1853.] 



CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



203 



decorated with Siionce, Literature, and Art; cases of stuffed 

 birds, cases of insects, and insect arcliiteoture, models of macliiiies 

 of various kinds, paintings, engraving.-, scientific instruments, &c , 

 (fee, embellislied the Hall. Tlie fine painting of the Queen by 

 Berthon, was suspended above the Chair, and to the right was an 

 excellent portrait, and striking likeness of Capt. LetVo}', President 

 of the Institute, taken by the'Council as a memorial of his able 

 services. The Lobby of the House was used, foi' the nouse, as a 

 refreshment room." 



(From Ihc Colonist.) 

 " On Saturday evening, the 2ud instant, this Society enteilain- 

 ed a large number of their fellow-citizens, in the Hall of the 

 Legislati\-e Assembly, which was suitably prej:iared for the pur- 

 pose. On the dais, and grouped around the President's Chair, 

 were numerous instruments, as Telescopes, Theodolites, Levels, 

 and the like. Immediately iu front was a very beautiful model 

 of Jerusalem, mounted on an elegant iron pedestal. In the centre, 

 and around the sides of the room, seats were arranged, divided 

 by long tables laden with objects of vertu, statuary, and carving 

 iu figures, vases, &c., &c. Amongst them we observed one of 

 the kte Duke of Wellington, Paul and Virginia, the Dying 

 Gladiator, and other examples of Copeland and Minton's beauti- 

 ful statuettes, and a large collection of Minton's Gothic tiles and 

 porcelain ware. There were some good bronzes, and a number 

 of elegantly designed and well executed bread platters, in the 

 olden style. Several books containing a large collection of me- 

 dallions after the antique, and some excellent specimens of 

 Daguerreotypes on glass, attracted much notice, as did two ex- 

 cellent models of new steamera for our Lake, especially that of 

 the Peerless. Cases of birds occupied the piere between the 

 windows, and at one end of the room were arranged various parts 

 of the locomotive engine, as tubing, springs, steam guages, safety 

 valves, (fee, exhibited by Mr. Good. The tables were spread with 

 illustrated books of elegant character connected with the arts and 

 sciences, comprising Portraiture, Sculpture, Architectural Decora- 

 tion, Engineering, &c., &c. 



" At eight o'clock, nearly 300 gentlemen had assembled, among 

 whom we observed the Bishop of Toronto, the Chief Justice, Mr. 

 Justice Draper, Vice-Chancellor Spragge, Dr. McCaul, Dr. Beaven, 

 Dr. Ryei-son, Dr. Cronyn, of London, many Members of the Cor- 

 poration, the Professoi-s of both Universities, and, indeed, a repre- 

 sentation of all the public holies in the City. After having 

 partaken of the hospitality of the Society, the meeting was called 

 to order by the President, Captain Lefroj', R.A„ F.R.S. He ex- 

 pressed the pleasure which the Society hal in receiving their 

 fellow-citizens on these annual occasions, — referred to the progress 

 which the Society had made during the past year, — allu led to 

 the valuable papers wliich had been communicated at the weekly 

 meetings of the session now closing, — and enlarged upon the ad- 

 vantages I'esulting from such Sacieties as these, not only in 

 direct relation to the cultivation of Science and the Arts, as 

 affording opportunity for closer communication between scientific 

 and professional men ; but in a social view, as an agreeable and 

 ]irofitable link uniting those who, although engaged in widely 

 difleient paths of business, possess congenial tastes and aspirations. 

 He made a graceful and feeling allusion to ths portrait of himself 

 which the Society had secured in anticipation of his departure, 

 and expressed a confident belief that the Institute possessed ele- 

 ments guaranteeing its permanent stability and success. 



********* 



" We are unwilling to adopt the stereotyped phraseology of 

 commendation in regard to this meeting, nor would it be appro- 

 pria'.e. We have no recollection of any ow:ision when the happy 

 blending of the hospitable, the entertaining and the instructive, 

 give such ung[uestionable gratification, and although, a? Professor 

 Chjrj-iman observed, being the last occasion of the presence of 



the President at the Institute, the feelings of the members gene- 

 rally were tinged with icgret, yet the proceedings were of so 

 interesting a character that even this failed to mar them." 



( From ike JBrUish Canadian.) 



" The Canadian Institute. — It is not often it has fallen to 

 our lot to chronicle such an intellectual treat as we partook of 

 on Saturday evening last, when the annual Soiree of the 

 Canadian Institute took place at the Parliament Buildings, in the 

 Hall of the Legislative Assembly. It was the largest, the most 

 inHuential, and the inost interesting of the meetings of this rising 

 Society which has yet taken place. There could not ha\e been 

 less than two hundred gentlemen present when the chair was 

 taken by the President" of the Society, Captain Lefroy, who in 

 his usual happy manner opened and gave an impetus to the pro- 

 ceedings by calhng on the Hon. Justice Draper, who delivered an 

 interesting sketch of the rise and progress of Upper Canada 

 since 1775, to the. present time. Rev. Professor Irving next 

 ascended the dais, from which he delivered a lecture exidanatory 

 of the mo lern invention of the Stereoscope, and explained the 

 optical delusion by which the magical effects of this new discov- 

 ery are produced. He was followed by Dr. Hodder who read 

 an interesting paper on the poisonous plants which are found 

 in the count'ry adjacent to Toronto, which was listened to with 

 much attention. 



" A short recess took place for Refreshments, tea and coffea 

 being served in the Hall, after which the President having 

 resumed the chair; 



Professor Cherriman, the Vice-President of the Society came 

 forward and laid on the table a very beautiful silver vase, which 

 the members of the Institute desired through him to present to 

 Captain Lefroy, on the occasion of his now farewell to the 

 Societj', previous to his departure for England. Mr. Cherriman 

 alluded to the rapid progress of the Society under him, which 

 from 70 or 80 members last year, had now increased to near 300, 

 and was rapidly rising in character also. He alluded in happy 

 terms to the services of Capt. Lefroy, and concluded by present- 

 ing the address and piece of plate to that gentleman, who replied 

 in'^suitable terms, and evidently under feelings of strong emotion. 



" The Rev. Dr. Scadding next read a most interesting paper on 

 a most popular subject, " Accidental Discox'eries," which aftlirdei 

 much gratification. T. Henning, Esq., next delivered f^u ani- 

 mated and most interesting address on the probabilities of Sir J. 

 Franklin and party being yet discovered, and the course he was 

 likely to have pursued in opjjosition to that first laid down for 

 him. This being ended, F. Cumberland, Esq., moved Dr. 

 McCaul to the chair, and he having assumed the same, a vote of 

 thanks to Capt. Lefroy was moved and carried by acclamation, 

 and after a brief address from Dr. McCaul, the proceedings closed. 



(From tha llniied Empire.) 

 " The annual Soiree of this Institution was held on Saturday 

 evening last, at the Hall of the Legislative Assembly in the Par- 

 liament Buildings, and truly a better use the room could not have 

 been put to. The President, Capt. Lefroy, R.A^ presided ; and 

 the most pleasing part of the evening's proceedings, consisted in 

 the presentation of a handsome piece of plate to that gentleman, 

 as a well-deserved testimonial of the high opinion entertained by 

 the members of his sernces, and very appropriately presented on 

 the occasion of his approaching departure for England. 



" The room was well filled by our most distinguished Toronto 

 sivans and other visitore; and was ornamented with a larga col- 

 lection of objects of interest, in the shape of casts, medals, natural 

 curiosities, engravings, with tha refreshing aidition of soma 

 shrubs and flowers." „ 



