1879-^. Transactions. li 



season. In June, 1865, on request of the Society, room was 

 granted in the library of the Mechanics' Institute and 

 Athenaeum for the museum of the former. The Society was 

 incorporated by act of the Legislature on August 15th, 1866. 



On July ist, 1867, the Dominion of Canada was born and 

 shortly afterwards (July i6th) a committee of the Society 

 waited " upon the Premier with a view of obtaining his opinion 

 as to the feasibility of moving the Geological collection of 

 Canada (from Montreal) to the metropolis." This was sub- 

 sequently carried out (1881), and naturally had the effect of 

 lessening the relative value of the small museums begun in 

 Ottawa, while opening a wider field of comparative study to 

 the members of the Society. 



Addresses of welcome were presented by the Society to 

 the Governors General, Viscount Monck, in 1867, and to Sir 

 John Young (Lord Lisgar) in 1868, respectively. 



Among the number of active and zealous workers the name 

 of the curator. Dr. Van Cortlandt, stands out pre-eminent. 



In time it became apparent to many members of the 

 Society who were also members of the Mechanics' Institute 

 and Athenaeum, the parent organization, whose field practi- 

 cally included the field of the former, that an amalgamation 

 was desirable. Several joint meetings of committees were 

 held, and union was agreed upon. The Society held its last 

 meeting on December loth, 1869, and on December 24th, 

 1869, by Act of the Legislature, the two Societies were in- 

 corporated as the Ottawa Literary and Scientific Society." 



Ottawa Dterary ana Scientific Society. 



The beginning of the year 1 8 70 saw the Literary and 

 Scientific Society launched on the career of usefulness, which 

 it has pursued up to the present day. In the Act of Incor- 

 poration the aim and object of the Society are set forth in the 

 few, yet comprehensive words, " the cultivation of literature 

 and science." 



Those who had been active workers in the two organi- 

 zations out of which this Society was formed continued 

 to take that active interest so essential for the well- 

 being and progress of any Association. The progress of the 

 Society during these past 28 years has not perhaps been as 

 great as could have been wished, still it has ever occupied an 

 honorable and worthy place in the community ; and there 



