xliv PROCEEDINGS. 



DR. MALAY'S communication was discussed by MR. PIERS, DR. 

 SOMERS, and MR. MILLER. 



A paper, " On the Calculation of the Conductivity of Mixtures of 

 Aqueous Solutions of Electrolytes having a common Ion," by D. 

 MclNTOSH, ESQ., Dalhousie College, was read by title. 



Notice of the May meeting of the Eoyal Society of Canada was 

 read. The PRESIDENT of the Institute was appointed delegate to the 

 meeting, with power to appoint a substitute if necessary. 



SPECIAL MEETING. 



Legislative Council Chamber, Halifax, 27th April, 1896. 

 The PRESIDENT in the Chair. 



REV. G. PATTERSON, D. D., LL. D., of New Glasgow, N. S., having 

 been invited by the Council to address the Institute on his investigations 

 in relation to the Folk-speech of Newfoundland, in order that the atten- 

 tion of members of the Institute might be directed to this kind of 

 research, read the following paper : 



NOTES ON THE DIALECT OF THE PEOPLE OF 

 NEWFOUNDLAND. 



Of late years Folk-lore, by which is meant popular superstitions, 

 tales, traditions and legends, has engaged a large amount of attention, 

 and is now universally recognized as of great value in the study of 

 anthropology and comparative religion. Closely connected with this is 

 the study of folk-speech, or the words and linguistic forms of the common 

 people, as distinguished from the literary language of the cultured 

 classes. These, though the consideration of them may be regarded as 

 more properly belonging to the science of philology, are yet also of 

 interest as connected with the history and migrations, the beliefs and 

 modes of life of the peoples among whom they are found. 



Hitherto, in Nova Scotia, attention has scarcely been directed to 

 either of these subjects. I know of no systematic attempt either to 

 gather up the folk-lore or to discuss the linguistic peculiarities of our 

 people. And yet we have an ample field. Our original settlers were 

 principally French, German, English, Irish, Lowland Scotch, an 



