Vi PROCEEDINGS. 



At the first meeting the officers of the older organization resigned, 

 and the officers of the Institute of Natural Science were elected Mr. 

 P. C. Hill being President. At this meeting a Constitution and 

 Bye-Laws were adopted. Among the resolutions which passed was 

 the following : Resolved, That at the next monthly meeting each mem- 

 ber be entitled to bring a friend. 



Now every member is not only entitled to bring a friend to the 

 meetings but he is urged to do so, and to bring not one friend only but 

 as many friends as he pleases, provided he can sufficiently interest them 

 in the work of the Institute. 



At the meeting in February, the Right Honorable the Earl of 

 Mulgrave, Patron of the Institute was present, and after listening to 

 the papers and discussions he expressed himself much pleased, and 

 promised to do what he could to advance the work. 



In the early meetings of our Institute so great was the general 

 interest in scientific work that there seemed to be always a sufficient 

 supply of scientific papers ready to be read when required. Every 

 meeting was closed by an announcement of the titles of the papers to be 

 read at the next. This timely announcement of the subject gave mem- 

 bers an abundance of time to prepare to take an intelligent part in the 

 discussions which followed every paper. 



But in these busy days in which our lot has fallen we are thankful 

 if we can announce the programme a few days in advance, and some- 

 times papers are read by title because they are not ready. Could not 

 the Secretaries and President by taking thought beforehand bring about 

 the happy state of things in this respect, that formerly existed 1 It is 

 worth the attempt. 



In March, 1864, we find the first announcement of the receipt of 

 Reports of sister societies. The small beginning of our present large 

 and valuable library consisted of three volumes, namely, the second 

 Report of the Scientific Survey of the State of Maine, the Report of the 

 Natural History Society of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and the first number 

 of our own Transactions. 



Now that our library has grown to such dimensions, we should pre- 

 pare a catalogue complete to date. Copies of it should be sent to our 

 , academies and to all other institutions of learning in the Maritime 

 Provinces and to all persons whom we might wish to persuade to 

 become members. To young students having time and inclination for 



