SUPPLEMENTARY PAPERS. 31 
HIS EXCELLENCY THE MARQUIS OF LORNE, GOVERNOR-GEN- 
ERAL OF CANADA, TO SIR M. E. HICKS-BEACH, COLONIAL 
SECRETARY, LONDON. 
[No. 174.] Orrawa, July 12th, 1879. 
Sir,— With reference to my despatch No. 147, of the 21st May 
last, transmitting a copy of a pamphlet, entitled ‘Time-reckoning 
and the Establishment of a Prime Meridian,” I have the honour to 
forward herewith a further communication, June 24th, 1879, from 
the Canadian Institute at Toronto, concerning additional copies of 
the papers in question, and requesting that they may be distributed 
in accordance with the list appended. 
If you see no objections I should be much obliged if you would 
kindly give effect to the wishes of the Institute. 
I have, etc., 
LORNE. 
Str M. E. Hicks-Bracu, &e., &e. 
SIR M. E. HICKS-BEACH, COLONIAL SECRETARY, LONDON, TO 
THE MARQUIS OF LORNE, GOVERNCR-GENERAL, CANADA. 
[Canada, No. 342.] DowninG STREE?, 15th October, 1879. 
My Lorp,—In my despatch, No. 173, of the 11th of June, I 
acknowledged the receipt of your despatch, No. 147, of the 21st of 
May, inclosing a Memorial from the Canadian Institute of Toronto, 
together with a Pamphlet, entitled ‘Time Reckoning and the Estab- 
lishment of a Prime Meridian,” which the memoralists desired to be 
brought to the notice of Her Majesty’s Government as well as of 
Scientific Societies in Great Britain, and to be submitted also for the 
consideration of the Governments of Foreign Powers. 
2. I have now to acknowledge your later despatch, No. 174, of 
the 12th of July, inclosing a further communication from the Can- 
adian Institute, forwarding additional copies of the Pamphlet, which 
they request may be distributed in accordance with a list thereto 
appended. 
3. It has been the custom of Her Majesty’s Government to abstain 
from interfering with recognized usages in questions of social import- 
ance until the spontaneous use of any novel system that may be in- 
troduced in such matters has become so extensive as to make it 
desirable that authoritative regulations should be sanctioned with 
regard to it, and it does not appear that such a condition of affairs in 
reference to the subjects of the Memorial has yet arisen. 
4. It appears, however, that the memorialists consider it desirable 
that their views on the question should be extensively ventilated, and 
in accordance with their application, I have forwarded the Pamphlets 
which they have transmitted, to the scientific societies named in the 
list, and I will also request the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs 
3 
