PRESIDENT'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS, 



Mr. W. Hague Hauringtox. 



(delivered 10th dec, 1885.) 



Members of the Ottawa Field XaturaUsts Club, Ladies and Gentleinen: 

 It is related that King Gustavus III of Sweden, duiiiig a visit 

 to Paris, was waited upon by a deputation of savants from the Sorbonne, 

 who congratulated him, among other things, on having as a subject and 

 fellow-countryman a scientist so eminent as the chemist Scheele, the 

 discoverer of magnesium. The King, hitherto entirely ignorant of the 

 existence of the celebrated man, concealed as best he could the fact, 

 and as soon as the dejnitation had retired, sent a message to his 

 cabinet in Sweden that Scheele should be sought out and have the 

 rank of Count confen-ed upon him. An official was sent forth to make 

 the necessary enquiries, and returned with the information that Scheele 

 was a lieutenant in the artillery, a good sort of fellow, who was a 

 capital shot and played a first class game of billiards. The Premier, 

 acting on this report, created the fortunate lieutenant a count, and it 

 was only on the return of the King that he became aware of the mis- 

 take, and that the renowne.l scientist was still living in obscurity as 

 far as the court was concerned. 



A mistake analogous in its character was made at the las't annual 

 meeting of this (Jlub, when a humble sub-officer — a fair sort of secretary 

 and a successful collector of insects — was burdened with honors which 

 might have been gracefully and fittingly borne by one or other of oui- 

 well-known scieutists. 



An unfortunate victim to circumstances, I had at that meeting the 

 honor thrust upon me of election to the office of President of this 

 influential Club ; an office for which I felt myself totally iinfitted in 

 many important and, indeed, essential respects. While appreciating 

 in the highest degi-ee the honor conferred upon me, I am none the less 

 convinced that the selection you made has not conduced to the best 



welfare of the Club. I have continued to regret that, yielding to the 



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