164 A PAPER—BY WM. GOSSIP. 
Society which is so patronized and upheld, that it may almost be 
deemed a Government Institution. at the same time while it is so 
distinct. as to prove that its chief support must depend upon an 
appreciation of its merits by the people. Hitherto whatever has 
been done in this respect has been with little or no extraneous 
aid and assistance. Take our Institute as an example. After 
very creditable progress, and increasing popularity for several 
years, the pressure upon its funds for necessary maintenance had 
become so severe, that an application had to be made to the local 
legislature, which granted a smail annual sum, then, and still, 
very acceptable, which enables us to look the Province in the 
face with a creditable annual Book of Transactions, and in this 
way to repay the obligation by making the ccuntry better 
known both at home and abroad. But we are still indebted to 
the generosity of individuals for a place wherein to hold our 
meetings. and a place to keep our library, which is becoming 
valuable in many original publications. We are not able to 
build a hall of science as was sanguinely contemplated, nor are 
we able to procure out of the funds at our disposal, such publi- 
cations connected with our object, as we would like to call our 
own. I do not affirm that the interest has abated which was 
inspired at the birth of our Institute, certainly it has not 
beyond the confines of Nova Scotia, but with the strain upon 
the knowledge and the active intellect of our members, it is 
rather wonderful that their energies have proved equal to the 
demand upon them, or that its meetings are regularly held. It 
may be within the bounds of probability that the Royal Society, 
as a head or central Institution, with a position so well secured 
and acknowledged, may be able to supply by its influence just 
the momentum that is so much required to remedy some of those 
defects. Most likely our case is that of all Provincial or 
Canadian societies affiliated with it. They will without doubt 
desire to preserve their independence in their separate Provinces, 
and all alike deserve consideration. Jt may not be right there- 
fore that the aid of the Government should be bestowed on one 
Institution exclusively, but a discriminating assistance to all 
might be afforded through one well recognized channel, to be 
