CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 219 
The necessity for removing from the roll these merely nominal members, most 
of whom had been defaulters for several successive years, had long been strongly 
felt by the Council; and before the close of the last Session, a Special Committee 
was appointed to revise the list, with a view to striking off those who appeared, 
from the Treasurer’s returns, to be hopeless defaulters. This necessary, but unwel- 
come duty, has been very carefully and considerately performed, and none but 
those who have proved themselves so long unmindful of the claims of the Society 
as to leave no hope of their amendment, have had their names removed from the 
roll. 
Tn reality, therefore, this temporary decrease in the numerical strength of the 
Institute, has neither diminished its pecuniary resources as compared with past 
years, nor should it be considered as any indication of decreasing interest in the 
Society’s operations, or of less hearty co-operation or support on the part of its 
friends generally, as the Members now cut off have long been such only in name, 
and were rather a source of weakness than of strength. 
Since the last Session, a blank has occurred in the list of Honorary Members, 
by the death of one whose name conferred honor on the Society, and whose me- 
mory will long be perpetuated in Canada, by the enduring memorial of one of 
the noblest productions of his genius. But a few short weeks before the com- 
pletion of the Victoria Bridge, at Montreal, Robert Stephenson closed his earthly 
career. Struck down at the age of fifty-one, while in the full maturity of his 
great and vigorous intellect, he has passed away—if not full of years, yet full 
of honors—leaving behind him a name which will long survive, not only in the 
grateful memory of his countrymen, but which will be cherished and honored in 
every part of the world, where exalted genius and practical energy and worth, 
are honored and appreciated. 
Just six years ago, when this Society was still in its infancy, Mr. Stephenson, 
then on a visit to this country, honored the Institute by allowing his name to be 
enrolled on the list of Honorary Members; and in answer to the address which 
was presented to him on that occasion by the Council, he expressed his strong 
sense of the benefits which might acerue to the cause of science in this country 
through the instrumentality of such associations as the Canadian Institute—not 
only by the publication of its Journal and the communications read at its meet- 
tings, but more especially by discussions on the subjects of the various papers 
brought under the considération of the Society. 
The Council would fain hope that this expression of opinion on the part of one 
whose experience so well qualified him to judge, may not be forgotten, but have its 
due weight with every Member of the Association, inducing more active and 
zealous co-operation in furthering the objects of the Institute, and rendering it a 
powerful and efficient agent in advancing the scientific progress of the country, 
In one very important particular,—the extension of its Library,—the Institute 
has continued to make satisfactory progress. and the Council have pleasure in re- 
porting, that many valuable additions have been made to it during the past year, 
chiefly through the liberality of various donors, to several of whom the Institute 
has before been very largely indebted. 
