Ix PROCEEDINGS. 



Joseph Howe, vice-presidents; William M. DeBlois, treasurer; 

 John Sparrow Thompson, secretary; and Robert Lawsori, 

 procurer of models, etc. (curator). Dr. Grigor held office 

 till 23rd December, 1833. The subsequent presidents were, 

 Joseph Howe (Dec. 1833 to Dec. 1834), John Leander Starr 

 (Dec. 1834 to Dec. 1835), George Rennie Young (Dec. 1835 

 to Dec. 1837 or May 1838), Andrew McKinlay (from Dec. 

 1837 or May 1838 to May 1849), Dr. Daniel McNeil Parker 

 (May 1849 to May 1852), Rev. Dr. Alexander Forrester 

 (May 1852 to May 1855), Andrew McKinlay (May 1855 

 until his death, 29th Sept. 1867), after which the presidency 

 was vacant, but James Thomson continued as vice-president 

 until about the autumn of 1868.* 



Meetings for lectures were held once a week during the 

 session, and a museum was immediately established and 

 gradually grew. The museum was at first in the same room 

 as the library, namely the lower part of the premises occupied 

 by Mrs. Grover as a boarding house, in Hollis Street. Sub- 

 sequently gatherings were held, and the collections accomo- 

 dated, in two rooms in the west end of Dalhousie College 

 on the Parade. 



The Institute became very popular and a most interesting 

 series of lectures was given, by prominent local men, on 

 scientific subjects, the fine arts, literature, etc., and art 

 exhibitions were held, all of which were well attended, f 

 Gradually, however, doubtless in the '50s, the interest in 

 it began to wane, and about 1860 it had become more o'r less 

 dormant and finally became defunct as far as active work 

 was concerned, leaving its museum, with old Errol Boyd, 

 the curator since 1847, as the only tangible remains of its 

 former glory. From that time the old officers appear to 

 have just continued nominally in office, their places not being 

 filled up as death took one after another, until in 1868 there 



* The presidential dates I believe will be found accurate, but absolute verification has 

 not been made in all cases by reference to newspaper files. The record books of the Mechanics" 

 Institute are not known to be in existence. 



f In 1845 a Mechanics' Institufe building was erected Tn Dartmouth, N.S. 



