INTRODUCTION. 



The documents included in this fasciculus not being part of the 

 ordinary transactions of the Canadian Institute, their publication by 

 the Institute calls for a word of explanation. 



During the winter session of 187 8-18 79 Mr. Sandford Fleming, one 

 of the earliest members of the Institute, communicated to the So- 

 ciety two remarkable papers — one on " Time-Reckoning," and the 

 other on " The Selection of a Prime Meridian to be Common to all 

 Nations, in Connection with Time-Reckoning.'' 



These communications were of such world-wide interest, the 

 questions discussed were of such practical importance, that the 

 Council of the Institute thought it desirable that they should be 

 brought officially under the notice of as many leading learned 

 societies as possible, both on this continent and in Europe ; this 

 seemed all the more desirable inasmuch as the suggestions made by 

 Mr. Fleming could only be carried out by the united action of the 

 civilized nations of the wocld, and such action could be best secured 

 through the intervention of the national scientific societies. 



The Council accordingly addressed a memorial to the then Gov- 

 ernor-General, the Marquis of Lome, requesting him to transmit 

 Mr. Fleming's communications to the Imperial Government and to 

 the representative learned societies of Europe and America. His 

 Excellency kindly acceded to their request, and in forwarding the 

 papers to these scientific societies, he invited them to communicate 

 to him their views upon the proposals discussed in the papers. The 

 replies received have been placed by His Excellency at the disposal 

 of the Institute, and are included in this volume. 



In publishing these replies, and the other documents which 

 accompany them, the Institute is influenced by the desire to 

 preserve a full and permanent record of the history of, this interest- 

 ing scientific movement, from its first practical discussion before 

 the Canadian Institute in the winter of 1878, until the virtual 



