THE CANADIAN JOURNAL 
NEW SERIES. 
No. XXXII.—MARCH, 1861. 
THE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. 
BY DANIEL WILSON, LL.D., 
PROFESSOR OF HISTORY AND ENGLISH LITERATURE, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, TORONTO. 
Read before the Canadian Institute, January 13th, 1861. 
GENTLEMEN OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE, 
It was with a high appreciation of the honor conferred on me that 
{ acknowledged on a former occasion the distinction of being elected 
by you to fill this Chair, which had already been successively occupied 
by men whose names reflect a dignity on any one who may succeed to 
them ; and it is with feelings not less appreciative of the kindness 
with which you have marked your sense of my hearty zeal in all that 
pertains to the progress of the Canadian Institute, that I have again 
to thank you for this renewed testimony of your favor in placing me 
a second time in the high position of your President. 
It is usual on such anniversaries as this to review the more impor- 
tant events which have recently transpired in the world of science ; 
and especially to note what progress has been made within our own 
Province. During the past year, however, the interest and the ener- 
gies of Canada have been largely absorbed in proceedings, which, 
while they had for their special object the inaugural completion of 
that gigantic triumph of engineering skill which now spans the St. 
Lawrence, and challenges comparison with the greatest mechanical 
Vou VI. H 
