22 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



negatively, in times of revolution ; and positively, in periods of con- 

 struction and reconstruction. In the latter form he brought forth 

 the influence and benefit of trade unions and friendly societies, such 

 as Oddfellows, Knights of Pythias, Labour, etc., which was said by 

 the lecturer to consist mainly in this — a provision against the pre- 

 carious condition of industry as it affects the artisan, combined with 

 the desire of association. The living industries of to-day ai'e no 

 longer in the isolated or individualistic conditions contemplated by 

 economists of the last century, but are on both sides combinations. 

 George's theories of taxation and landholding were passed under 

 review, but in the opinion of the lecturer the trend of civilization 

 was in an opposite direction ; to make land personalty, to abolish the 

 doctrines of realty, and enlai-ge rather than diminish the extent of 

 property which may be held in it. The tendency is toward a wider 

 individualism of the constructive or positive form, to which legisla- 

 tion has lent much assistance in regard of social interests of an 

 economic character in late yeai-s. 



ELEVENTH MEETING. 



Eleventh Meeting, 28th January, 1888, James Bain, Jr., 

 Esq., in the chair. 



Donations and exchanges since last meeting, 36. 



The following were elected members : A. C McKay, B.A., 

 Lieut. Col. George A. Shaw, Alexander Rankin, Alex. Nairn. 



Mr. Charles M. Dobson, M.E., read a paper on " The 

 Electro-Mercurial Amalgamation of the Precious Metals from 

 Argentiferous and Auriferous Ores." 



He commenced by explaining that miners always experienced con- 

 siderable difficulty in securing the float and flour gold with present 

 amalgam inethods. The present method was to crush the ore, and 

 when reduced to a fine pulp or sand, to allow it to trickle over large 

 copper taVjles that have been treated to a coating of mercury. The 

 gold sticks to the mercury, and after a quantity has adhered the 



