=- 80 — 



nually under tlieir observation, but concerning the nature and 

 functions of wliicli they have no easy way of informing them- 

 selves, it might develop in many of them a taste for scientific 

 investigation ; the first step towards which is never to believe 

 anything in a book unles you are compelled by the absolute 

 authority of nature intimated either by the sensuous or the 

 moral organs of our humanity, to believe it. Erom this point 

 of view the great advantage of studying local phenomena to 

 gathering from books the experience of others is obvious, as 

 the truth of assertions relative to the local phenomera is easily 

 ascertained by personal investigation. 



" But this is only a single advantage. The great interest 

 attaching to the scientific investigations of local phenomena 

 lies in the fact that important links in reconstructing the 

 chain of nature are quite as often found in the remote places 

 of the earth as in those which have become the centres of 

 commercial, political and social industry. Possibly, if we 

 carry out our proposal with conscientious industry, our exam- 

 ple may bo followed by other colonies, and thus a library of 

 really useful knowledge respecting the history and nature of 

 the British Colonial possessions in various parts of the world 

 may be collected. It is certainly a matter for congratulation 

 that the proposal has met with the approval of the Governor, 

 who has given encouragement to the scheme, not only by the 

 expression of his sympathy, but by the promise of his personal 

 cooperation whether here or at home. 



" It is hoped that the members, of the Society will contri- 

 bute to the various departments which, in anticipation of 

 their assistance, have been assigned to them by the Secretary 

 to our Society ; and for myself, I shall be happy, with the 

 approval of the Society, to devote my attention to the literary 

 editorship of the work, to the painful editorial task of stimu- 

 lating the energy of others, and to investigating manuscript 

 and other authentic sources of colonial history not already 

 examined. If my friend and colleague M. Doyen will conti- 

 nue his kindness in allowing me to make use of his stores of 

 knowledge, I may be able to attain some success in a work 

 which he is unwilling, but would be so well able to carry out." 



