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un organized body of councillors, drawn from what is highest and best 

 in the scientific life of the nation, to which they can always look for 

 advice and direction in scientific matters relating to the interests of the 

 State." It seems to be universally conceded that all the preliminary 

 steps were most wisely thought out and arranged, and every care taken to 

 choose the very best men Canada could produce to represent the different 

 sections. The choice of the Secretary, the active officer, upon whom 

 devolves all the hard work, and upon whose energy so frequently depends 

 the success or failure of a new venture, was a very happy one in the 

 person of Mr. Bourinot, also one of our members, and so well known 

 to every reader and student of .Canadian History, for his charming 

 articles, which have appeared from time to time in the serial literatui'e 

 of this country, and whose writings have received most favourable 

 notices in England, both from men of letters and the press. The event 

 next in importance, to which it is neccessary for me to refer, is the late 

 meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 

 held in Montreal. Scientific life had its birth in Canada in 1857, when 

 the American Association met here before, and from that time on, 

 fostered by a few here, and nobly helped by our friends across the line, 

 it has gone on quietly gaining supporters and devotees, ixntil now scien- 

 tific knowledge is nicognized by all to be a necessity. The strides taken 

 in this direction and the discoveries made by its aid are almost beyond 

 conception. Ac the meeting in Montreal were gathered together the 

 leading Scientists of this continent, and not a few Canadians embraced 

 the opportunity of meeting personally and consulting with the great 

 minds, which, by means of correspondence, had, perhaps, for several 

 years been necessary to them in carrying out their studies. When the 

 joint excursion, composed of the members of the American Association 

 and the Forestry Congress, honoured our City with a visit I am happy 

 to say that the members of this Club were among the most active in 

 making and carrying out arrangements for their reception and enter- 

 tainment ; and how far overpaid were we for any trouble we may have 

 taken, by the pleasure of meeting and conversing with such men as 

 Principal Dawson, of McGill College, the President of the Association 

 for the year ; the celebrated Biophysiologist, Dr. Carpenter, acknow- 

 ledged to be one of the first philosophers of the day ; or Dr. Asa Gray, 



