THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



[1852, 



Suciety, a few Surveyors, Eiiginecrs and Arcliiteets, residing in 

 and near Toronto, met on the 20tli June and 20tli July, 1849) 

 when a Prospectus of the proposed Society was adopted, and 

 copies forwarded to membere of the professio;^ generally, through- 

 out the province, soliciting their advice and co-operation. 



Subjoined is a copy of the Prospectus ill accordance with the 

 principles of which the Society was firet organized, on the 22nd 

 of September, 1849. 



PROSPECTUS. 



To be composed — 1st. Of Provincial Land Surveyors, Civil Engineers 

 and Architects, practising in the Province, as MeiDl)ers. 



9d. Of Members of the same profession not practising in the Pro- 

 vince, as Corresponding Members. 



3J. Of men distinguished in Science and Arte, residing in the 

 Province, bnt not belonging to either of the above professions, as 

 Honorary Members. 



4th. Of Students under Articles, as Gradujites. 



The Officers of tlie Institute to consist of a President and Vice- 

 Presidents, Council, Secretary, and two Auditors, to be elected 

 annually. 



The Treasurer to be a Chartered Banfe in the City of Toronto, The 

 Rooms of the Institute to be situated in the City of Toronto. 



Libraries to be formed, and collections made of Maps, Drawings, 

 Models, &c. A Museum to be establislie i for the collection of Geolo- 

 gical, Mineralogical, and other specimens. 



Professional discussions to be held and papers read. Transactions 

 to be published. 



Standard Instrimients to be kept for reference. Philosophical 

 observations to be made and registered. 



A Board of Arbitration to bo established for the eettlement of 

 difiiculties arising between members in the practice of their professions. 



The Subscription of Members to bo One Pound per annum. The 

 Subscription of Graduates to be Ten Shillings per annum. 



It will thus be seen that the proposed Society was strictly of 

 a professional character. The foregoing Prospectus, with a suita- 

 ble circular, was transmitted to nearly 500 persons throughout 

 the Province ; in reply, from twelve to fifteen letters only were 

 received. The promoters were disheartened, the monthly meet- 

 ings were but indifferently attended, although notices of such 

 meetings were regularly issued, and by some of its members the 

 society was entirely abandoned, at a time when their assistance 

 was most needed. At last, the attendance at the monthly meet- 

 ings dwindled down to two, and then the prospects of the young 

 Institute were gloomy indeed. At that small meeting vai-ious 

 schemes were talked of as to the ultimate chance of success, and 

 it was then considered that by opening out the Society to those 

 whose pursuits or studies were of a kindred character, and by 

 holding regular weekly meetings for the reading and discussing 

 of papers, the Society would gradually take a practical stand and 

 proper footing, The experiment was tried, and weekly meetings 

 Were held regularly during the winter months, the attendance 

 being occasionally good, although often dispiriting. Several 

 interesting communications of professional and general interest 

 tvere read, some of them ;eliciting sjiirited discussions. Many of 

 the meetings were, however, occupied by discussions connected 

 with proposed changes in the Constitution and Regulations of 

 the Society, until at last on the 12th of April, 1851, it was deter- 

 mined that proper steps be taken for obtaining a Charter similar 

 to the one the Society now enjoys. By this eftbrt its hitherto 



strictly professional character was changed to one of a general 

 description, and the way was paved for the Canadian Institute 



as it now exists. 



On the 10th of May, 1851, the first conversazione was held, 

 and numerously attended, A very encouraging wish was then 

 expressed by the friends of the members -who were present, that 

 they should earnestly continue to extend the influence and 

 imjwrtance of the Institution. 



A Royal Charter of Incorporation was granted on the 4th of 

 November, 1851, and by it W. E. Logan, Director of the Geolo- 

 gical Survey of Canada, was decreed First President. Tho 

 remaining oflicers and membere of the Council, required by the 

 Charter, were elected on the 27th of March last, and accepted 

 office the following week at a conversazione. 



Prior to the election of Officers the weekly meetings were 

 occupied in the usual manner, and in preparing and maturing a 

 proper code of Laws in accordance with the requirements of the 

 Charter for the future government of the Institute. 



Amongst the papers communicated during the Sessions, ter- 

 minating May 10th, 1851, and April 3rd, 1852, were, — 



A review of the several clauses in the Surveyor's Act of 1849, 

 by Mr. J. Stoughton Dennis, 



On the use of the Telescope, as applied to field practice, by 

 Mr. J. 0. Brown. 



Upon the ameliorating influences of the climate of Canada, by 

 Mr. F. F. Passmore. 



On the formation of the Peninsula and Harbour of Toronto, 

 by Mr. S. A. Fleming. 



On Lake Harbours, &c^ by Mr. Edward L. Cull. 



Oil the Mineral Productions and Geology of Canada, illustrated 

 by the Map and Models of his Oflicial Survey, by Mr. Logan. 



On the effects of Tides, by Mr. Ellis. 



On the application of wire to the construction of Bow String 

 Bridges, by Mr. Hanvey. 



On the Geology of the Niagara Falls, by Mr. Ridout, 



On the Ebb and Flow of water in the American Lakes, by 

 Mr. Brunei. 



On the management of Engineering works, by Mr. Ellis, 



On Piling, as practised and applicable to works upon our lakes 

 and navigable waters, by Mr. Kivas Tully, 



On the supply of water to Toronto, by Mr. Cull. 



On Crib work, as applied for foundations and piers, by Mr. 

 Brunei. 



On the works at Portsmouth Dock Yards, by Mr. Cumberland. 



On Tubular Bridges, by Mr. Brunei, 



On the eft'ects of different grades upon the economical working 

 of Railways, by Mr. J. O. Brown, 



Amongst others promised and in preparation, are,— 

 A paper upon Concrete, as applied in foundations under water, 

 by Mr. Cumberland, 



