6 UNIVERSAL OR COSMIC TIME. 
new conditions of life. While on the one hand it was argued that 
the introduction of a comprehensive scheme by which time could be 
universally reckoned was highly desirable, it was equally maintained 
that the determination of a common Prime Meridian for the world 
was the key to its success, and that the establishment of such a 
meridian, as a zero, recognized by all nations, was the first important 
step demanded. 
These proceedings were brought under the notice of His Excel- 
lency the Marquis of Lorne, then Governor-General of Canada. 
In the name of the Institute, they were submitted, in the form of a 
memorial,* with the hope that His Excellency would see fit to lay 
them before the Imperial Government, that they would by these 
means obtain the attention of the several scientific bodies throughout 
Europe, and that some general systematic effort would be made in 
the right direction to secure the important objects sought to be 
attained. 
Through the good offices of His Excellency, copies of the Canadian 
Institute Proceedings found their way to the British Admiralty, the 
Astronomer Royal, Greenwich, The Astronomer Royal for Scotland, 
Edinburgh, The Royal Society, The Royal Geographical Society, The 
Royal Astromomical Society, The Royal United Service Institute, 
and other societies of eminence and weight in the United Kingdom. 
Copies of the papers were likewise sent through the Imperial Goy- 
ernment to the Governments of the following countries, viz. : 
FRANCE, GERMANY, 
ITALY, NORWAY anp SWEDEN, 
THE UNITED STATES, RUSSIA, 
AUSTRIA, BELGIUM, 
BRAZIL, DENMARK, 
JAPAN, THE NETHERLANDS, 
SPAIN, PORTUGAL, 
SWITZERLAND, TURKEY, 
GREECE, CHINA. 
In the year following, the American Metrological Society issued a 
Report of the Committee on Standard Time. The Report bears the 
name of Mr. Cleveland Abbe, the Chairman of the Committee, 
and the date of May, 1879. It draws attention to many of the 
causes calling for the establishment of accurate time, and the 
* See page 27. 
