iSq/'S, transactions. ^ 



Of the original members of the Institute there are now 

 living only the Hon. R. W. Scott, George Hay and C. R. 

 Cunningham. 



In those early days candles were used, for on August 2nd, 

 1854, it is found recorded that a conversation took place' on 

 " the best means of furnishing the rooms with oil." 



In the annual report for 1854 we find that " the present 

 flourishing state of the Institute is chiefly due— and acknow- 

 ledged with pleasure by the Committee to be due — " to the 

 cordial and generous co-operation and assistance of those 

 ladies, who, on this occasion as on all others, have; been the 

 foremost in lending the most active and Successful aid in 

 promoting the best interests of the community ; and from the 

 proceeds of a bazaar held in the end of October, presented to 

 the Institute a munificent donation of ^200 6s. 6yidi. To 

 these ladies the Committee cannot adequately express the 

 grateful sense which it entertains of their noble exertions and 

 the magnificent result of these exertions for the Institute." 



The Institute took active steps for building up a Museum, 

 and in 1855 offered the following prizes : — ■ 



Best collection Coleoptera and Hemiptera £t los. 



'' '''■ Lepidoptera and Neuroptera 2 los. 



'• '> Hymenoptera, Diptera and Aptera . . 2 los. 



'* '' Snakes, Frogs, Proteus and Crayfish. , 2 los. 



" '* River and Land Shells 2 los. 



" '* Indigenous Botanical Specimens.... 10 los. 



'* " Mineralogical Specimens 10 los. 



The trustees of the Institute proposed to make it a central 

 Institution for this part of the province including the counties 

 of Leeds, Grenville, Lanark, Renfrew, Carleton, Prescott, 

 Russell, Pontiac, Vaudreuil and Argenteuil, and for this 

 purpose addressed a memorial to each municipality. Although 

 sympathy was expressed for the movement, the plea of want 

 of funds prevented carrying out the project. 



Almost from the beginning there was an agitation for 

 the erection of a building for the society, and many a time 

 the object seemed on the eve of being realized, yet up to the 

 present it has not been accomplished. The problem is one 

 which the friends of the society should resolutely grapple 

 with in the near future. 



