions and laws remain good 
until rendered untenable by the unanswerable chill of fresh facts. The 
true student rejoices at the demolition of his fabric when he knows that 
the opportunity is offered of modelling it on a broader and surer 
foundation. 
It is largely in the accumulation of facts that a useful future lies 
before us, and I would impress upon you the desirability of enrolling 
every person who can give careful and accurate observations upon the 
natural world surrounding us. 
One discovery by one of our members of an important fact bearing 
on the protection of our agricultural products from the attacks of 
noxious insects, the introduction of a form of animal or vegetable life 
capable of anchorage here, and serving to our needs, or any similar 
discovery, would many times repay the money we have spent. We 
should have on our list every person willing to study in these or kindred 
branches, and to such substantial assistance should, I think, not be denied 
by you. 
The transactions of the past session of the Institute will, I think, 
be considered, to say the least, quite up to the mark. Of most general 
jnterest will be found the portrait of our late friend, Dr. Lawson, and 
Prof. MacGregor’s sketch of his busy and useful life. In addition to the 
regular papers, matters of interest were submitted at various meetings 
by Prof. MacGregor, Drs. MacKay and Somers. At aspecial meeting the 
Rev. G. Patterson read a valuable paper on ‘‘ Newfoundland Folk 
Speech.” 
In the Transactions are two linked papers by Prof. MacGregor and D. 
MeIntosh on the calculation of the conductivity of mixtures of 
electrolytes. The former showed by a graphical process, based on 
observations, the calculability of the conductivity of a series of mixtures 
of solutions of chloride of sodium and potassium. He found that 
the calculations agreed with the observations in dilute solutions, but not 
in stronger ones. The latter extended the observations in order to 
determine the differences between the observed and calculated values in 
the case of the stronger solutions, and the extent of agreement in the 
case of solutions of sodium chloride and hydrochloric acid which have 
ionic velocities differing more widely. 
