FIRST ORDINARY MEETING. 5 
III.—PURCHASES. 
Life of Sir William Logan, by Harrington. 
The Canadian Naturalist and Geologist. Vols. 1, 5 and 7 to complete 
sets. 
The Journal of Speculative Philosophy, Nos. 1, 2 and 3, Vol. 10; No. 3, 
Vol. 11; Nos. 1, 2 and 3, Vol. 12; No. 1, Vol. 13; No. 3, Vol. 14. 
The Bystander, Nos. 2, 3 and 4. 
The American Journal of Science ; 31 numbers to complete set. 
And the various Periodicals mentioned in the last Annual Report, from April 
to November, 1883. 
The President then delivered his Inaugural Address on 
COMPLEXION, CLIMATE AND RACE. 
MEMBERS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN : 
I appear before you this evening to read the introductory paper of 
the session, but before doing so I wish to express my sense of the 
honour which my fellow members have conferred upon me by electing 
me a second time to the high office of President of the Canadian 
Institute. I wish likewise to acknowledge the heartiness of the aid 
and support which they gave to the Institute during last session, and 
to express the hope that the same unselfish and disinterested feelings 
which have hitherto prompted them to encourage what is done here 
for the advancement of science and the diffusion of knowledge may 
continue to operate in their breasts. The increase in membership, 
and the general success of the Institute during last winter, give rise in 
my mind, to good auguries for its prosperity during the session which 
commences to-night. Though the Council was unable during last ses- 
sion to accomplish everything that could have been wished, I think all 
will agree that it effected a great deal; and I confidently anticipate 
that much of the work which is not yet finished will be overtaken 
before next May. The labour of putting our library and collections 
in order has proved much more serious than was anticipated, but a 
very large part of the work has been done, and our active and efficient 
Assistant-Secretary, Mr. Young, has already put them so far into 
shape, that he is now in a position to say what we do, and do not 
possess, in most departments. I may add that the number of 
periodicals which we take, and that of societies with which we ex- 
change publications have been considerably increased, and that, in 
