282 (Jan. 4, 
Councillors for three years. 
Daniel R. Goodwin, W.S. W. Ruschenberger, 
Henry Winsor, William A. Ingham. 
A letter was received from Mr. Moncure Robinson, stating 
that he had received from M. Chevalier, a copy of the last 
report of the Permanent French Committee to the Associa- 
tion for the construction of a submarine railroad between 
Calais and Dover (M. Chevalier being President of the 
French, and Sir John Hawkshaw, President of the English 
Association) for transmission to the American Philosophical 
Society, as a donation to the Library. Mr. Robinson ex- 
presses his high appreciation of the report, and appends to 
his letter a translation of it into English, made at his re- 
quest by Mr. J. Percy Keating, for the gratification of mem- 
bers of the Society. 
‘“ PHILADELPHIA, DrEc. 28, 1877. 
“J. P. Lesley, Hsq., Secretary of the American Philosophical Society. 
‘«Srr:—I received early in November, from Mr. Michel Chevalier, the dis- 
tinguished political economist and statesman, now President of the French 
Association, for the construction of a submarine railroad between Calais and 
Dover (Sir John Hawkshaw being President of the English), two copies 
of the last reports of the Permanent French Committee to the Association. 
These copies were transmitted me by Mr. Chevalier, accompanied by the 
request, that I would present one of them in his name, to the American 
Philosophical Society, of which he was elected a member in 1852, and of 
which honor he desired to present this evidence of his recollection. On 
reading the copy sent for myself, I was struck with the beautiful lucidity of 
the remarks of Mr. Chevalier, on the ‘present condition of the undertaking.’ 
They are in fact so clear, as to enable the general reader, if only moder- 
ately familiar with the French language, to appreciate correctly, even with- 
out the advantage of the accompanying maps and reports, the favorable fea- 
tures, as well as the difficulties and dangers of the enterprise. It seemed to 
me, under the circumstances, desirable to transmit with the reports of Mr. 
Chevalier and his distinguished co-laborers, a translation in English of the 
address of Mr. Chevalier, in presenting them to the Association, and I 
should have made myself a translation of this address, but for the kindness 
of a highly accomplished young friend, Mr. J. Percy Keating, of this city, 
who volunteered to make one for me, and who I was satisfied would exe- 
cute the task much better than I could. The translation has been sent me 
within a few days past, and I now transmit it with the reports, for the 
