22 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



THIRD ORDINARY MEETING. 



The Third Ordinary Meeting of the Session i884-'85, was 

 held on November 15th, the President, Prof. ElHs, in the 

 Chair. 



The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. 



The following list of donations and exchanges received 

 since last meeting was read : 



1. Science, Vol. IV., No. 92, for November 7th, 1884. 



2. Transactions of the Linnean Society of New York, Vols. I. and II., 



December, 1882, to August, 1884. 



The President, Prof W. H. Ellis, then read his Inaugural 

 Address : — 



THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 



This year will be marked in the scientific annals of Canada with a 

 red letter. It has been rendered memorable by the visit of the 

 British Association. Although a sober estimate of the effects pro- 

 duced or likely to be produced by this visit will in all likelihood fall 

 short of what has been claimed by some enthusiasts, there can not 

 be two opinions as to its importance. It marks an era in our coun- 

 try's development. We have shaken hands with our brethren across 

 the sea, and the leadei'S of British science have recognized that we 

 too are alive to the great work of the advancement of human know- 

 ledge, and not only willing but able to bear our part in it. 



We may smile when we read in an English newspaper that " in 

 consequence of the visit of the British Association to Canada twenty 

 thousand dollars has been subscribed in Toronto to found a public 

 library ;" but for all that we cannot fail to acknowledge that, setting 

 aside exaggeration, the results of this visit must be of great impor- 

 tance — how great it is impossible to estimate. 



The meeting will have a two-fold influence — an influence on our 

 visitors and on ourselves. As to the efiect upon the members of the' 

 British Association who made the voyage to Canada, and many of 

 whom spent several weeks in travelling over the length and breadth 

 of our land, we are scarcely in a position to speak, although we 

 may feel confident that the intercourse that they have had under 

 very favourable circumstances with a people of their own race — 

 one with them in language, in religion, in allegiance, and in laws — 



