1892-93.] FORTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT. 247 



The Council has pleasure in announcing that through the efforts of 

 one of our city members, Lt.-Col. F. C. Denison, C.M.G., M.P., and the 

 Hon. Senator Lougheed, the grounds and ruins of old Fort George at 

 Niagara are to be preserved and cared for by the Government. 



Action was taken by the Council in accordance with resolutions passed 

 at the meetings, to secure some commemoration of the crossing of the 

 Atlantic by the first steamer, in 1833. Dr. Sandford Fleming has proved 

 conclusively that the Canadian steamer Royal William was the first to 

 steam all the way across. The Government will probably erect a tablet 

 to commemorate the event. A model of the vessel is being exhibited at 

 the World's Columbian Exposition, and public documents relating to the 

 crossing distributed to the public. The log of the Savannah, which has 

 recently been published, proves that she steamed only in calm weather, 

 and out of 29 days, 1 1 hours at sea, she steamed altogether only 3 days, 

 8 hours. 



A joint committee of the Institute and Astronomical and Physica 

 Society has prepared a circular to be sent to all the observatories and 

 astronomers asking their opinions regarding a change in time reckoning, 

 whereby the astronomical and civil day shall begin at mean midnight, 

 and suggesting that the change shall be inaugurated in 190 1. 



The Institute was requested by the several provincial universities and 

 McGill, Montreal, to send an invitation to the British Association for the 

 Advancement of Science, to hold its meeting in 1895 in Toronto. The 

 proposal was favourably received by the Provincial Government ; the 

 Dominion Governrrient did not entertain the proposal on the basis set 

 forth in our petition ; negotiations are still pending, which it is hoped may 

 terminate favourably to the prayer of the Institute, and result in the 

 desired grant being made. 



The appeal of the Institute to leading citizens for aid, and an increased 

 membership has been widely disseminated ; it is being followed up by a 

 personal presentation of the claims of the Institute. 



The Institute again acknowledges its indebtedness to the ge-nerosity of 

 the Government in enabling it to continue its archaeological work. 



The report of the Curator will be found as full as ever of interesting 

 matter. The report is being printed as an appendix to the annual 

 report of the Hon. Minister of Education. 



The thanks of the Institute are due and are tendered to Messrs. 

 Cockburn, Denison, and Coatsworth, M. P.'s for the City of Toronto, for 

 many services rendered during the last session ; and to the CITY PRESS 

 for full reports of our meetings. 



