98 



ANJSUAL REPORT. 



[1852. 



is also proposed to make similar apiilicatiuiis to all tho Mechanics' 

 Institutes througbout the Province. 



The want of information respecting the watei' levels of Lake 

 Ontario, which are variable to such an extent as seriously to afl'ect 

 the interests of navigation and manufacture, and greatly to 

 embarrass the operations of engineers who, as yet, liave had no 

 standard lake-level upon which to establish their investigations, 

 induced the Council to make enquiry of the Couimissioneis of 

 Public Works as to any existing records of the levels of past 

 yeai«, and to suggest the propriety of establishing a future reliable 

 system of observation aud registration at various points on the 

 lake shore. The Commissionei's, however, whilst they acknow- 

 leilged the importance of the proposed investigation, and referred 

 to some special observations which had been made in connection 

 with the construction of the Provincial canals, were not prepared 

 to recommend the Government to take any action in the matter 

 further than to place the services of light-house keepers in its 

 emplojTuent at the disposal of the Institute in the pursuit of 

 such enquiry. Such assistance would very greatly facilitate the 

 attainment of the object in view, and the Council submit for 

 your approval the expediency of arranging during the ensuing 

 winter, a regular system of observation, believing that it would 

 be productive of results very valuable to the public, and thereby 

 justifying the expenditiu-e of a portion of the public grant. 



The Council also distributed circulars throughout the Province, 

 requesting information respecting two subjects, the one interesting 

 on account of its connection with the former history of the coun- 

 try, and the other of great value from its economic importance. 

 The circulai's respecting Indian Remains and Canadian Lime- 

 stones, printed in fiiU in the second number of the Journal, have 

 been widely disseminated, and the Council are happy to state 

 that favourable results are beginning to arise from the course 

 adopted. 



It affords the highest satisfaction to the Council to be enabled 

 to announce that there is every prob.abiht}' of the earlj' co-operation 

 of the Society of Arts of London with the Institute in the pur- 

 suit of their mutual objects. By a correspondence which has 

 been opened with the Institute by that Societ}', (under the 

 authority of Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, 

 and by recommendation of His Excellency the Governor General) 

 the Council have reason to hope that the foundation has been 

 laid for reciprocal services of a nature which will tend " to advance 

 the knowledge of the resources and capabilities of this Province 

 in England, and will ensure to its inhabitants such information 

 as the Society of Aits are enabled to furnish on subjects connected 

 with Arts, Manufactures and Commerce." The Council being 

 impressed with the conviction that such a co-operation will result 

 most advantageously to the Institute, strongly recommend that it 

 be diligently puraued ; and would further suggest that so soon 

 as the Institute shall have been brought into full and efficient 

 action, correspondence having a like bearing, be opened with 

 other kindred Societies in Great Britain and the United States; 

 whose liberality in extending advice and aid to less advanced 

 Institutions, has already been aiiipl}- illustrated. 



The Council ha\ e already received assurance of assistance and 

 co-operation from the Smithsonian Institute at Washington, a copy 

 of whose valuable transactions will also be presented to the 

 Library of the Society. 



The Council have great jjleasure in announcing that the Pro- 

 vincial Government has not only made the hberal grant of £250 

 to the Institute, for the cuiTent Parliamentary year, but has also 

 sanctioned its occupation of spacious and convenient apartments 

 in tlie Old Government House, and thus afforded it every facihty 

 and accommodation for an immediate commencement of a 

 Museum and Libraiy. 



In reference to the first of these objects, there is reason to be- 

 heve that a plan is in contemplation by the Government for the 

 formation of a general museum, which, however, in the opinion 

 of the Council, by no means supersedes the necessity of forming a 

 more private and special collection connected with the Institute. 

 Such a museum need not be of so extended and various a nature 

 as that contemplated by the Government, and might, perhaps^ 

 with propriety be confined to the products of the Province, and 

 the illustration of those Arts and Sciences which are more 

 especially the objects of the Institution. A private collection 

 of this kind, freely at the use of the members, will naturally be 

 more ae-ceptable and more easily available than any large 

 Public Museum. 



In furtherance of this view, the CouncU would recommend: 



Istly. That immediate formal apphcation be made to the 

 Government, for any Geological and Mineralogical speci- 

 mens belonging to the SuiTey, of which they may j)Ossess 

 duphcates. 



2ndly. That circulai's be sent to all members of the Institute, 

 requesting their co-operation in the formation of a museum, 

 by the donation of such specimens as tliey may be able to 

 procure. 



3rdly. That special application he made to Engineers and Sur- 

 veyors, engaged on RaUi-oads or mining operations for specimens 

 obtained in cuttings or excavations, over which they may have 

 superintendence, special attention being paid to Geological sec- 

 tions. 



4thly.- That such collection shall for the present comprehend 

 all objects connected with Ai-chitecture and Engineering, Natural 

 Histoiy and Bobmy, Mineralogy and Geology, Indian Antiquities, 

 and Arts aud Manufactures, 



Sthly. That a Museum Committee be apjiointed to act in con- 

 junction with the Curator. 



With reference to the Library the Council recommend that a 

 liberal appropriation be made by their successore in oftice, to- 

 wards the formation of such a Library of reference as will tacili- 

 tate, assist and encourage the special jiui'suits of all classes of the 

 members of the Institute. That standard works on practical 

 Engineering, Architixture, Manufactures, Transactions of learned 



