lOG THE rUESIDEKT's ADDRESS. 



developG our plans, and we ouglit to work diligenLly towards securing 

 t lie ill. 



Ono of our practical wants is tuat our p.ipov.s suould give vise to 

 iDoic eoiivcr^aiion, making our lueciings uioio ,'j0c-ii>.). and iluif-. luce 

 slionld ;)e uiove tiiue aad oppovLuuily for general conversation. I am 

 inclined also lo tLink, that ii^ a ccvtaiu nuni')cr o? our meciings every 

 season, were devoicd to Icciures by some of (lie uiembers, on suiiable 

 subjects, literary or scientiilc, at wliieli ladies niigbfc be invited to 

 aUcnd, we sbould tbus make (be cbaractev and objccis of our Society 

 betvcr known ; increase its useful iuilueuce, and conivibute to tbe 

 pleasure of our members. Our financial condition forbids any impov- 

 laiifc immediate increase to our Library, or additional supply of our 

 Eeading Room, tbougb it is not so bad as to prevent sometbing being 

 done wbicb I bope will be immediately considered; but, to speak tbe 

 plain trutb, if ibose who call tbemselves our members, and wbo all 

 ougbt to be with us, would only regularly pay tbeir annual contribu- 

 tions, wbicb if doiie regularly would be to tbem but a small maitcr, we 

 should be well able to do many things which we now lament our inability 

 to accomplish; and of course the move we did in this way, the greater 

 would be ihe inducements to others to join us, as well as our own 

 benelifc from our association. As to our Museum, it is at present use- 

 less, and little else than a name. Personally, T am strongly impressed 

 with tiie folly and wastefulness of multiplying museums in the same 

 neighbourhood. The University of Toronto, which is a national insti- 

 tution, and opens all its advantages as freely as possible to the whole 

 public, aims at a good general museum, both as a means of teachiiig 

 the natural sciences in University College, and as a place for consulta- 

 tion of specimens and improving study to all lovers of natural history, 

 as well as a pleasing recreation to all visitors. It is a matter of public 

 and national interest to improve this Museum, which, if it had any 

 funds for i^s increase, would speedily become highly valuable. I'^or us 

 to attempt a duplicate general Museum, would be absurd; and the few 

 interesting productions of distant countries possessed by us, are really 

 out of place wiih us, and wasted upon us. But there is something iu 

 this way which we might do, which would be both pleasing and useful- 

 We might have a Natural History collection of the productions of our 

 own Province. We might solicit our sporting friends to send us speci- 

 mens of the mammalia and birds of our region. The fishes of our 

 lakes and streams would not be less attractive, and a good deal more 



