CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 231 
of the members of the Editing Committee ; and with such results as to justify the 
course adopted, in rendering this series strictly a periodical issue of original 
papers, embodying the printed proceedings of the Institute. This object having 
been secured, and the present General Editor having expressed his desire to be 
relieved of duties he has now fulfilled for four years, the Editing Committee have 
much pleasure in reporting, that the General Editorship has been undertaken by 
Professor Chapman; whose frequent contributions to the Journal in past years, as 
well as his high standing in a department of science so important in its practical 
bearing on the development of the mineral and other economie resources of the 
Province, render him peculiarly fitted for the responsible duties thus devolved on 
him. 
An uausually large space has been devoted to the department of reviews during 
the past year; while at the same time they are fewer in number than in former 
volumes ; the object aimed at having been to transfer mere notices of books to the 
notes, and to give to the department more of the character of review articles. 
With a larger body of contributors, this section might be extended with great ad- 
vantage, and the Journal increased in size, and rendered acceptable to a much 
wider circle of readers; while the opportunity thereby afforded for the discussion 
of important questions in science and literature could in no degree detract from 
the legitimate characteristics of such a periodical. The Committee, however, can- 
not overlook the fact, that a large portion of the materials hitherto contributed to 
this department have been the work of two or three members, on whom, accord- 
ingly, an amount of labour has been imposed, which, though freely rendered, must 
be felt to be an undue tax on the voluntary services of so small a number, in a 
society of some hundred members, including many well qualified to share in such 
laboucs. 
It was the intention of the Committee to have aimed at giving increased interest 
to the Journal during the past year, by means of illustrations, but a series of dis- 
appointments by the artist engaged on the work, involving much trouble and 
anxiety to the editor, ended in the abandonment of the scheme for the present. 
The Committee however, have pleasure in calling attention to the beautiful litho- 
graph of the Quigrich, which as a specimen of art, executed in Toronto, cannot but 
be regarded as a highly satisfactory proof of progress, when it is borne in remem- 
brance that similar illustrations for a former volume had to be procured from New 
York. 
In conclusion, the Committee have to express their earnest hope that the new 
General Editor may be able to secure such an amount of varied and hearty co-ope- 
ration, as, while materially lessening his own labours, shall contribute fresh attrac- 
tions both to the publications and the meetings of the Institute. 
Toronto, 8rd December, 1859. DaniEL Witson, Convener. 
On referring to the details given in the Treasurer’s Report submitted below, it 
will be seen that the general funds of the Institute are, upon the whole, in a satis- 
factory condition, The Building Fund has been slightly increased by the accumu- 
lation of interest, but the Council deem it right to call the attention of the Members 
‘to the fact, that the subscription list for that special purpose still remains uncol- 
