SUPPLEMENTARY PAPERS. 
e 
MEMORIAL OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE TO HIS EXCELLENCY 
THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA, SUBMITTING PAPERS 
ON TIME-RECKONING AND A PRIME MERIDIAN, READ DUR- 
ING THE SESSION 1878-79. 
Vo Ilis Excellency, the Right Honourable Str JoHN DovuGias SuTHERLAND, 
Marquis of Lorne, one of Her Majesty's Privy Council, Knight of the Most 
Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, and Knight Grand Cross of 
the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor- 
General of Canada, and Vice-Admiral of the same. 
The memorial of the Council of the Canadian Institute 
RESPECTFULLY SHEWETH : 
That the Canadian Institute, established in Toronto for a period 
of thirty years, has specially aimed at promoting scientific study and 
research ; and by means of its Journal of Proceedings has main- 
tained communication with men. of science in Europe and America. 
At meetings of the Institute, during the present session, com- 
munications have been submitted to it by one of its members, Mr. 
Sandford Fleming, C. M.G., with the special object of determining 
a First or Prime Meridian, common to all nations ; and promoting 
the adoption of a universal system of Time-reckoning, adapted alike 
to the requirements of an uniform historical record, and to the nove! 
requirements of civilization, consequent on the rapid extension of 
railway and telegraphic lines over the globe. 
While the geographical circumstances of Canada invest this sub- 
ject with peculiar interest to the Dominion, its importance is not 
limited to Canada. In every civilized country, circumstances have 
tended in recent years to demonstrate the desirableness of adopting 
some uniform system of notation of time and space; and, as your 
Excellency will see by the papers herewith transmitted to you, the 
attention of various scientific bodies, both in Europe and America, 
as well as of your memorialists, has been directed to this important 
subject. 
Your Memorialists have accordingly welcomed, with special satis- 
faction, the suggestion by one of their own members whose practical 
experience, especially in his trans-continental surveys as Chief En- 
gineer of the Canadian Pacific Railway, peculiarly fits him for the 
task : the suggestion of a Prime Meridian, free from the objections 
hitherto urged against other propositions, and so offering an accept- 
