■62 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [VoL. II. 



■vv^arded on the 15th Feb., 1891. The memorial also prayed that special 

 enquiry be made for the loan of documents relating to early family 

 history, now in private possession, with a view to their being copied; and 

 a collection formed of interesting relics of pioneer life for a Provincial 

 museum. 



A memorial was also presented to the Hon. Minister of the Interior, 

 on the same date, requesting the Dominion Government to aid the 

 Institute in " research into the various subjects connected with the early 

 Indian occupation of the Dominion." The Council regrets to say an 

 unfavorable reply was received to this petition. 



The invitation of the town of Niagara to the Institute to hold its first 

 summer convention in that charming old historic centre was readily 

 accepted. A well attended convention was held there on the 2nd 

 and 3rd July, 1890. Several papers were read by the residents 

 which added greatly to the interest of the meeting. The Council cannot 

 refrain from expressing its pleasure and acknowledging its thanks for 

 the excellent paper contributed by Miss Carnochan on "Two Frontier 

 Churches." 



The Archaeological branch of our work suffers no loss. The curator, 

 indefatigable as ever, has again enriched the museum and saved to the 

 Province a large collection of relics, which will ere long be of inestimable 

 value to the students of anthropology, ethnology, archaeology and soci- 

 ology. Special mention may be made of the Geo. C. Laidlaw loan 

 collection of stone, earthenware, and other specimens obtained in neigh- 

 borhood of Balsam Lake ; a collection lent by Dr. Tweedale, from Elgin 

 Count)- ; and the Long collection of bone ornaments and implements 

 collected near Toronto, first loaned by Mr. Long and now the property 

 of the Institute by purchase. 



The Annual Report of the Curator this year, a work surpassing in 

 interest an}- of his former reports, has been distributed among the 

 members. The Council commends it to the careful study of every 

 member interested in the history of our Province. 



The Institute was ably represented at the Congress of Romance 

 Languages, held in Montpelier, France, 26th May, 1890, by Mr. Arthur 

 Harvey, and in February of this year he presented his credentials to the 

 Institute of Jamaica, during the time of the Exhibition. His reports 

 from both places are full of interest. 



The Council takes pleasure in acknowledging once more the generosity 

 of the Ontario Government in placing the sum of $1,000 at its disposal 

 for the extension of archaeological research, and for assistance in printing 

 the report on archaeology. 



